The Power of Community: A Journey in Nature Conservation with Maggie Muurmans

In the realm of nature conservation, few individuals possess the dedication and passion exhibited by Maggie Muurmans, a passionate lecturer that taught one of the courses of my master's degree in Conservation Biology. Aside from teaching at The University of Queensland and pursuing a PhD in community engagement, Maggie is also the co-founder of the …

De terugkeer van de wolf: samenleven met natuur in een veranderende wereld

De afgelopen jaren hoorden we enorm veel doemverhalen over de staat van de natuur en onze planeet. Ontbossing, koraalriffen die verbleken en het uitsterven van bedreigde diersoorten zijn maar enkele van de onderwerpen die overal lijken op te duiken. Als student conservatiebiologie word ik dagelijks geconfronteerd met de achteruitgang van de natuur. Zulk nieuws is …

Wildlife Comebacks in Cultural Landscapes; A Controversial Issue

In recent years, we have heard many “doom and gloom” stories about environmental issues. Deforestation, coral bleaching and species extinctions are some of the topics that seem to appear everywhere. As a conservation biology student, I get confronted with the degradation of the natural world daily. Such news is disheartening, and many people, including me, …

Nature Amnesia and Shifting Baselines

Imagine you are on a plane flying from South Africa to your home country. These last 14 days, you have lived in an eco safari camp. On most days, local wildlife guides have taken you with them in their jeep. Together with their expertise, you have been trying to find the local, and from what …

What is Conservation Biology?

One of the questions you get asked way too often as a student is "What degree are you studying?". When I reply that I am studying for a Master's in Conservation Biology people often raise their eyebrows. It seems like people who have never been introduced to this field don't really know what conservation is …

Coexisting with African elephants – An interview with Jake from EleCREW

Conflicts between humans and wildlife are very common in Africa. These conflicts will most likely become more common due to the increase in the human population. By 2050, the human population of Africa is expected to double in size, resulting in an ever-increasing need for space to grow food and built houses. The expansion of …

Can evolution save corals?

This week's article is a blog post I've written back in 2020 for another blog called Reefbites. It is a bit more "scientific" than my other posts and having a bit of background in genetics might be helpful. If you have any questions about the content or some of the terms I've used in the …

What does it mean to be a conservationist? – An interview with Danielle Carnahan

As a young aspiring conservationist, I have so many questions about what it is like to work in the fascinating field of wildlife conservation. Is it hard to earn a full-time income? What about work/life balance? And what does it actually mean to be a conservationist?  During my recent interview with Danielle Carnahan, a US-based …

A week in the life of a Heron Island Research Station volunteer #2

From the 15th of May 2022 until the 13th of June 2022 I went on an adventure. I felt a little like Bilbo Baggings, leaving the Shire and going on a journey to unknown lands at the beginning of the movie "The Hobbit". I moved to Heron Island, a remote island in the Southern Great …

A week in the life of a Heron Island Research Station volunteer #1

A couple of years ago I would have never believed you if you told me I would get to live on a remote island in the Southern Great Barrier Reef in 2022. But, in the middle of May 2022, after moving to Brisbane for my master's studies, I packed my suitcase, hopped on a train …