Inhabiting the Nexus of Wildlife Science, Policy and Conservation

Abstract

As biologists, we have charismatic wildlife species, trials and tribulations from the field, data, and, hopefully, valuable conclusions. What is our role in connecting our work to conservation and policy issues and to the larger community? What and how can our scientific findings influence policy at the local, state, or federal level? In these times of climate disruption, dispassionate reiteration of our research makes less impact than revealing our research findings via a good story and message. For the past five years with Montana Audubon, Amy has worked at the nexus of climate policy, ornithology, wildlife conservation, and community organizing. She will share some best practices for climate communications, gleaned from the experts, so that different audiences (public lecture participants, cocktail party goers, skeptical uncles, newspaper readers, etc.) can take something away and be part of the solution. Citizen scientists, Black Swifts, and Corvids combine to provide examples of communicating wildlife science, climate impacts, and inspiring action and optimism.