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2008 ATBI Event Schedule


  • A wide variety of events take place each year for the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI). Scientists are involved with projects using trained volunteers, including photographers, artists, teachers, and students.

  • Discover Life in America coordinates many volunteer projects, scientific efforts, and educational programs. To become involved please contact Heather at 865-430-4758.

Below, natures symmetry shows itself during one of DLIA's Fern Forays in the Cataloochee area of the Park.

Photo by Jeanie Hilten.

2008 Activities Quick View

MONTHPLANNED ACTIVITY
January Special Events Not Planned
February 16th - Special DLIA Board Meeting
March 15th - Volunteer Appreciation Day (TN Side)
April Special Events Not Planned
May 6th - Visit by Principia College

17th - Volunteer Orientation Day (NC Side)

28th - Planting Day at the Science Center

31st - Fern Foray (CANCELED)
June 9th through 14th - Diptera Blitz

28th - Fern Foray #1
July 5th - DLIA Photo Exhibit starts at the Art Alliance Emporium, Knoxville, TN

19th - Citizen Science Workday
August 1st-2nd - Watermite Workshop

8-10th - Bug Guide Gathering 2008

23rd - DLIA Board Meeting

30th - Fern Foray #2
September Special Events Not Planned
October Starting the 1st - DLIA Exhibit at Knox News Sentinel
November Special Events Not Planned
December 3rd through 5th - Annual ATBI Conference

6th - DLIA Board Meeting


2008 Activities Detailed View

DATEACTIVITY DETAILS
February Events Calendar February 16 SPECIAL DLIA BOARD MEETING

Info: Planning and Goal-setting with new Executive Director, Todd Witcher
Picture March 15 VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION DAY (TN Side)

Location: Twin Creeks Pavilion, Gatlinburg, TN, about 2 miles up the Motor Nature Trail from traffic light 8.
Time: 11 am to 4 pm.
For Who?: All wanting to volunteer.
Info: Learn about the ATBI, the "Project Teams", lab and field methods, and backcountry safety. It also gives gives you a chance to meet other people involved.
Please call to pre-register so we can know how many to expect. A picnic lunch will be served.
May Events Calendar May 6 VISIT BY PRINCIPIA COLLEGE

Location: Twin Creeks Research Area
For Who?: For the Pricipia Students from the Department of Biology and Natural Resources"
Time: 2 pm to about 4 pm.
Info: This is a yearly treck to the Park by Pricipia College students.
Principia College is located in Elsah, Illinois.
DLIA staff gives talk on ATBI, and conducts some field demos.
Principia College Link
(**Thank you, Principia College, for the donation!)
May Events Calendar May 17 VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION DAY (NC Side)

Location: Take I40 to Haywood Community College, Waynesville, NC. Go to Building 300 and rooms 309 and 310.
For Who?: For new volunteers, or a refresher for "seasoned volunteers."
Time: 10 am to 4 pm.
Info: Learn about the ATBI, the "Project Teams", lab and field methods, backcountry safety, and in general, meet the other people involved with the ATBI and see how you can help.
Space in limited. Register early.
Event Schedule
May Events Calendar May 28 PLANTING DAY

Location: Twin Creeks Science and Education Center
Time: 9 am to 2 pm
Info: DLIA and the Knoxville Garden Club will be coordinating the effort, and supplying the plants, and confering with the Park on placement plans.
Thanks: Thank you to the Knoxville Garden Club for the funds and willing hands to make this all possible.
May Events Calendar May 31 FERN FORAY (CANCELED)

Info: Foray Leader, Dr. Pat Cox canceled with scheduling complications
June Events Calendar June 9-14 DIPTERA BLITZ

Location: Twin Creeks Science and Education Center, about 2 miles up the Motor Nature Trail from traffic light #8 in Gatlinburg, TN, will be the center of operations. Collection teams will then disperse all over the Park.

Event Schedule - Volunteers Needed!
June Events Calendar June 28 FERN FORAY #1

Location: Abrams Creek area of the Park.
Info: The foray went very well with 28 enthusiastic volunteers.
Group Picture: (by Kemp Davis)
mantis July 5 (starts) DLIA PHOTO EXHIBIT IN KNOXVILLE, TN

Location: Knoxville Art Alliance Emporium, Knoxville, TN
Dates/Times: July 7 to 25, from 9 am to 5 pm Monday thru Friday
Info: The exhibit will feature 20 of our best high resolution scans of creatures of the park.
We will be setting up on Thursday, July 3rd. The Emporium will be closed
July 4th, but reopens Saturday, July 5th. DLIA is fortunate this year to
have 3 interns, all students in photography and photographic design, working
on this display.

Thanks to our photographic interns: Gabby Salazar, Moriah Robinson, and Elliot Karsnopoler!
July Events Calendar July 19 CITIZEN SCIENCE WORKDAY

Location: Twin Creeks, Discover Life in America, ATBI House
Info: Volunteers will be involved in helping sort insects, and basic cleaning/organizing the DLIA office and storage area.
Contact Heather (phone: 865-430-4756) for more details.

* See Special Letter from Heather *
August Events Calendar August 1-2 WATERMITE WORKSHOP

Location:Twin Creeks Science and Education Center
Info: collections will take place in the Twin Creeks and Roaring Creek drainages. University of Arkansas scientist, Dr. Andrea Radwell will lead the workshop. Dr. Radwell has a 2008 mini-grant from DLIA to continue her and Dr. Ian Smith's watermite biodiversity inventory. She lead a very popular and interesting workshop last year at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. Please come prepared to get your feet wet (or bring boots).
Times: The workshop will encompass part of the morning and afternoon. More specifics to come ...
To Do: Please contact Heather at the DLIA office (865-430-4756) to let her know if you are planning to attend. This is a great activity to bring a youngster to who is interested in nature. Beside aquatic field collection, microscopic projections of some amazingly colorful creatures, as well as Dr. Radwell's natural history talk, will capture everyone's imagination - young or old!
Special: Press Release from Heather.
August Events Calendar August 8-10 BUG GUIDE GATHERING 2008

Location:Gatlinburg, TN.
Info: Bug Guide Gathering 2008 Website
August Events Calendar August 23 DLIA BOARD'S SUMMER MEETING

Location: Twin Creeks Science and Education Center, Gatlinburg, TN.
Info: Details still being worked out.
August Events Calendar August 30 FERN FORAY #2

Location: North Carolina side with the base camp at Purchase Knob.
Info: Please contact Heather (phone: 865-430-4756), or Pat Cox for more info and to get placed on the list to volunteer ... more web details to come.
October Events Calendar Oct 1 to Dec 31 EXHIBIT AT THE KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL

Location: Knoxville News Sentinel Main Office: 2332 News Sentinel Dr, Knoxville, TN 37921
Exhibit Title: "DISCOVER LIFE IN AMERICA - Documenting Life in the Smokies"
Exhibit Dates: October 1st through December 31st
Other Info: A special reception will be held on Thursday, October 16th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
December Events Calendar December 3-5 ANNUAL ATBI CONFERENCE

Location: Mills Auditorium, Gatlinburg, TN.
Info: End of year gathering of scientists, volunteers, and general public to hear about year's field work results, and to celebrate our living natural resources in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Our Conference Committee is working hard to make this the best program ever!
Please feel free to call 865-430-4756 for more information.
Stay tuned for more future web details!
December Events Calendar December 6 DECEMBER DLIA BOARD MEETING

Info: The Board will tackle the annual budget ratification, hear and make decisions on other end-of-year issues and actions, and prepare for another year of discovery!

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