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.

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 https://www.azgfd.com/Agency/Employment/ 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 at eproctor@azgfd.gov.

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

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.