RFP: ICCB 2017 Symposium - The State of Social-Ecological Science in Environmental NGO Practice

[Rebecca Garvoille]

Dear SSWG Colleagues,

I am organizing an ICCB 2017 symposium and I am looking for 1-2 additional folks to join as presenters (symposium proposals are due December 7). I would prefer that you are an ENGO staff member and can speak to a case study that engages SES. I am especially interested in folks who can present on and discuss case studies outside of the North American context. 

ICCB 2017 Symposium: The State of Social-Ecological Science in Environmental NGO Practice

Organizer: Rebecca Garvoille, Denver Zoo; Co-Organizer: Ashley Dayer, Virginia Tech

 

A host of recent papers discuss the state of social-ecological science - research that integrates insights and approaches from social and natural science to address conservation problems - and offer recommendations to scientists on how to more effectively approach these kinds of interdisciplinary collaborations (e.g. Sandbrook et al. 2013, Rissman and Gillon 2016, Bennett et al. 2016). For example, Moon and Blackmon (2014) encourage natural scientists to learn more about the philosophical principles and theoretical assumptions of social science disciplines, and offer a guide to interpreting social science approaches.

 

However, there is limited understanding of how these insights are being applied at the project-level across environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs), and if ENGO experiences differ from those in academic research settings. What does it take to effectively integrate the natural and social sciences to generate more insightful and relevant conservation projects and outcomes across the spectrum of environmental NGOs? How do problems of understanding, philosophy, capacity and method play out in these contexts? Environmental NGOs operate at local-to-global scales, are more oriented towards concrete actions to conserve biodiversity, are mission-driven and have access to varying resources. This symposium explores ENGO perspectives on social-ecological science from the ground-up, and will highlight the most effective practices, key observations, and relevant challenges from six case studies featuring ENGO researchers leading social-ecological initiatives. 

If you are interested, please contact me ASAP at rgarv...@gmail.com and send a working title and a presentation abstract of 250 words or less by no later than close of business on Tuesday, December 6. 

Cheers, 

Rebecca

Rebecca Garvoille, Ph.D.

Conservation Social Scientist

 

Department of Conservation and Research

Denver Zoological Foundation

2300 Steele St • Denver, CO 80205

p:720-337-1676 | c: 954-330-7412

rgarv...@denverzoo.org | denverzoo.org