What is the role of academia in addressing the biodiversity crisis?
Professor Tim Coulson (Department of Zoology, University of Oxford), EJ Milner-Gulland (Tasso Leventis Professor of Biodiversity), Professor Leah Gerber (Arizona State University)
- Start Tuesday 22 Apr 2025 3:00pm
- Finish Tuesday 22 Apr 2025 4:30pm
Background and Objectives:
The biodiversity crisis, driven by human activity, is one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Addressing this crisis requires urgent, effective solutions informed by diverse perspectives. But can academia, a community concerned with the pursuit of research, education, and scholarship meaningfully contribute to the protection of biodiversity? Conservation science—spanning both natural and social sciences—is argued by its advocates to play a central role in delivering applied solutions to slow and prevent biodiversity loss.
In this interactive session, we will explore the interplay of theory, engaged and action-oriented scholarship, and practice in conservation conducted by academics, with a focus on whether it has had much meaningful impact. Our discussion will include the principles and metrics that should underpin conservation practice, alongside the academic values and practices that foster long-term, less easily quantifiable impacts—such as building trust, relationships, and networks over time.
This is a hybrid event, but in-person seats are limited
