Earth Expeditions

An indigenous African conservation initiative, the African Conservation Centre brings together the people and skills needed to build East Africa ‘s capacity to conserve wildlife through sound science, local initiatives and good governance. East Africa’s great wildlife spectacle coexisted with people for millennia unlike elsewhere in the world. However, population growth, poverty, alterations in land use and poaching have halved wildlife numbers. The future of Africa’s wildlife depends on safeguarding critical space both outside and inside parks. The ACC works towards this goal by winning local support and gaining national and international backing for conservation initiatives.

Miami University’s Project Dragonfly partnered with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) to expand AZA’s professional development opportunities, and in March 2013, Project Dragonfly with Miami University became an official AZA Learning Partner. Until September 2019, a suite of Dragonfly’s graduate courses counted toward earning a Certificate in AZA’s Professional Development Program. Although AZA is no longer accepting applications to the certificate program, Dragonfly remains an AZA Learning Partner, which AZA defines as a “high-quality resource for career development opportunities.” The AZA is exploring how to continue the Learning Partner program to keep sharing quality professional development opportunities with their membership.

Zoo and aquarium professionals looking for additional training opportunities may visit the AZA’s website to learn more about additional courses, webinars, and conferences that can help enrich their careers. Interested professionals can learn more at the AZA Professional Development page.

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is consistently ranked as one of the top zoos in the country. Opened in 1875, it is the nation’s second oldest zoo and a national historic landmark. The zoo’s 75 acres house more than 500 animal species and 3,000 plant varieties. More than 1.2 million people visit the Cincinnati Zoo annually. This not-for-profit entity is internationally known for its success in the protection and propagation of endangered animals and plants and engages in research and conservation projects around the world. The Cincinnati Zoo strives to inspire every visitor every day with wildlife, and is making a statement about living sustainably by re-developing itself into the Greenest Zoo in America.

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Aliance is a conservation organization dedicated to the science of saving endangered species worldwide. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance operates three world-class facilities: the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. The San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research is committed to generating, sharing, and applying scientific knowledge vital to the conservation of animals, plants, and habitats worldwide and is the largest zoo-based multidisciplinary research effort in the world with more than 150 dedicated scientists carrying out research vital to the conservation of animals, plants, and habitats in over 35 countries worldwide.

Science and Perspective delivers formal and informal educational content for local communities to support local autonomy in decision-making from the individual to the national level in The Bahamas. We focus on including local knowledge because although we can all use more science, we often need more perspective.