The Zoo and Wildlife Society at Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine will present its sixth Special Species Symposium April 20 to 22 for veterinary students, technicians, and veterinarians. The theme will be, "The Role of Veterinarians in Conservation at home."

Registration is $35 for students and $175 for professional veterinarians, which includes enrollment in two wet labs.

Registration forms are available online at http://www.rso.cornell.edu/sss2001. For more detailed information, including a list of speakers and wet labs, see the web site or e-mail Bruce Christensen at bwc9@cornell.edu .

"We have planned the program to attract and inspire all students interested in non-traditional animals, environmental issues, and conservation," says Jess Siegal-Willott, Cornell DVM Class of 2003 and a symposium co-chair.

Explains John Sykes, Cornell DVM Class of 2003 and a symposium co-chair, "As the number of threatened and endangered species increases and available habitat decreases, it becomes increasingly important for veterinarians to take a more active role in conservation, whether they work in a zoo, in the wild, or in private practice. This symposium will help show students how they can become involved."

The symposium is a student-organized conference on zoo, wildlife, and exotic animal medicine. It has been held at Cornell every other year since its inception in 1991. Beginning in 1996, students at University of Pennsylvania organized similar symposia during alternate years.

Thirteen presentations will be divided into four sequential sessions: private practice, zoological medicine, wildlife medicine, and academic practice. The laboratory sessions will be widely diverse, ranging from fish pathology to reptile anesthesia to llama husbandry. Other events include two meet-the-speaker lunches and a banquet.