Podcasts

On this episode, we take a look at how the social sciences can boost conservation efforts.
Our guest is Diogo Verissimo, a Postdoctoral Fellow with the University of Oxford in the UK and the Institute for Conservation Research at the US-based San Diego Zoo Global. Verissimo designs and evaluates programs that aim to change human behavior as a means of combating the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products.
While we all come in contact with marketing campaigns nearly every single day of our lives, conservationists have been much slower to employ marketing principles in the interest of influencing human behaviors that are harmful to the planet. We discuss with Verissimo the intersection of social marketing and conservation science — in other words, how the social sciences can provide us with a better understanding of human motivation and behavior and help create a more sustainable world.

As families are hitting the road for vacations this summer, many will be traveling to beaches and national parks, where they’ll see a variety of wildlife. But while the urge to swim with a dolphin or get just a little closer for that once in a lifetime, photo opportunity may be strong. It’s one that people really should resist – for their sake, as well as the animals. Katie Abrams is an associate professor in Colorado State University’s Department of Journalism and Media Communication.
Her focus is on social marketing approaches to mitigating human/wildlife conflict in protected areas or for protected species. Abrams spoke with The Audit about her most recent research efforts and the increased need to educate the public on safe ways to enjoy the great outdoors.