News

The new Conservation Research Training Program (PZSoLS CRTP) - created through a partnership between the Phoenix Zoo and School of Life Sciences (SoLS) at Arizona State University (ASU) - promotes and facilitates opportunities for a SoLS undergraduate major at ASU to participate in research through the SOLUR program at the Phoenix Zoo’s Conservation and Science Center.

This is an exciting opportunity to engage in real-world experimental design and applied research in strong collaboration with an academic institution and an internationally recognized zoo. The selected individual will enter into a mentorship with Phoenix Zoo and ASU researchers conducting ex situ and in situ studies at the zoo. This student will be exposed to all aspects of the scientific method, including observation, experimental design, and data collection and analysis, while drawing on the academic expertise of SoLS faculty and the species conservation expertise of Phoenix Zoo staff. They may also develop and conduct an independent study as part of this program. The student will also participate in ASU's SOLUR seminar, where they become a part of the larger undergraduate research community at ASU and gain insights into broader aspects of the research enterprise (e.g. ethics, collaboration, community outreach). PZSoLS CRTP students will gain valuable real-world experience in conservation and will be challenged in a manner that will prepare them for a career in life sciences. A one-year paid position is available starting July 2014, with the potential to renew annually if sufficient progress is made.

Apply Here

PZSoLS CRTP PDF

CBO Partner, The Earth Genome, recently released an exciting year one progress report. Earlier this year, the Earth Genome partnered with CBO and a team of ASU researchers to develop a series of decision support tools to aid in resource decision-making.

The Earth Genome has also partnered with leading GIS software developer Esri, the World Resources Institute and the Environmental Defense Fund.

In the coming months The Earth Genome will pilot its first tool that is designed to reveal options for decisions on water use.  The water tool will be showcased at the World Business Council on Sustainable Development meeting in December 2015.

The Earth Genome and CBO are currently exploring the design needs for the next tool, to aid users in making sustainable investments.

EEarth Genome March 2015 Progress Report

CBO will sponsor a panel discussion at the 2015 Ecological Society of America annual meeting. The panel will explore the obstacles underserved youth face in pursuing ecological education at the college level as well as environmental careers. The panel will also explore existing programs designed to address these challenges.

A diverse panel of professionals and academics will engage leaders from a range of youth engagement programs to discuss challenges and opportunities of developing innovative educational programs that provide youth from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds with basic literacy in ecological sustainability.

Key discussion themes include:

• How too connect with environmental issues that matter most to underserved youth
• How to engage with a diversity of underserved youth
• How to improve youth engagement in ecology so that it flows from early education to higher education into the job market.

The Center for Biodiversity Outcomes is supporting exploration of a partnership with the Whale Trust, and Lahainaluna High School (LHS), in Lahaina, HI

Recently CBO director, Leah Gerber and PhD student Yaiyr Astudillo-Scalia (SOLS) spearheaded an initiative to integrate the research efforts of local NGO, Whale Trust with STEM education and outreach facilitated by LHS and ASU. Given CBO’s goal to engage underserved youth in STEM, the proposed partnership would represent an important opportunity for Lahaina students. A partnership among these three institutions is a next step to help accomplish CBO’s vision, Whale Trust’s outreach mission, and LHS’s STEM education goals, while also supporting research of ASU graduate students.

CBO Director Leah Gerber, proposes a compromise on a total whaling ban: A market in which whales can by bought and sold.

Taking Stock of Nature

Visit Taxonbytes: From Specimens to Language, Logic and Learning

A blog by CBO Faculty Affiliate, Nico Franz, Associate Professor and Curator of Insects

The Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program at University of Washington is looking for some amazing talent to teach and mentor their Conservation Scholars this summer.  Please see the three job announcements attached.  The program is focused on training the next generation of conservation leaders. Their vision is a diverse and inclusive conservation community.

In particular, DDCSP is looking for candidates that will resinate with the diversity represented in their scholars.

Job Descriptions:

DDCSP Instructional position 2015 DDCSP TA Position 2015 DDCSP 1-week Instructor Postition2015

DDCSP TA Position 2015

DDCSP 1-week Instructor Postition2015

In this interview, CBO Director, Leah Gerber discusses the important questions at the intersection of conservation science and policy.

Interview transcript

CBO affiliated researcher Rolf Halden, director of the Biodesign Center for Environmental Security, contributed to this EHP focus piece:

New Link in the Food Chain? Marine Plastic Pollution and Seafood Safety

Halden is co-leading a CBO research focal area on Biodiversity and Public Health with a keen interest in this emerging issue of micro plastics as aquatic pollutants.

CBO Director, Leah Gerber has joined the Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management task force. Task force scientists will work together in a series of meetings to create a practical blueprint that fisheries managers can use to operationalize ecosystem-based management. The team will provide recommendations in 2016.

Space is still available; pre-registration is required at www.azgfd.gov/careerday   

Do you know someone who is interested in a career in wildlife conservation and management?

If so, encourage them to attend the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Wildlife Management Career Exploration Panel being held in north Phoenix from 9 a.m. until noon this Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015. The event, which is geared toward high school and undergraduate college students, is free, but pre-registration is required to attend. More specific information will be sent to participants after they register.

Participants will have the opportunity to hear from a panel of current Game and Fish employees who will provide an overview of their responsibilities, job activities, and their background experience. These panelists will include:

• A wildlife manager (game ranger)
• A wildlife biologist
• A wildlife health specialist/veterinarian
• A wildlife education specialist

The panel presentations will be followed by a short question-and-answer session with all panelists along with an opportunity to meet the individual panelists to ask more specific questions. Representatives from local colleges and wildlife non-profit organizations will also be available to showcase educational and volunteer opportunities.

Children younger than 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

Remember, space is limited, and pre-registration is required in order to attend the event. To register, click here.

Can't make the event but still want to view it? You can sign up to receive information about a webcast of the event by clicking here.

If you have questions, contact Mike Demlong at mdemlong@azgfd.gov or Eric Proctor ateproctor@azgfd.gov.

The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy (MSC) has created a new position of Director of the McDowell Sonoran Field Institute, the organization's research arm.  This is a unique position in that MSC leads the country in managing urban/preserve interface (30,000 acres) and in the citizen science research MSC does to inform preserve management.

Click HERE to find out more

"Here’s why mass-poisoning pikas is a terrible idea (and not just because look at their fat little faces)"

Science writer Bec Crew blogs in Scientific American about the impacts of pika poisoning on Qinhai-Tibetan plateau.

Crew cites CBO Advisory Board member, Andrew Smith and doctoral student Maxwell Wilson's important studies on pika published recently in the journal Ambio.

The CAP-LTER-Conservation Alliance Community Wildflower Survey has been selected for funding from the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance research grants program. The project, lead by CBO advisory board member, Sharon Hall will pilot a community-based research and educational program to monitor the long-term ecological impacts of the urban environment in native Phoenix-area Sonoran Desert preserves.

CBO and partners from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Mission:Wildlife and the University of Maryland were awarded support from the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) to develop new decision tools for recovery and spending decisions in endangered species conservation. The research team is comprised of an international group of decision scientists, ecologists and agency personnel. The team will apply structured decision-making approaches in the context of the new Species Status Assessment process being developed by the FWS. SESYNC will support a series of workshops focused on the development of a decision framework for endangered species recovery action prioritization and recovery budget allocation.

If you missed Joe Arvai's seminar last month, click HERE to see video of his talk online.

Join us tomorrow to learn about summer opportunities at United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Recruiters from the USFWS will be on campus at ASU to highlight their Summer 2015 Directorate Resource Assistant Fellowship Program.  The Program is designed for seniors (beginning in Fall 2015), or 2015 graduates who will be attending graduate school beginning in Fall 2015, or graduate students who have completed their first year of graduate school.

There will be 60 positions spread across the US in a variety of different venues.  And, best of all, Fellows may be eligible for a permanent position with the USFWS.

Bring your resume and join us for pizza

Wrigley 308

Noon – 1:00,  Thursday November 20th

USFWS DRA Fellowship

As CBO prepares to celebrate it's launch this week with the arrival of Dr. Georgina Mace, Nature publishes a call for broader participation in conservation. The call is signed by 240 conservation scientists, include six from ASU, all affiliates of the Center for Biodiversity Outcomes.

ASU scientists support call for inclusion in conservation science

On Nov. 6, a letter signed by 240 of the world’s leading conservationists, including six from ASU's new Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, was published in the journal Nature. The letter, titled “A call for inclusive conservation,” expresses discontent with a divisive debate in the conservation field over whether nature should be protected for its own sake or for the benefit of humankind.

To remedy this, the letter proposes an ethic of inclusiveness – one that recognizes the merits of each approach and encourages broader participation from the conservationist population. The letter’s six Center for Biodiversity Outcomes signatories agree that adoption of this ethic will help engage and align an expansive audience with conservation efforts.

Nature publishes the open letter as the Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, a partnership between the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability and School of Life Sciences, prepares to celebrate its launch on Nov. 13-14.

CBO partner, The Central Arizona Conservation Alliance, a Desert Botanical Garden initiative released it's inaugural website this week.

The Conservation Alliance facilitates and leverages community engagement to study, restore and promote the mountain park preserves of metro Phoenix.

Visits mymountainparks.org to get involved!