Transforming conservation science for a thriving planetary future
School of
Conservation Futures
Complex conservation challenges demand a new approach.
To protect nature and livelihoods together, universities must not only train learners, but also work with communities to develop solutions that make sense for the places that have meaning to the people, plants and wildlife that live there.
The School of Conservation Futures will create and advance a global conservation community and workforce that reflects the communities we serve and which is better prepared to protect and restore the diversity of life on Earth in a complex and rapidly changing world.
The official launch date for the School of Conservation Futures is contingent upon final governance processes. Subscribe to receive updates on programs, events and research opportunities as they become available.
A different kind of school
Place-based and global
Rooted in Tempe, Arizona, with hubs in conservation-critical locations worldwide, including Hawai’i.
Embedded in real-world impact
Deep partnerships with conservation organizations, government agencies and local communities.
Expanding the definition of expertise
Challenging traditional boundaries of scholarship by valuing diverse knowledge systems and lived experience.
A dynamic faculty model
A mix of tenure-track, career faculty, professors of practice, visiting scholars and practitioners shaping solutions in real time.
Vision
We envision a world where humanity is re-woven regeneratively into the cycles of nature, and the diversity of life can thrive.
Mission
We work across knowledge systems with diverse local and global partners, communities and aspiring changemakers to restore kinship and reciprocity between people and nature. Together, we co-develop new solutions and models of learning for the protection and resilience of biodiversity in a rapidly changing world.
Focused on four objectives
Build a learning system—including curriculum, environment and pedagogy—that interweaves diverse knowledge systems and types of expertise.
The School of Conservation Futures will interweave diverse knowledge systems while co-creating a solution-oriented education system with frontline communities to learn from real world examples of conservation efforts worldwide. To build this learning system, the school will work beyond typical academic silos to co-design this curriculum with the communities it serves.
Co-design and implement holistic, transformative models for teaching and learning, including experiential and place-based learning.
The School of Conservation Futures will directly engage learners as doers who support real conservation projects and learn alongside field-based practitioners and leaders. To do so, the school and partners will develop holistic, transformative models for instruction, integrating scholarship with practical skills needed for conservation and decision-making. Degree and professional programs will be driven by and co-designed with practitioners and local and Indigenous leaders, with an emphasis on the experiences and skills that should be taught in new ways.
Partner with employers, practitioners and funders to create and scale inclusive and viable pathways into the workforce, ensuring strong ties between learning content and the needs of the many sectors that influence conservation outcomes—from conservation science and practice to finance, policy, innovation, education and more.
The School of Conservation Futures creates new paths into the workforce, focusing on shifting mindsets, funding priorities and culture towards a scalable model of paid, entry-level positions in conservation organizations. This approach expands job opportunities, transforms the volume and composition of the conservation workforce, provides learners with appropriate knowledge, tools and experience for a variety of career paths and includes career placement support.
Embeddedness in communities enables the School of Conservation Futures to shape relevant career opportunities.
Expand access and success for a more diverse set of learners and practitioners.
Positioned within ASU, with a mandate to expand educational access, the School of Conservation Futures will be “measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed.” The school will cultivate a strong community of practice by developing programs that support the experiences and aspirations of all learners, including those from local and Indigenous communities.
Serving a range of learner audiences
Stay informed with learning opportunities.
Conservation news
Indigenous cultures acknowledgment
The ASU School of Conservation Futures recognizes that opportunities to shape the future rely on the knowledge, wisdom and practices of those who came before us.
In that spirit, we join partners across the university in acknowledging the twenty-two Native Nations that have inhabited this land for centuries, including the Akimel O’odham (Pima) and Piipaash (Maricopa) Indian Communities, whose care and keeping of these lands and traditions allow us to be here today.