April 2-3, 2009

Health and the environment are deeply intertwined for populations, species, and ecosystems, as well as for human lives and livelihoods. Human endeavors in agriculture, energy and food production, transportation, and infrastructure development can have far-reaching and significant impacts on the health of all species. Understanding these relationships is increasingly critical in the context of our changing world and the accelerating loss of biodiversity. This two-day conference will present a diversity of viewpoints and experiences spanning the natural, medical, and social sciences, as well as policy planning.

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February 27-March 1, 2009

In honor of the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth, NYCEP (the New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology) hosts an open conference on paleoanthropology focusing on aspects of human paleontology, paleoenvironments and archaeology in Africa, from the first appearance of Australopithecus through the first dispersal of Homo out of Africa (ca. 4.2-1.7 Ma).

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April 8-9, 2008

Join national leaders and thinkers in science, education, business, philanthropy, and government for two days of provocative discussion about one of the most important issues and opportunities of our time: the urgent need to improve science education in the United States and the means for making it happen.

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April 2-5, 2008

The past two decades have witnessed an upsurge of interest in the links between cultural, linguistic, and biological diversity. These various manifestations of the diversity of life are under threat by some of the same forces, yet, both in scientific inquiry and in the realms of policy and management, nature and culture are often treated as separate and unrelated entities. "Sustaining Cultural and Biological Diversity" will seek to bridge gaps, address challenges and opportunities, and help to forge a long-term multi-dimensional vision for sustaining biological and cultural diversity. In order to affect decision making, specific policy processes will be targeted and public outreach goals pursued.

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September 27-29, 2007

ConGen3, the Third International Conservation Genetics Symposium, was held at the American Museum of Natural History on September 27-29, 2007. The three-day conference is co-organized by the Museum's Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies, and the American Genetic Association. ConGen3 is sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History and the American Genetic Association.

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April 26 and 27, 2007

This symposium brings together a diverse group of microbiologists and conservation biologists to explore this intersection of two fields that, until now, has not been considered in depth. We address the broad questions of: How much microbial diversity is there on the planet? How does this diversity affect other organisms, both positively and negatively? How should conservation practices take microbial life into account?
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Friday, October 20, 2006
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Kaufmann Theater

Developing a more sustainable society requires contributions from all sectors: science, business, academia, government, non-profit, and the public at large. This conference brings representatives from these sectors together to examine the role of sustainability in conserving the New York metropolitan region's biodiversity.
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Thursday, September 22, 2005
Resource Fair will begin at 6:00 pm in the Hall of Northwest Coast Indians

Learn ways to nurture meaningful values and environmental stewardship in children at this panel discussion. Featured speakers include child development specialist Louise Chawla; Juliet Schor, author of Born to Buy: The Commercialized Child and the New Consumer Culture; Betsy Taylor, Founder and President of the Center for a New American Dream; and Julie Fox Gorte, Director of the Calvert Social Research Department. The Center for Biodiversity and Conservation's Eleanor Sterling moderates.    More...

The Living with Nature program series and publications are underwritten by an anonymous Museum Trustee.

Thursday and Friday, April 7 and 8, 2005

The American Museum of Natural History hosts a forum for scientists and conservation practitioners to highlight recent successful initiatives in freshwater conservation, to discuss cutting-edge ideas and tools, and to investigate how and where these innovations might be implemented on the ground. The symposium will showcase projects that are rooted in the best available science, integrate scientific fields, and link science with other disciplines. This cross-disciplinary integration will generate a fertile landscape for discussing the way forward in freshwater conservation.   More...

Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Resource Fair will begin at 6:00 pm in the Hall of Northwest Coast Indians

More and more, people are beginning to be concerned about where their food comes from, how it affects their well-being and the well-being of their community, and its vital link to biodiversity. On October 12th the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation continues its "Living With Nature" series with a resource fair and panel discussion exploring food as a celebration of nature, a link to good health, a delicious indulgence, and a tool for conservation. At the resource fair, you will have the opportunity to talk with local farmers about how their produce is grown, and to learn about the rich variety of crops that can be found virtually at our doorstep. The panel discussion will feature Dan Barber, chef/owner of Blue Hill at Stone Barns and Creative Director of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, a working farm and education center; Joan Dye Gussow, Professor Emeritus of Nutrition and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and author of This Organic Life: Confessions of a Suburban Homesteader; Mollie Katzen, author of the classic Moosewood Cookbook; and Tod Murphy, founder of the Farmers Diner in Barre, Vermont, which relies almost exclusively on locally produced food. Moderating will be award-winning filmmaker and novelist Ruth Ozeki, author of My Year of Meats and All Over Creation.  More...

Thursday, April 29, 2004. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

The Center for Biodiversity and Conservation hosts the Hudson River Environmental Society's Birds of the Hudson River Estuary conference. Ornithologists and ecologists will present a thorough overview of the current and future status of bird populations in the estuarine portion of the Hudson River Valley.

Whether migrating through, or relying on its shores for nesting, or feeding habitat, hundreds of species of birds depend on the Hudson River Valley for their survival. Over recent decades water quality has improved. Some shore areas have been built up; others have been reclaimed from industrial blight. Bird populations have responded to all of this. Some species have prospered as others have declined. Some require human intervention for survival. New avail diseases threaten still others. This important conference—presented by key ornithologists and ecologists—will present a thorough overview of the current status and the future of bird populations in the estuarine portion of the Hudson River Valley.  

Thursday and Friday, March 25 and 26, 2004. 9:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

One of the greatest challenges facing the conservation community today lies in identifying, managing, and conserving invertebrate biodiversity. In direct contrast to their vast numbers, rich diversity, and the vital role they play in all ecosystems, many invertebrate species and groups remain unidentified and underrepresented in conservation planning, management, and policy strategies.

This two-day symposium will provide a venue to engage the scientific community, conservation practitioners, policy makers, and the public in a dialogue on the fate of invertebrate biodiversity, and to map concrete approaches to conservation action.  

Wednesday, February 11, 2004, 7:30 p.m.
Resource Fair will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Hall of Northwest Coast Indians

We all have a role to play in meeting the challenges of the biodiversity crisis—the accelerated loss of animals, plants, and habitats caused primarily by human activities. This special roundtable event will identify ways to help sustain nature through our everyday choices—without turning our lives upside down! Moderated by Brian Lehrer of WNYC Radio, Living With Nature: Everyday Actions to Sustain Our Planet will explore manageable ways to sustain biodiversity while still benefiting from it and enjoying it. Tundi Agardy, a conservation biologist; Eric Chivian, founder and director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at the Harvard Medical School; and Betsy Taylor, founder and president of the Center for a New American Dream, will offer their expertise and insights during a thought-provoking and inspiring evening. Living With Nature and the Resource Fair are free and open to the public. Reservations are strongly recommended. Please use this online form or call (212) 496-3423 to reserve your place.  More...

Thursday and Friday, March 20 and 21, 2003

The Center for Biodiversity and Conservation's eighth annual symposium will explore the role of tourism in biodiversity conservation in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. The allure of recently discovered species, coupled with spectacular natural land- and seascapes, and fascinating ancient cultures, is drawing record numbers of travelers to Southeast Asia. How the region responds to the conservation concerns and economic potential of increased nature-based tourism will determine the sustainability of the region's natural areas and local communities. Conservation biologists, economists, policy makers, community representatives, tourism professionals, and travelers will examine current practices, potential challenges and opportunities, the integral role of science, and recommendations for action.  More...

May 30 - June 1, 2002

This is the first major public and scientific forum in decades to synthesize our rapidly expanding knowledge of the "tree" of life and to explore its significance. An international group of scientists will summarize our current understanding of life's history using a wide range of data, from genomic to morphological. In addition, plenary speakers will explore the meaning and importance of the Tree of Life for society, from human health to developmental biology, comparative biology to environmental problem-solving.  More...

Thursday and Friday, March 7 and 8, 2002

In March 2002 the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation (CBC) and sponsoring partners will host the CBC's seventh annual Spring Symposium, exploring the conservation of marine biodiversity and fisheries through the integrated design of marine protected areas (MPAs), MPA networks, and other complementary coastal management frameworks.
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Wednesday and Thursday, June 13 and 14, 2001

Over the last ten years, parallel supercomputer machines have come to prominence in computation. Research areas such as astrophysics and genomics generate huge data sets of immense complexity. Only this new computing paradigm can give the scientific research community the computational power to make sense of the flood of data these fields present.
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April 4-6, 2001

This international gathering of biologists, ecologists, geneticists, conservation resource managers, and students will convene to discuss the expanding role of molecular technology as current and proposed conservation management strategies are evaluated. Presenters will explore the increasing importance of genetics research to the conservation of biodiversity. Conservation Genetics in the Age of Genomics is being jointly sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation and the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society.
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September 22-23, 2000

Just as the first landing on the Moon opened a new frontier, the recent completion of the "first draft" sequence of the human genome marks the beginning of an extraordinary new era in science and technology, and raises important questions about the social and economic impacts of advancing genetic technologies.
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April 13-14, 2000

Sprawl is all around us—housing developments, strip malls, endless miles of roadways—and most people experience the problems caused by unplanned development every day. But beyond the pollution, the traffic jams, the destruction of community, and the increasing tax burdens resulting from sprawl, there is another problem: sprawl's impact on biodiversity. Our post-war, auto-driven style of development has fragmented natural habitat and ecosystems, threatening species survival, and, ultimately, human health and well-being.
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April 30–May 1, 1999

Over the course of two days, scientists, natural resource managers, conservation biologists, and policymakers will not only explore the evidence for past and present climate change and its consequences for ecosystems and species but will also address conservation planning in an age of uncertain climatic trends. A special session will examine the past, present, and future effects of a changing climate on New York City and address regional and local conservation planning issues.
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Spring 1997

Around 14,000 years ago most of the world's largest mammals went extinct. Did humans play a role? Can we prevent extinctions today by studying the past?
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