Dear all,
TUESDAY 11 DECEMBER – ‘MIND THE GAP... IN OUR KNOWLEGDE: ADDRESSING INFORMATION BIAS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE’
Perhaps the single most important element of conservation science is information. Without sufficient information, how can we possibly expect to understand and protect species and habitats? However, despite the volume of knowledge we currently have in the 'information-age', we have a tenuous grasp of what drives trends in scientific research. If much of it is driven by the motivation and passion of individual scientists and the public at large, then does the sum body of research provide the public with a balanced understanding of the species around us? Such an understanding is critical given the diversity of species around us and current levels of threats on a global scale. This event will look at extremely well known and diverse groups of animals in which individual species vary greatly in the degree to which they are studied and recorded by scientists. We will explore biases in the information-base, highlight reasons and mechanisms behind gaps in our knowledge, and will outline some of the implications of these biases for the success of conservation science.
Speakers and talk titles
Nature and notoriety: linking species traits and the extent to which they are studied - Zoe Brooke, ZSL
Monitoring global biodiversity under data uncertainty - Lucie Bland, ZSL & Imperial College London
Conservation insights from the fossil record: unique perspectives, unique biases - Sam Turvey, ZSL
Distorted views of biodiversity: spatial and temporal bias in species occurrence data - Lizzie Boakes, Imperial College London
This meeting will be chaired by Georgina Mace, University College London
This event in the ‘Communicating science’ series will begin at 6.00pm (doors open at 5.00pm) and talks are scheduled to finish at 7.45pm; admission is free and open to everyone. This event will be held in the ZSL Meeting Rooms and seats will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
3-COURSE DINNER WITH THE SPEAKERS
A dinner will follow this Science and Conservation Event and everyone is welcome. Dinner places cost £35 per person including two glasses of wine and reservations should be made before 5pm on Wednesday 5 December.
Hope to see you there!
All the best,
Megan
Megan Orpwood-Russell
Scientific Events Co-ordinator
Zoological Society London
Regents Park, London NW1 4RY
Tel: +44 (0)20 7449 6227. Fax: +44 (0)20 74496411
[log in to unmask]
www.zsl.org