Applications call for Interdisciplinary Conservation Network (ICN) for Early-Career Research

The Interdisciplinary Conservation Network (ICN) is a bi-annual workshop that provides a select group of early-career researchers with a unique opportunity to produce a collaborative piece of research, take part in skill-building sessions, and develop global networks with fellow early career researchers. ICN 2020-21 is organized by the University of Oxford’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science (ICCS) and Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), and the Oxford Brookes University Wildlife Trade Research Group.

Aim

The aim of the Interdisciplinary Conservation Network (ICN) workshops is to provide ECRs with an opportunity to develop collaborative research with other ECRs from around the world while learning key skills for the development of their careers. By using a bottom-up approach to planning and design, ICN workshops allow a team of ECRs to take charge of their own event. This helps them to build new networks, and produce an output that is relevant to their own research. At the same time, the participation of a few selected senior researchers ensures a high-quality capacity-building and mentorship element to the workshops.

Themes 

The new ICN 2020-21 workshop structure includes a series of virtual collaborative meetings from September 2020 till April 2021, followed by a 3-day in-person event (7-9th April 2021) in Oxford, United Kingdom.

The workshop’s primary goal is to support attendees in carrying out their own collaborative pieces of research. These research projects relate to the following themes:

• Theme 1: A reflexive turn in conservation?
• Theme 2: A framework for studying online wildlife trade: challenges and opportunities.
• Theme 3: Illegal wildlife trade and human-felid conflict: a framework for evaluating linkages in the big-cat trade.

Eligibilities 

• Ph.D. student, early postdoc, or equivalent working experience).
• Applicants must be interested to collaborate and network with others in conservation science?

Benefits

• The program will provide accommodation and breakfast for non-Oxford based attendees, as well as lunches and dinners for all attendees. This includes lunchtime Wednesday, 7th April 2021, through till breakfast Saturday, 10th April 2021.
• Attendees who have scholarships or other funding will be asked to contribute £70 to support the event.
• Those that do not have funding can request a fee waiver. Additionally, up to six total bursaries will be available to support travel expenses for international attendees.

For more information about ICN view our brochure here