October 2011 - Student Conference on Conservation Science New York

The Student Conference on Conservation Science-New York (SCCS-NY) provided a unique opportunity for those beginning their careers to present their work before established leaders in science, policy, and management. In addition to formal presentations, the conference offered numerous opportunities to interact with senior-level conservation professionals at workshops, informal gatherings, and networking events.

SCCS-NY, hosted by the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History, is a sister conference to the highly successful SCCS-Cambridge, begun in 2000 by the University of Cambridge, and the newly developed SCCS-Bangalore.

Video of the plenaries and best student talks can be accessed at http://symposia.cbc.amnh.org/sccsny/2011/highlights

November 2010 - Student Conference on Conservation Science New York

In early November 2010, the American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation hosted SCCS-NY, the Student Conference on Conservation Science in New York City. Designed for graduate students, recent post-doctoral fellows, and early-career professionals, the conference specifically targeted those pursuing or considering a profession in conservation science. Video of the best student talks can be accessed at http://symposia.cbc.amnh.org/sccsny/best-talk. Video of the best student speed-talks can be accessed at http://symposia.cbc.amnh.org/sccsny/best-speed-talk. Best student posters can be accessed at http://symposia.cbc.amnh.org/sccsny/best-poster.

April 2009 - Exploring the Dynamic Relationship Between Health and the Environment

The Center for Biodiversity and Conservation Milstein Science Symposium presented a diversity of viewpoints and experiences, spanning the natural, medical, and social sciences, as well as policy planning. Presenters discussed knowledge/data gaps and the limitations of current approaches, and examined innovative methods that move beyond speculation to a grounded understanding of impacts and realistic solutions. Particular emphasis was placed on consideration of multiple and interacting stressors and decision making for maximizing benefits to both health and the environment. All of the speaker talks can be viewed in interactive, multimedia format at http://symposia.cbc.amnh.org/health/webcast.html. MP3 audio can be accessed at http://symposia.cbc.amnh.org/health/agenda.html

April 2008 - Sustaining Cultural and Biological Diversity in a Rapidly Changing World: Lessons for Global Policy

Sustaining Cultural and Biological Diversity in a Rapidly Changing World: Lessons for Global Policy was co-organized by the American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, IUCN-CEESP Theme on Culture and Conservation, Terralingua, and the Wenner-Gren Foundation. This symposium was made possible by major support and organizational assistance from The Christensen Fund. Additional support was provided by the Rockefeller Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and Oak Foundation, and by the National Science Foundation. Video for this event can be access at http://symposia.cbc.amnh.org/biocultural/webcast.html. MP3 audio can be accessed at http://symposia.cbc.amnh.org/biocultural/agenda.html.

April 2007 - Small Matters: Microbes and Their Role in Conservation

This symposium brought together a diverse group of microbiologists and conservation biologists to explore this intersection of two fields that, until now, has not been considered in depth. We addressed the broad questions of: How much microbial diversity is there on the planet? How does this diversity affect other organisms, both positively and negatively? How should conservation practices take microbial life into account? Video for this event can be access at http://symposia.cbc.amnh.org/microbes/webcast.html. MP3 audio can be accessed at http://symposia.cbc.amnh.org/microbes/agenda.html.

April 2006 - Conserving Birds in Human-Dominated Landscapes

The subject of conserving rare birds in the wild has long been the focus of research, debate, and action among scientists and resource managers. Recently, there has been growing recognition of diverse avian responses to broad-scale human activities in urban centers, agricultural areas, coastal communities, working forests-the wide array of landscapes we call home. Within these human-dominated systems, shifts are occurring in bird abundance, distribution, behavior, life histories and, ultimately, evolutionary potential. This conference focused on unique challenges to, and key opportunities for invigorating bird diversity in the areas most heavily impacted by human activities.

April 2005 - New Currents in Conserving Freshwater Systems

On April 7 and 8, 2005, the American Museum of Natural History hosted a forum for scientists and conservation practitioners to highlight recent successful initiatives in freshwater conservation, to discuss cutting-edge ideas and tools, and to investigate how and where these innovations might be implemented on the ground. The symposium showcased projects that are rooted in the best available science, integrate scientific fields, and link science with other disciplines. This cross-disciplinary integration will generate a fertile landscape for discussing the way forward in freshwater conservation.

March 2004 - Expanding the Ark: The Emerging Science and Practice of Invertebrate Conservation

The American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, in collaboration with Conservation International, the National Parks Service, NatureServe, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Xerces Society, convened a two-day symposium to examine the status of invertebrate biodiversity, in which speakers from around the world considered a broad range of perspectives on how best to advance an invertebrate conservation agenda. "Expanding the Ark" provided a venue to engage the scientific community, conservation practitioners, policy makers, and the public in a dialogue on the fate of invertebrate biodiversity, and to map concrete approaches for future action.

March 2003 - Tiger in the Forest: Sustainable Nature-Based Tourism in Southeast Asia

The Center for Biodiversity and Conservation's 2003 spring symposium explored the role of nature-based tourism in biodiversity conservation within mainland Southeast Asia (specifically Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam). The region harbors a significant proportion of the world's rare and endemic plants and animals, including several species new to science. As the number of tourists and travel businesses drawn to the region increases, so too does concern for the sustainability of natural areas and local communities, from a biological, cultural, and economic standpoint.

March 2002 - Sustaining Seascapes: The Science and Policy of Marine Resource Management

Sustaining Seascapes: The Science and Policy of Marine Resource Management examined the large-scale conservation of marine ecosystems - considering novel approaches to the sustainable management of biodiversity and fisheries. Through theory, reviews, and case studies, participants explored efforts to integrate natural, socioeconomic, and cultural factors at local and regional scales in response to ongoing threats to both fisheries and biodiversity. This year's symposium was co-sponsored by a consortium of organizations, including Environmental Defense, NOAA's Marine Protected Areas Center, the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife Conservation Society, and World Wildlife Fund.

April 2001 - Conservation Genetics in the Age of Genomics

This international gathering of biologists, ecologists, geneticists, conservation resource managers, and students convened to discuss the expanding role of molecular technology as current and proposed conservation management strategies are evaluated. Presenters explored the increasing importance of genetics research to the conservation of biodiversity. Conservation Genetics in the Age of Genomics was jointly sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation and the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society.

April 2000 - Nature in Fragments: The Legacy of Urban Sprawl

Sprawl is all around us - housing developments, strip malls, endless miles of roadways - and most people experience the problems caused by unplanned development every day. But beyond the pollution, the traffic jams, the destruction of community, and the increasing tax burdens resulting from sprawl, there is another problem: sprawl's impact on biodiversity. Our post-war, auto-driven style of development has fragmented natural habitats and ecosystems, threatening species survival, and, ultimately, human health and well-being.

April-May 1999 - Biodiversity and Climate Change: Conservation in the Face of Uncertainty

Over the course of two days, scientists, natural resource managers, conservation biologists, and policymakers explored the evidence for past and present climate change and its consequences for ecosystems and speciesand also addressed conservation planning in an age of uncertain climatic trends. A special session examined the past, present, and future effects of a changing climate on New York City and address regional and local conservation planning issues.

April 1997 - Extinction: Humans and Other Catastrophes

For two days in April 1997 three hundred scientists, journalists, policy makers and people like yourself gathered at the American Museum of Natural History to participate in the spring symposium titled "Humans and Other Catastrophes." The first day of the symposium focused on possible causes of past extinctions, particularly the end-Pleistocene extinction that occured around 14,000 calendar years ago*. The second day focused on how lessons from past extinctions could help us set policy for preventative action today. Many questions raised at the symposium remain unanswered.