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Education

Education

Education

Training the next generation of conservation leaders

The Center for Biodiversity Outcomes provides a platform of exemplary training and research experiences for students at all levels of learning. CBO draws on a critical mass of intellectual firepower and is a shining example of the kind of problem solving that Arizona State University’s singular brand of interdisciplinary freedom can produce.

CBO affiliated scholars and practitioners share expertise from diverse fields — including conservation biology, sustainability, ecology, anthropology, geography, economics, political science, law, philosophy, fine arts, the performing arts, design and engineering — in a collaborative effort to address the issues of sustaining global biodiversity.

Some of the opportunities available include:

  • More than 125 faculty affiliates who engage from 33 different schools and units across ASU
  • More than 50 external research partnerships of cross-disciplinary faculty
  • Numerous graduate and postdoctoral fellowships through partner organizations
  • Graduate Certificate in Environmental Communication and Leadership
  • Biodiversity Conservation in Practice class taught by professors of practice
  • Opportunities to network and meet expert guest speakers

K-12 programs

GirlsConserve is a program that holds 9th -12th grade immersion camps that combine environmental leadership training, real-world experiences, and the things that most interest students.



Classes and certificates

Undergraduate Programs and Classes

SURE Program

Graduate Programs and Classes

Conservation Innovation Lab

Environmental Communication and Leadership (Graduate Certificate)

Scientists must go beyond publishing in journals if they want their research to be relevant to society. However, academic training rarely covers how to communicate with the press, the public, policy makers and other relevant stakeholders. This certificate program gives graduate students in environmental disciplines the important leadership and communication skills needed to increase their influence and reach above and beyond academia.

BIO 578: Environmental Communication and Leadership

BIO 578: Environmental Communication and Leadership will be offered in Spring 2023. This core course for the Graduate Certificate in Environmental Communication and Leadership teaches leadership and communication to early career scientists who are motivated to become agents of change. The course will take place Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in LSC 260 on the Tempe campus. It is open to all graduate students.

Fellowships

The Nature Conservancy NatureNet Science Fellowships

The Center for Biodiversity Outcomes has partnered with The Nature Conservancy to support postdoctoral fellows in interdisciplinary research designed to achieve biodiversity outcomes. NatureNet Science Fellows work closely with ASU faculty mentors to advance critical research in their respective areas. Relevant research includes soil microorganisms’ adaptation to climate change and nutrient pollution risks associated with intensified agriculture, such as concentrate animal feeding operations, under increased flooding and hurricanes.

Diversity and inclusion

Understanding the role nature plays in sustaining life is critical to the survival of the planet, but that information is less accessible to younger generations, especially underrepresented youth. The social inequality created by this potential lack of understanding has broad implications.

The Center for Biodiversity Outcomes collaborates with many external partners, such as the ANGLES Network for Graduate Leadership in Sustainability and Beyond the Academy, to enhance diversity and inclusion in STEAM+H (science, technology, arts, mathematics and health) careers at ASU and beyond, while also developing innovative education programs that provide environmental and ecological literacy. The promotion of gender equity and inclusion is a crucial component of any successful diverse organization. This principle applies not only to students, but also to university faculty and staff. In that spirit, we partner with other ASU units and initiatives – working together to propel engagement opportunities in training the next generation of conservation leaders.

Center for Gender Equity in Science and Technology

Person holding gender equality signCGEST exists to actively drive the discourse and experiences of underrepresented girls in STEM by owning, generating and critiquing the collective body of scholarship on and offering culturally responsive programs for, girls of color (e. g. African American, Native American, Latina and Asian American) and STEM education. CBO has partnered with CGEST to facilitate a series of workshops with students, faculty and administration to address some of the issues surrounding equitable access and participation incentives for underrepresented youth before, during and after they pursue STEM careers.

Nature at ASU

Nature at ASU logoNature at ASU is an undergraduate student group with the mission of building, uniting and empowering an inclusive community of students to study and protect Earth’s biodiversity and its wild habitats. It helps undergraduate students connect with a variety of resources and opportunities available to them inside and outside ASU, including scholarships, fellowships and job opportunities. Learn more and sign up to their e-newsletter. Nature at ASU’s office is located in the CBO administrative suite. The group is led by CBO faculty affiliate Sharon J. Hall.

Education Research

Understanding the role nature plays in sustaining life is critical to the survival of the planet, but that information is less accessible to younger generations, especially underrepresented youth. The social inequality created by this potential lack of understanding has broad implications.

CBO develops innovative education programs that provide environmental and ecological literacy.

Current projects include: