conservation
Stories from the field, tips for aspiring researchers, analyses of pressing conservation issues, and *opinions* (of which I have many) about conservation as a field and academia as a sector, as well as updates from my work and cool outputs from colleague-friends. See also Conservation Realist and Keiruna Inc.
Global Conservation & My Disregarded To-Do Lists
Global Conservation & My Disregarded To-Do Lists About a year ago, I had a mini-revelation about international conservation that made me feelContinue reading “Global Conservation & My Disregarded To-Do Lists”
Journey Mapping: A research tool for empathy
As a conservation researcher whose work focuses on the interactions between conservation efforts and communities, a critically important part of my job is to better understand people.
Why we need conservation realism
Welcome to the Conservation Realist publication!
In the conservation world, there are often starry-eyed calls for optimism. “Hope spots” and “bright spots.” A common rallying cry: “We have to show that it’s not all doom and gloom!”
What’s often ignored is that there is a vast and rich middle ground between optimism and doom. It’s realism. And we need more of it to be incorporated in mainstream conservation conversations and actions.
Design Thinking & Conservation
With thoughtful and responsible use, Design Thinking can substantially contribute to more effective, equitable, and ethical conservation practices.
Developing an Innovative Conservation Training Program
At the Myanmar Coastal Conservation Lab (MCCL) at Point B Design + Training, we’ve developed a thoughtful, remarkably effective training program toContinue reading “Developing an Innovative Conservation Training Program”
Environmentalism in a Pandemic: The importance of critical, empathetic, and future-driven thinking
Written in April – some thoughts and quick information search on what the pandemic actually means for the environment, beyond thoughtless “natureContinue reading “Environmentalism in a Pandemic: The importance of critical, empathetic, and future-driven thinking”
What dwells in these muddy waters: The quest for dolphins and porpoises in the Gulf of Mottama, Myanmar
About our journey – from an unexpected revelation in India, to poking around fishing villages, to finally seeing the animals with ourContinue reading “What dwells in these muddy waters: The quest for dolphins and porpoises in the Gulf of Mottama, Myanmar”
A tangled net: Bycatch, dolphin conservation, and human well-being
Bycatch is a serious threat to marine megafauna around the world; reducing it requires changes in how people fish, posing a highly challenging situation where conservation might threaten human well-being.
Cute, Generally Irritating, and Endangered: Lessons from studying Irrawaddy dolphins & their conservation systems
We love to gripe about these dolphins, but we also just love them. My views of conservation have been heavily influenced byContinue reading “Cute, Generally Irritating, and Endangered: Lessons from studying Irrawaddy dolphins & their conservation systems”
Research Highlight: Misguided attempts to revive Vaquita Conservation
You may have heard about the vaquita, a hapless little porpoise species in the Upper Gulf of California, Mexico. It’s been oneContinue reading “Research Highlight: Misguided attempts to revive Vaquita Conservation”
Some tips for aspiring conservation researchers
I wrote this back in 2016 or so, but most of it should still hold true! I often receive emails from aspiringContinue reading “Some tips for aspiring conservation researchers”
In Deep Sea News: Beyond drug lords and conservationists…
…who is missing in the coverage of the vaquita’s demise? Vaquita conservation has been a hot topic (well, as far as endangeredContinue reading “In Deep Sea News: Beyond drug lords and conservationists…”
Read all about it: Multi-methods approach for estimating Irrawaddy dolphin bycatch
Officially out in Marine Mammal Science this month – another chapter from the ol’ disseration – Multi-methods approach to characterizing the magnitude, impact,Continue reading “Read all about it: Multi-methods approach for estimating Irrawaddy dolphin bycatch”
On “hopelessness”, ignorant bliss, and pragmatism
Main point: One of the most intensely frustrating attributes of the general conservation community is a fear of realism – optimism isContinue reading “On “hopelessness”, ignorant bliss, and pragmatism”
Read all about it: Governance Potential for Marine Mammal Bycatch Mitigation
Presenting my first first-author paper, from my dissertation! This paper is part of a special issue in Applied Geography on Cultural GeographyContinue reading “Read all about it: Governance Potential for Marine Mammal Bycatch Mitigation”
Ta-Daaaa: Defense Presentation Video!
Way back in August (actually, exactly 5 months ago), I gave the most important presentation of my life thus far: my dissertationContinue reading “Ta-Daaaa: Defense Presentation Video!”
Climate Change & Small-scale Fisheries
Originally posted on SAFRN Blog:
One of the great tragedies of climate change is that it will severely impact those who had…
Let’s move this science-policy-communication conversation forward
If you want to see me struggle to repress an eye-roll of great magnitude, just say, “Well, what is the role ofContinue reading “Let’s move this science-policy-communication conversation forward”
Overthinking Conservation
“You’re perfect for this fellowship, but there’s no ‘Whitty et al.’ yet… Your problem is, you overthink things. You want things to beContinue reading “Overthinking Conservation”
Listen
Originally posted on SAFRN Blog:
Yesterday, I came across this story by Malcolm Gladwell on BBC News about how the Vietnam War…
Tara Sayuri Whitty, PhD 