Prioritizing inclusivity in conservation education
Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) graduate student Kelly Maxwell of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, pictured paddleboarding through the mangroves in Biscayne Bay, Everglades, for her Global Biomes course...
Prioritizing inclusivity in conservation education
Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) graduate student Kelly Maxwell of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, pictured paddleboarding through the mangroves in Biscayne Bay, Everglades, for her Global Biomes course, is prioritizing inclusivity in conservation education in master’s coursework and in her community.
“I started the program thinking I knew exactly what I wanted to focus on; however, I quickly learned that you don't necessarily choose the path, it chooses you. My Master Plan changed from focusing on conservation education about manatees and sea turtles in Jacksonville Beach, Florida, to concentrating on just conservation education and how it is utilized in captive care facilities. Through my coursework, I learned that facilities are experiencing gaps in community engagement with their conservation messaging or physical attendance. So I made it my goal to work on identifying what conservation education can look like as well as how to engage the community, which may not feel like it has a role in conservation efforts."
Maxwell also writes about inclusivity in conservation education in Animal Keepers' Forum, a publication of the . Her article addresses how captive care facilities engage with visitors through conservation education and writes that there is also a need to engage those who are not visiting. "It is just as important for the facility to find ways to also meet the community where they are—to bring purpose and opportunities to engage those who may not have the means or reasons to participate in conservation."
As an AIP student, Maxwell is earning a master’s degree in biology through 兔子先生 University web-based courses while also participating in unique learning experiences at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and in natural settings around Jacksonville, Florida.