Wednesdays from 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm
The aim of this series is to hear about the innovative and exciting research that is taking place within our college, thus both faculty and students are encouraged to give a colloquium presentation. Talks should be either 40 - 50 minutes in length for a single presenter colloquium or 20 - 25 minutes in length for a joint colloquium event. If you would like to sign-up to give a CNHS Colloquium Talk, email Efren Ruiz.
Date: 3 December 2025
Where: STB 108
Speaker: Dr. Ron Swaisgood, Director of Recovery Ecology, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
Title: Adventures in conservation science: from pandas to ʻAlalā
Abstract: With more than three decades behind me in this career—using behavioral and ecological knowledge to support species recovery—it’s a good time to reflect on the path taken. I’ll provide a personalized overview of some of my career highlights (so far!), including scientific and conservation milestones, some personal anecdotes, and perhaps a few setbacks encountered along the way: a personalized map of my career trajectory. I’ll share stories about being chased up trees by rhinos, my first sighting of a giant panda in the wild, walking a nocturnal path to my tent in the Peruvian Amazon, almost quitting grad school, and what it feels like to have responsibility for some of the last remaining members of Hawaiian bird species. I’ll also share some science and conservation highlights (warning: may contain graphs). Some examples include: (1) what does it take to get a panda to do what is supposed to come naturally; (2) what works best in China’s protected areas for giant pandas; (3) how rhino poop can facilitate more successful conservation translocation; (4) why kangaroo rats need their neighbors; (5) finding a path for coexistence with giant otters; (6) figuring out the difference between good and great habitat for desert tortoise; (7) preparing mountain yellow-legged frogs for life in the wild; (8) creative intervention to manage predation on terns and plovers; (9) capturing pests and releasing ecosystem engineers for burrowing owls; and (10) last but not least tackling the myriad wicked problems that comes with establishing de novo breeding and release programs for Hawaiian birds. These will necessarily be brief vignettes to give a taste of the problems encountered in conservation science and some solutions we’ve developed over the years. Collaboration is a key ingredient of successful conversation, so I’ll share a little about some of the friendships I’ve developed in the conservation landscape. If I have time, I might talk a little about my passion for reconnecting people to nature. I’ll hang around afterwards for Q&A, including any career advice questions (I often get these, and welcome them).