WNPS Monthly Lecture, Conservation Education: Thinking Outside the Box will be delivered by Dr. Jody Miller of Rutgers University, USA at the BMICH on February 16 at 6 pm.
 Dr Jody Miller |
 Youth actively advocating for the preservation of the environment and natural resources |
 There is a need to think outside the box and come up with innovative and engaging ways to deliver conservation education to a wider audience |
Climate scientists agree that we are in the midst of the sixth mass extinction of wildlife on earth, with thousands of species on the brink of extinction and likely to be lost within decades. This is “the most serious environmental threat to civilisation,” in Sri Lanka and around the world. While governmental actions and international treaties must play an important role in stemming the tide and addressing the climate crisis, on-the-ground local efforts are also critical. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment.
Despite their necessity for addressing the scope of the crisis we face, top-down approaches have limits and face resistance. Thinking outside the box means tailoring our efforts to specific contexts and challenges, including local community members as key stakeholders, and addressing their economic and other needs. It also means engaging children early and in meaningful ways, to provide young people with the in-depth knowledge that can inspire future generations towards unconventional thinking in finding solutions to both short and long-term environmental issues.
In this WNPS lecture, Dr. Miller discusses creative ways to incorporate conservation concepts in our work and everyday activities. Drawing on examples from Sri Lanka and the region, she highlights the key elements of education and outreach programs that succeed in building community collaboration, moving people from awareness to action, and inspiring new generations to embrace the challenges that lay ahead.
Dr. Jody Miller is a Distinguished Professor in the School of Criminal Justice at Rutgers University (New Jersey, USA), Fellow of the American Society of Criminology, and Co-Director of the Racial Democracy, Crime and Justice Network. She has been a resident of Sri Lanka since 1999, when she arrived as a Fulbright Senior Scholar. An avid animal lover and advocate for social justice, she teaches on conservation criminology and environmental justice and is a spokesperson and social media manager for the Thalangama Wetland Watch The monthly lecture of the WNPS is free and is supported by the Nations Trust Bank. It is open to both members and non-members, Entrance free.