Mind the gap … in our knowledge: addressing information bias in conservation science

Perhaps the single most important element of conservation science is information. Without sufficient information, how can we possibly expect to understand and protect species and habitats? However, despite the volume of knowledge we currently have in the 'information-age', we have a tenuous grasp of what drives trends in scientific research. If much of it is driven by the motivation and passion of individual scientists and the public at large, then does the sum body of research provide the public with a balanced understanding of the species around us? Such an understanding is critical given the diversity of species around us and current levels of threats on a global scale. This event will look at extremely well known and diverse groups of animals in which individual species vary greatly in the degree to which they are studied and recorded by scientists. We will explore biases in the information-base, highlight reasons and mechanisms behind gaps in our knowledge, and will outline some of the implications of these biases for the success of conservation science.

Speakers and talk titles

AUDIO:Nature and notoriety: linking species traits and the extent to which they are studied (23.4 MB)] - Zoe Brooke, ZSL Presentation (2.6 MB)

AUDIO:Monitoring global biodiversity under data uncertainty (19.0 MB) - Lucie Bland, ZSL & Imperial College London Presentation (2.0 MB)

Conservation insights from the fossil record: unique perspectives, unique biases - Sam Turvey, ZSL

Distorted views of biodiversity: spatial and temporal bias in species occurrence data - Lizzie Boakes, Imperial College London

Abstracts of talks (126 KB)

Presentations and audio may not be reproduced or distributed without prior consent

This meeting will be chaired by Professor Georgina Mace, University College London

Further Information: please contact Megan Orpwood-Russell, Scientific Meetings Coordinator, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY.
Tel:+44 (0)20 7449 6227. Fax: +44 (0)20 7449 6411. E-mail: megan.orpwood-russell@zsl.org.

ZSL Science and Conservation Events: An essential part of ZSL's work is to communicate relevant, high-quality zoological and conservation science. The integrated ZSL Science and Conservation Events programme includes Symposia, and the new 'Wildlife Conservation' and 'Communicating Science' series. Topics cover a wide variety of zoological and conservation themes, and international experts present and discuss their research.

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