Who We Are

Social Science Working Group of the Society for Conservation Biology: A global community of conservation professionals

Mission

Strengthen Conservation Social Science and its Application to Conservation Practice

Vision

Inform Scientific Debate; Establish Global Community; Catalyze Future Generations

Goals

Science, Policy, Capacity-Building, Membership, and Organizational Capacity

MISSION

The mission of the Social Science Working Group (SSWG) is to strengthen conservation social science and its application to conservation practice.

VISION

  • Inform key scientific debates in conservation policy
  • Establish a vibrant global community of conservation social scientists
  • Catalyze development of the next generation of leaders in conservation social science

GOALS

  • Science. Advance scientific understanding of conservation as a social process
  • Policy. Inform conservation decision-making through scientific dialogue and stakeholder engagement
  • Capacity-Building. Enhance the ability of scholars and practitioners to understand and address the social dimensions of biodiversity conservation
  • Membership. Expand, diversify, and engage the SSWG membership
  • Organizational Development. Increase the capacity of the SSWG to achieve its mission

Board of Directors

Learn more about the current SSWG Board Members

Amit Kaushik

At-Large Member

Amit is an PhD student in Integrative Conservation and Anthropology at the University of Georgia (USA), broadly interested in humans-non humans interactions and relationships

Saloni Bhatia

At-Large Member

Saloni is a conservation anthropologist with an interest in multispecies coexistence and rights-based approaches to conservation. She is a Fellow at ATREE, India.

SSWG Email List

SSWG Committees

Learn more about the work of the Social Science Working Group
Communications

Communications

Chair: Amit Kaushik & Rocío Lopez de la Lama

Provides advice on development of printed, electronic, and other media of the SSWG such as newsletters and web sites; achieves the outreach and marketing goals of the SSWG

DEIJ

DEIJ

Chair: Ans Vercammen or Kwan-Lamar Blount-Hill

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice to oppose racism, discrimination, oppression, prejudice, and other acts of injustice and inequality in all activities associated with the SSWG

Student Affairs

Student Affairs

Chair: Francisco Felipe Gelves-Gomez & Patricia Manzano-Fischer

Facilitate the participation of undergraduate and graduate students in activities of the SSWG and the SCB; Communicates student issues to the SSWG and the SCB

Membership & Nominations

Membership & Nominations

Chair: Lily Van Eeden & Amemarlita Matos

Encourages membership in both the SSWG and the SCB, especially among underrepresented groups; liaises with SCB Diversity Committee on issues of mutual interest

Organizational Capacity

Organizational Capacity

Chair: Tina Phillips & Stephanie Brittain

Enhances internal capacity of SSWG to achieve its mission; develops transparent, systematic, and inclusive mechanisms to improve logistical and organizational operations

Programs & Conferences

Programs & Conferences

Chair: Sayan Banerjee & Matthew Selinske

Coordinates and organizes social science content for ICCB, other SCB conferences, and related conservation conferences; organizes social events and business meetings