Cambridge Conservation Initiative
Transforming the landscape of biodiversity conservation
The new Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) represents a visionary approach to one of the greatest global challenges of the 21st century: understanding and protecting the planet's natural resources and biological diversity. Harnessing the world-class expertise that exists across the University, and building on its position at the geographic centre of the largest cluster of conservation organisations in the world, this multi-faceted, evolving Initiative illustrates the tremendous momentum that can result from complementary activities that bring together people from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds.
The following programmes are accelerating our understanding of issues relating to conservation and our ability to come up with practical solutions.
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The Miriam Rothschild Conservation Programme
Funded by Arcadia, this Programme is located within the biological sciences. It includes an endowed Professorship of Conservation Biology, PhD studentships, and a travel bursary programme to enable students from less developed countries to gain vital experience through networking and placements at host institutions, centred around an annual international student conference in Cambridge. Arcadia has, in addition, funded the post of Executive Director of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, and the first appointee, Dr Michael Rands, based at Judge Business School, is driving forward collaborations between the University and the cluster of internationally renowned conservation organisations centred around the Cambridge area.
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The Moran Professorship of Conservation and Development
Funded by James and Jane Wilson in honour of James' father, committed conservationist Lord Moran, and situated in the Department of Geography, this Professorship draws together the work of leading experts from the social and natural sciences to examine how social, economic and political factors affect the way natural resources are used and conserved. The Wilsons have also funded a new lectureship and programme in climate change. The Moran Professorship is held by Bill Adams, and you can watch his inaugural public lecture, 'Biodiversty and Poverty: The Challenge for Conservation', here.
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Masters in Conservation Leadership
This new course, supported by a Swiss-based conservation foundation, aims to produce not only experts who can advise policy-makers, but also the next generation of decision-makers themselves. It encompasses economics, political science and management studies in an approach that also fully integrates the natural sciences.
The impact of these gifts is making itself felt. Over 200 Cambridge students and academics are already directly involved in these programmes, and policy-makers and conservationists from around the world are participating in the resulting collaborations.
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