PARENT SESSION
Poster Session #70: Education: Undergraduate II.
Friday, August 9. Presentation from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM. Exhibit Hall B & C, TCC

Models for undergraduate training programs in conservation biology.

Craddock, Cheryl^*,1, Robichaux, Robert¹, ¹ University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

ABSTRACT- The University of Arizona hosts an NSF-funded program supporting undergraduate research in conservation biology. Students participate in conservation internships forged through partnerships between the University of Arizona and conservation organizations and agencies. The internships focus on scientific and educational issues critical to understanding and preserving the Sonoran Desert region's biotic richness. Two mentors guide each intern, one from the university and one from the conservation organization/agency. Funds support student stipends and modest research expenses. This project provides students with significant educational and practical experience, conservation organizations/agencies with valuable expertise and energy, and mentors from the university and organizations/agencies with the basis for ongoing collaborations. Forging such partnerships also generates an ideal training ground for a new generation of conservation biologists: scientists who can bridge the gap between basic and applied research. We outline three internship models (summer-only, one-year, and two-year programs) and suggest ways to adapt these models to other geographical and funding landscapes.

KEY WORDS: education, undergraduates, conservation biology