Meet the Speaker: Martyn Obbard

Martyn Obbard is a Research Scientist with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and an Adjunct Professor at Trent University. His work with the Wildlife Research and Development Section of the MNR includes research on both black bears and polar bears. Martyn lives near Peterborough, Ontario.

1. What does this year’s TEDxAlgonquinPark theme, Think Outside, mean to you?

In general, it is a call to members of the public to include outdoor activities in such special places as Algonquin Park in their life experience, but it’s also a call to think outside the box about our relationship with the environment and wildlife.

2. What is your favourite thing to do outside?

Backcountry canoeing and camping.

3. What one thing should everyone know about you?

I’ve been a Detroit Red Wings fan since 1959.

4. In the spirit of TED—Ideas Worth Spreading—tell us the best advice you’ve ever received and want to share with others.

You are only here once so follow your dreams and they will take you where you should go.

5. Without revealing the theme of your TEDxAlgonquinPark Talk, tell us the one thing you hope people will do after they hear you speak.

Introspectively evaluate their own attitudes towards wildlife.

In case you missed it on our Facebook page, here's a video of Dr. Obbard showing Rick Mercer what a day in the life of a bear researcher looks like.

A Sneak Peek at This Year's Speakers

Thinking about attending TEDxAlgonquinPark: Think Outside this year? We have a great line up for you! Here's just some of what's in store:

• Ever wonder what its like to be a bear? Dr. Martyn Obbard shares the ecological and evolutionary drivers in a year in the life of a bear. 
• Learn the power of the map on the users' experience with Jeffrey McMurtrie. Explore the puzzle of the map-making process, including the integration of new content from multiple sources. 
• Head to the interior more often and for longer! Kevin Callan encourages you to get out and explore.  

And here's more info on our speakers:

Martyn Obbard

Martyn Obbard: Dr. Martyn Obbard is a Research Scientist with the Wildlife Research and Development Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources based in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada and an Adjunct Professor in the Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program at Trent University in Peterborough.  Martyn has studied black bears and polar bears in Ontario since he joined the Wildlife Research Section of OMNR in 1989. He has been involved in several long-term black bear research projects—in the boreal forest (1989-2001), on the Bruce Peninsula (1998-2006) and in Algonquin Park (2006-present).  These projects have focussed on black bear demographics, effects of hunting, habitat use, denning requirements, effects of forestry, and human-bear conflicts.  Martyn is a member of the Canadian Polar Bear Technical Committee and the IUCN/SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group. Martyn’s polar bear research is focused on the Southern Hudson Bay subpopulation that occurs in James Bay and eastern Hudson Bay.

Jeffrey McMurtrie

Jeffrey McMurtrie: Jeffrey went on his first Algonquin canoe trip at the age of 8 and has been loving it ever since, now having spent more than 500 days travelling it's lakes and rivers. He loved it so much, he decided to create his own map of the park. He combined all of the information on the park that he could find – books, historic maps, trip logs, personal experience, and the contributions of hundreds of other Algonquinites – to make the most comprehensive map he could. He now offers it for free online.







Kevin Callan (a.k.a. The Happy Camper): Kevin is the author of fifteen books, including the best selling “The Happy Camper”, a popular series of paddling guides, and the most reviewed “Wilderness Pleasures: A Practical Guide to Camping Bliss”. On a regular basis, he presents across North America and has been a key speaker at major outdoor events for over 25 years.

Kevin Callan

Kevin is also a frequent guest on radio and television, is a field editor and blogger for Explore magazine and is a columnist for CanoeRoots Magazine. He has hosted several television and film projects and is a frequent host on a number of morning television and radio shows. Callan is a winner of five National Magazine Awards and three film awards was bestowed the honour of Patron Paddler for Paddle Canada.

If that's not enough to convince you to apply to attend, here are some blog reports from people who attended last year, along with our own recap of the event:

Algonquin Outfitters - http://algonquinoutfitters.com/blog/agonquin-outfitters/tedx-algonquin-park-2012-invested/
Trail Swag - http://trailswag.ca/2012/9/7/trail-swag-reports-tedxalgonquinpark-2012
Algonquin Adventures - http://www.network54.com/Forum/352882/thread/1347068878/last-1347279817/Back+From+TEDx+Algonquin+Park!
TEDxAlgonquinPark - http://tedxalgonquinpark.blogspot.ca/2012/10/the-tedxalgonquinpark-experience.html

You can only attend if you apply and applications close August 2, so hurry and apply now! If you're not sure yet if you'll be available on September 5, apply anyhow. You can always decline if you're accepted, but if you don't apply your opportunity will be gone forever! (Spaces are limited...thus the need for applications.)

We hope to see you in September!