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In the news
Universities must do more to help researchers help society
There are important roles for scientists and scholars to play in addressing wicked problems—but for many experts based at universities, the system doesn’t reward their engagement.
Read on www.researchprofessionalnews.com/Recent publications
A Scorecard for Designing and Evaluating University Partnerships
A team of CBO scientists led by Dr. Chris Barton, along with center director Leah Gerber, wrote a chapter for the book From Purpose to Impact: The University and Business Partnership, which aims to close the gap between academia and industry by exploring innovative methods of engagement. Titled “A Scorecard for Designing and Evaluating University Partnerships”, the chapter describes a new tool for assessing diverse types of collaborations beyond the classic research and development partnership. Consistent with CBO’s commitment to cross-sector partnerships, the scorecard provides practical guidelines on how to maximize outcomes associated with such partnerships. While universities are the main audience, the scorecard can be applied to a variety of partnerships. The scorecard aims to guide individuals engaged in the collaboration as well as provide metrics to standardize assessments of partnership effectiveness.
Global research priorities for historical ecology to inform conservation
Program Lead Dr. Katie Cramer contributed to a recent publication titled “Global research priorities for historical ecology to inform conservation” which used structured decision-making to examine research priorities for the field of historical ecology that can be used to advance conservation science in key priority areas: (1) methods and concepts, (2) knowledge co-production and community engagement, (3) policy and management, and (4) climate change impacts.
Bringing data to decision making for conservation and biodiversity
Dr. Leah Gerber and Dr. Gwen Iacona edited a special collection for PLOS Biology focused on the complex problem of translating conservation and biodiversity research from the field into the real world. The framing article, Aligning data with decisions to address the biodiversity crisis, discusses the disconnect between the data we have and the data we need for more effective action on conservation, as well as how social justice and end-user viewpoints must be centered to ensure a more sustainable future for our planet.
Balancing protection and production in ocean conservation
CBO Faculty Affiliate Dr. Jack Kittinger led a perspectives piece looking at the balance between marine protection and sustainable production, in light of rapid acceleration of the biodiversity and climate crises. This piece identifies advances in science needed to integrate both protection and production in pelagic ecosystems, as well as conservation in practice more broadly.
Past Events
The Center for Biodiversity Outcomes celebrates 10 years of conservation research and success
The Center for Biodiversity Outcomes recently held our 10-year anniversary event! We celebrated our success over our first ten years and developed plans for future work. The event featured panel discussions with our program leads, affiliated faculty, students, and community members surrounding our three research pillars: centering biodiversity in decision making, studying effective conservation action, and training the next generation. We also highlighted a photo exhibition on Indigenous Sustainability in the Amazon from some of our affiliates. We wrapped up with a celebratory lunch and deeper discussions on conservation efforts. Hear from all our brilliant panelists here! As part of our 10 Year Celebration, partners, colleagues, students, and employees from the last decade shared video messages of their favorite CBO memories.
Moonshot Accelerator
Gwen Iacona and Leah Gerber, along with Dr. Margaret Hinrichs and other ASU faculty, developed a project through ASU’s Moonshot Accelerator program that creates tools to get data to conservation practitioners in a useful way as part of CBO’s effort to improve endangered species recovery. The proposed program would partner an ASU graduate student with conservation practitioners to provide a context-specific, data-driven plan for endangered species management.
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