Individual Ticket - Wednesday, April 22: Dr. Derek Lee and Dr. Monica Bond
True Tall Tales from Tanzania: Giraffe Science and Reasons for Hope in the Biodiversity Crisis
Long-term studies of large mammals are rare, but incredibly important to our understanding of how to save
these charismatic animals from extinction. Fifteen years ago, Derek and Monica established the world’s biggest
study of giraffes, based in the savannas of northern Tanzania. Using cutting-edge computer vision
technologies, these researchers recognize thousands of individual giraffes by their unique spot patterns and
track them over their lifetimes to understand what helps or hurts these magnificent creatures and to guide
conservation efforts. They also created the ‘Celebrating Africa’s Giants’ environmental education program to
inspire the next generation of Tanzanian conservationists. Join these renowned scientists as they share stories
about giraffes, why these gentle giants are struggling for survival, and what is being done to help them in
their African homelands.
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Individual Ticket - Wednesday, April 30: Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant
At the Intersection: Wildlife Conservation, Social Justice, and the Non-Traditional Pathway
Renowned wildlife ecologist, equity and justice advocate, and storyteller Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant is a trail-blazing
conservationist whose insights about STEM, equity, and the power of nature inspire audiences of all kinds. As
an active scientist, Dr. Wynn-Grant researches how human activity influences the behavior of wild animals,
spending long periods in the wilderness tracking and observing black and grizzly bears in the Western U.S. and
African lions in rural Kenya and Tanzania. A native Californian, Dr. Wynn-Grant attributes her interest in wildlife
and conservation from the nature shows she watched on television as a child, and today she uses media to
increase representation of Black scientists and explorers. Dr. Wynn-Grant envisions a near-future where the
outdoors is a safe, equitably accessible, and positively transformative space for all people.
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