Helping young conservationists plug in and shine bright

Helping young conservationists plug in and shine bright

The Student Conference in Conservation Science has connected thousands of young conservationists determined to tackle the biodiversity crisis - and this year celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Over the last quarter of a century, something extraordinary has emerged from Cambridge: an annual gathering powered entirely by volunteers - an event so energising and so prized that people return year after year. Leading figures come to run workshops at their own expense, exhibitors see the buzz and donate their own money to the cause, and people are still talking about the legendary parties.

This is no ordinary conference - and that’s entirely by design.

Its founders understand first-hand how daunting international meetings can feel for students, and how challenging it can be to forge meaningful connections at the very start of a conservation career. They also know that nurturing emerging conservationists is essential, if we are to address the alarming global biodiversity loss.

In the Student Conference in Conservation Science, Professors Andrew Balmford, Rob Fletcher and Rhys Green (University of Cambridge Department of Zoology) and Dr Rosie Trevelyan (Director, Tropical Biology Association) have created an entire conference for student conservationists. Here, students present almost all the talks and posters, and field trips and workshops are designed to sharpen the skills they’ll rely on throughout their careers.

Their message to these young professionals is clear: you’re important, and we’re listening to you.

“We focus our entire event on students because they’re the ones who have new ideas about how to approach biodiversity conservation. They already have solutions, they can learn from each other, and as a community they can tackle our greatest biodiversity challenges.”

Professor Andrew Balmford

Relying on the exceptional goodwill of volunteers and funders, over 25 years the conference has brought over 4,000 early-career conservationists to Cambridge, from 142 countries. Grants are offered for travel and accommodation, to limit financial barriers to attendance.

“We want to make sure people can get here - particularly from more isolated locations in the Global South - so they can see their place in the conservation community and get access to other ways of thinking,” says Balmford. “In three days at the conference they make lasting connections and gain so much confidence in their work.”

Confidence is key in a field where people must be able to state their case well enough to change other people’s minds.

In putting students centre-stage, this conference allows them to shine: winning a prize for the best talk, for example, or being asked about their work by leaders in the field makes a huge impact on a student’s self-belief.

Read more, including interviews with attendees, in the original article by Jacqueline Garget on the University of Cambridge website.