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Conservation Nation hosts free, monthly webinars with a panel of wildlife experts, conservation practitioners, and individuals of note ranging from authors to philanthropists.

Our goal is to have a lively dialogue on current and emerging issues impacting nature conservation, highlighting the challenges it takes to be a conservationist and the solutions that can bring more conservationists into the fight to save the planet.

Each webinar will be a 40-minute program with Lynn Mento, CEO of Conservation Nation, in a Q&A style session. There’s no need to register—each event will be streamed live on our Vimeo Showcase.

Conservation Nation hosts free, monthly webinars with a panel of wildlife experts, conservation practitioners, and individuals of note ranging from authors to philanthropists.

Visit our main Speaker Series page to learn more.

Episode One: Women in Freshwater and Marine Conservation

One Health: The Intersection of Wildlife and Human Health

In this episode, we featured veterinarians Dr. Suzan Murray from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and Dr. Deborah McCauley from Veterinary Initiative for Endangered Wildlife. They discussed the One Health approach that specifically focuses on the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health.

Original Air Date

April 26, 2022

In this episode, we highlighted the work of three female conservationists working to conserve and protect freshwater and marine ecosystems – Robin Abell, Tania Romero Bautista, and Dr. Nikki Traylor-Knowles. They shared their career path into conservation and offered advice for the next generation.

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About The Speakers

Dr. Deborah McCauley

Dr. Deborah McCauley is a wildlife veterinarian, Executive Director, and
Co-Founder of Veterinarian Initiatives for Endangered Wildlife (VIEW). In
her ten years at VIEW, she has worked in countries across the globe and
also contributed to local efforts in the United States, partnering with many
wildlife organizations, including the Wildlife Conservation Society,
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, and ZooMontana. Dr. McCauley
graduated from Royal Veterinary College and has won numerous global
leadership awards, including the 2017 Ashoka Fellowship and the
Emily Couric Women’s Leadership Award in 2019.

Dr. Deborah McCauley

Dr. Suzan Murray

Dr. Suzan Murray, D.V.M., D.A.C.Z.M. is a board-certified zoo veterinarian
at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) and serves as
both the Program Director of the Global Health Program and as SCBI’s
chief wildlife veterinary medical officer. She leads an interdisciplinary
team engaged in worldwide efforts to address health issues in endangered
wildlife and combat emerging infectious diseases of global significance,
including zoonotic diseases. 

Dr. Suzan Murray

Dr. Deborah McCauley

Dr. Deborah McCauley
Executive Director | Veterinarian Initiatives for Endangered Wildlife

Dr. Deborah McCauley is a wildlife veterinarian, Executive Director, and Co-Founder of Veterinarian Initiatives for Endangered Wildlife (VIEW). In her ten years at VIEW, she has worked in countries across the globe and also contributed to local efforts in the United States, partnering with many wildlife organizations, including the Wildlife Conservation Society, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, and ZooMontana. Dr. McCauley graduated from Royal Veterinary College and has won numerous global leadership awards, including the 2017 Ashoka Fellowship and the Emily Couric Women’s Leadership Award in 2019.

Dr. Suzan Murray

Dr. Suzan Murray
Veterinarian | Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

Dr. Suzan Murray, D.V.M., D.A.C.Z.M. is a board-certified zoo veterinarian at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) and serves as both the Program Director of the Global Health Program and as SCBI’s chief wildlife veterinary medical officer. She leads an interdisciplinary team engaged in worldwide efforts to address health issues in endangered wildlife and combat emerging infectious diseases of global significance, including zoonotic diseases. 

Dr. Nikki Traylor-Knowles
Founder | BWEEMs (Black Women in Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Science)

BWEEMs (Black Women in Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Science) was founded by Dr. Nikki Traylor-Knowles, an Assistant Professor in Marine Biology and Ecology at the University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. Nikki leads the Cnidarian Immunity Laboratory, which investigates the mechanisms of immune function in corals. Her lab is particularly focused on developing novel strategies for saving coral reefs. Prior to starting her assistant professorship, she earned her B.S. and M.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology from Johns Hopkins University, her PhD. in Biology from Boston University, and her postdoctoral studies through Hopkins Marine Station at Stanford University. Nikki started BWEEMS as a way to develop community, share science, and promote innovative thinking. She was tired of hearing that Black women in ecology, evolution and marine science didn't exist. We do!

Watch This Episode

About The Speakers

Dr. Deborah McCauley

Dr. Deborah McCauley is a wildlife veterinarian, Executive Director, and
Co-Founder of Veterinary Initiative for Endangered Wildlife (VIEW). In
her ten years at VIEW, she has worked in countries across the globe and
also contributed to local efforts in the United States, partnering with many
wildlife organizations, including the Wildlife Conservation Society,
Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, and ZooMontana. Dr. McCauley
graduated from Royal Veterinary College and has won numerous
global leadership awards, including the 2017 Ashoka Fellowship and the
Emily Couric Women’s Leadership Award in 2019.

Dr. Deborah McCauley

Speaker Two

Conservation Nation Grantee Tania Romero Bautista is passionate
about supporting Amazonian communities in their journey toward
sustainability and self-sufficiency. Tania was born and raised in
Madre de Dios, Peru, where she began her path into community-based
conservation. Tania will be conducting her PhD research project
in collaboration with WCS Peru initiatives like Amazon Waters
and Citizen Science and under the supervision of Dr. Anderson.
Tania's current research interests focus on making conservation
and sustainable development strategies more accessible to rural
Amazonian communities and guiding policymakers in how to design
and implement more comprehensive, integrative regulations
for community-based freshwater management. Tania earned her
master's degree in Sustainable Development Practice from the
University of Florida in 2018 and her bachelor’s degree in Ecotourism
from the National Amazonian University of Madre de Dios in 2012.

Speaker Two

Speaker Three

BWEEMs (Black Women in Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Science) was
founded by Dr. Nikki Traylor-Knowles, an Assistant Professor in
Marine Biology and Ecology at the University of Miami, Rosenstiel
School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. Nikki leads the Cnidarian
Immunity Laboratory, which investigates the mechanisms of immune
function in corals. Her lab is particularly focused on developing
novel strategies for saving coral reefs. Prior to starting her
assistant professorship, she earned her B.S. and M.S. in Cell and
Molecular Biology from Johns Hopkins University, her PhD. in
Biology from Boston University, and her postdoctoral studies through
Hopkins Marine Station at Stanford University. Nikki started BWEEMS
as a way to develop community, share science, and promote innovative
thinking. She was tired of hearing that Black women in ecology,
evolution and marine science didn't exist. We do!

Speaker Three

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