University and Zoo webinar series helping audiences keep track of green sector changes
As conservation, climate and sustainability sectors continue to evolve at pace, a new seasonal webinar series from the University of Chester and Chester Zoo is helping professionals make sense of this change.
The webinars, delivered through a partnership between the University and the Zoo, bring together leading academics, conservation professionals, sector partners and alumni working across conservation, sustainability and education. They explore emerging policy, practice and skills needs, and the role of education in preparing people for a changing professional landscape.
They also examine at how the field is broadening and what this means for those already working in, or seeking to move into, conservation and sustainability roles. Sessions consider the increasing demand for interdisciplinary skill sets, drawing on perspectives from science, education, public engagement, policy and the arts.
Alumni voices are also foregrounded, providing real-world examples of how learning translates into professional impact. The audience includes students, educators, conservation practitioners, early-career professionals and career changers interested in climate, conservation and sustainability education.
The webinar programme sits alongside the Postgraduate Certificate in Conservation and Sustainability Education, co-developed and delivered by the University of Chester and Chester Zoo, and forms part of a wider commitment to developing green skills, supporting the sector, and strengthening the University-Zoo partnership.
Contributors have included:
- Uná Meehan, Course Leader for the Postgraduate Certificate in Conservation and Sustainability Education and Deputy Head of Division, University of Chester
- Liz Webb, Academy Training Manager, Chester Zoo
- Charlotte Smith, Director of Conservation Education, Chester Zoo
- Dr Paul Vare, leading academic in education for sustainable development and External Academic Expert to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Steering Committee on Education for Sustainable Development
- Dr Rosalind Mist, Director of Education and Youth Engagement at WWF-UK
- Sarah Chamberlain, Technical Advisor at City and Guilds and alumna from the founding cohort of the Postgraduate certificate
A central focus of the webinars is the importance of authentic, practice-based learning and continuous professional development. Contributors explore how professionals can build confidence, capability and leadership in response to complex environmental challenges, and how education can support individuals and organisations to adapt to rapid change.
The webinar series responds to rapid change across conservation, climate and sustainability sectors, driven by evolving policy, increasing focus on climate and biodiversity, and growing complexity in professional roles. It aims to support those already working in – or moving into – the sector, by providing clarity around emerging skills needs, career pathways, and the role of education in enabling confident, informed responses to environmental challenges.
Webinars have been hosted both online and in-person, enabling participation from across the UK and beyond. Sessions are jointly hosted by the University of Chester and Chester Zoo, reflecting the collaborative nature of the partnership.
Uná Meehan said: “Our partnership with Chester Zoo allows us to bring together academic insight and real-world practice. Through this webinar series, we’re able to support meaningful professional learning and help people develop the confidence and skills needed to lead and influence conservation and sustainability work.
“We are currently planning our spring webinar, with further details to be announced soon.”
Charlotte Smith added: “The worlds of sustainability, conservation and education are changing rapidly, often pulling in seemingly different directions. Bringing academic and professional practice together, these webinars provide a great opportunity for emerging and experienced professionals to reflect on new thinking and consider how it applies to their own practice.”
The next event in the webinar series will be an online panel held at 5.30pm on March 19. The online panel will bring together experienced voices from across the education and sustainability sector to explore how inclusive conservation and sustainability programmes are being shaped through research, leadership and practice. For more information, visit https://www.chester.ac.uk/about/events/event-details/looking-to-the-future-building-inclusive-conservation-programmes.php.