Athens, Ga. – The Center for Integrative Conservation Research (CICR) at the University of Georgia is a new center “established to respond, through research and training, to one of the key challenges facing conservation today: identifying conservation practices and policies that simultaneously preserve biodiversity and serve human needs,” said Peter Brosius, professor of anthropology and director of the new center.
CICR will be officially launched with two events. An information session for University of Georgia administrators, faculty, and graduate students, as well as interested members of the public, will be held on Jan. 29 from 3-5 p.m. in room B-2 of the Main Library. In addition, CICR will host an open house, also open to the public, in room 310 of New College on Feb. 2 from 3-5 p.m.
“CICR promotes the synthesis of social and biological science research methods and conceptual approaches in conservation through an integrative approach to research,” said Brosius.
CICR was created with a confluence of support from several sources. Core funding of $370,000 for the center is provided by a $4.3 million grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to CICR partner institution, The Global Institute of Sustainability at Arizona State University. The funding supports the research initiative Advancing Conservation in a Social Context: Working in a World of Trade-offs. Franklin College of Arts and Sciences Dean Garnett Stokes has provided temporary space and furnishings in New College while CICR seeks a permanent home on North Campus. Grant administration will be provided by the University’s Institute for Behavioral Research, which has provided substantial logistical support during the process of creating CICR.
