Featured Speakers &
Special Presentations
Abstracts
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Reinforcement Systems:
Building interconnected behavior chains that lead to improved communication and accelerated teaching Mary Hunter Behavior Explorer Bio
Mary Hunter earned an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Chicago in 2008 and a master’s degree in behavior analysis from the University of North Texas in 2013. She runs her own animal training and consulting business and serves as president of The Art and Science of Animal Training, a Texas-based nonprofit that provides educational programs for professional animal trainers. Mary teaches classes at the University of North Texas as an adjunct instructor. In 2017, she converted an upper-level undergraduate class into a self-paced, mastery-based course using Dr. Fred Keller’s Personalized System of Instruction. Mary’s main research interests include studying the process of shaping and developing better methods for teaching both people and animals. |
Animal Training:
Elevating Skills by Doubling Down Wouter Stellaard Behavior 360 Full Abstract
"The most successful training programs have a firm grasp of the basics of animal training. Like many skills, training animals comes with practice and great application of the science of behavior change. And as with all science, what we know, even on a basic level, changes and improves over time. Like everything, it evolves as our collective knowledge shows us better ways. Sometimes complicated terminology and concepts tend to muddy the water and set a bar that feels unreachable for many trainers. Ken Ramirez, a highly successful trainer with forty-plus years’ experience, once said that great trainers are the ones who apply behavior basics really well. While there is a lot of room for behavior discussions regarding complicated concepts, just like our training sessions, learners are not ready for that approximation until they master the basics. This presentation will take a deep dive into training basics, utilizing current best practices. It will help develop trainers’ skills and will form a solid base from which to build your behavior program." |
How to create fast behavior change through an understanding of cues
Dr. Jesus Rosales-Ruiz University of North Texas Bio
Dr. Jesús Rosales-Ruiz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Behavior Analysis at the University of North Texas. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in 1995 under the direction of Dr. Donald M. Baer. During his graduate training, he also worked closely with Dr. Ogden R. Lindsley. Dr. Rosales-Ruiz’s areas of interest include antecedent control of behavior, generalization, behavioral cusps, fluency-based teaching, treatment of autism, teaching of academic behavior, animal training, rule-governed behavior, and contingency-shaped behavior. He has served on several editorial boards, including the Journal of Precision Teaching, the European Journal of Behavior Analysis, and the International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy. Dr. Rosales-Ruiz is a fellow of the Eastern Psychological Association and a trustee of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. |
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Conservation Partner Presentation-Red Panda Network
Nicki Boyd San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Red Panda Network Full Abstract
Red Panda Network is committed to the conservation of wild red pandas and their habitat through the education and empowerment of local communities. They envision secure, viable populations of wild red panda thriving throughout their historic range. Preservation of this species and its habitat benefits the region and, as a result, it is valued and protected by all. |
Retrieving Independence
Bringing Love, Dignity, and Change to Music City Kelsey Fernandez Retrieving Independence Full Abstract
"Retrieving Independence is a Nashville-based nonprofit that breeds, trains and places service dogs with people who are living with a physical, mental or emotional disability. With a unique and ground-breaking model, the Retrieving Independence training program provides counseling services to our inmate trainers. When an incarcerated person is transformed through the support and love of the RI training program, not only do they benefit, but our communities also benefit. And when our service dogs are placed with their forever person, they change another life!" |