Call for Nominations: SCB Social Science Working Group Board

[K Wallen]

Nominations due by 5th April 2021

Dear SCB SSWG Members,

SCB’s Social Science Working Group (SSWG) requests nominations for two at-large seats on the SSWG Board to serve a three-year term, beginning in July 2021.

The SSWG is a global community of conservation professionals interested in the application of the social sciences to global biodiversity conservation. Since 2003, the SSWG has grown to nearly 700 members in over 70 countries. The SSWG is home to a diverse and multidisciplinary array of conservation researchers and practitioners from various backgrounds.

The SSWG Board consists of 12 members, including 9 at-large members and 3 officers (President, Past President, and Secretary). The SSWG Board actively develops and coordinates initiatives to best accomplish the mission of the SSWG, which is to strengthen the conservation social sciences and their application to conservation practice. Find more information about SSWG at https://conbio.org/groups/working-groups/social-science.

We welcome self-nominations as well as nominations of other people; however, please only nominate people other than yourself with their permission. The nominations committee will consider geographic, disciplinary, and professional diversity to develop a final ballot of up to four candidates.

All nominees must be SCB and SSWG members in good standing (check your membership status at https://conbio.org/). All candidates should possess: (1) a demonstrated commitment to SCB and SSWG (both the missions and the organizations); (2) sufficient time/capacity to provide leadership; (3) relevant research and/or practitioner experience.

Time commitments vary (approximately 4-10 hours per month). We ask potential candidates to think carefully about their ability to commit sufficient time to the SSWG Board prior to nomination. Board members are expected to: (a) attend monthly virtual meetings, (b) serve as an active member of two or more SSWG Committees; chair at least 1 committee for 1 year (c) develop and implement SSWG’s strategic plan and Committee annual work plans, and (d) support the SSWG's goals in the following five areas:

1. Science: Advance scientific understanding of conservation as a social process.
2. Policy: Inform conservation decision-making through scientific dialogue and stakeholder engagement.
3. Capacity-building: Enhance the ability of scholars and practitioners to understand and address the social dimensions of biodiversity conservation.
4. Membership: Expand, diversify, and engage the SSWG membership.
5. Organizational development: Increase the capacity of the SSWG to achieve its mission.

Board members are also encouraged to attend one in-person SCB-related congress annually (as circumstances allow) and serve as an SSWG liaison to SCB committees, conferences, or other collaborative efforts.

Nominees should send their CV and statement of interest that details past involvement with SCB and their vision for SSWG (250-word limit) to Lily Van Eeden (SSWG Membership and Nominations Committee Chair, lily.v...@delwp.vic.gov.au) by 5-April-2021. Please indicate the time commitment you are willing to make to board-related tasks, and committees you may be interested in participating in or leading. Elections will begin mid-April.

Thank you for your consideration!

SCB's Social Science Working Group