Pacific Biodiversity Institute combines innovative scientific research, education, and technical support to inform, enhance and inspire conservation. Our goal is a rich and enduring biological heritage.

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Conservation Science and Leadership Course Content


This is an excellent opportunity for students and recent graduates to hone leadership skills, gain essential scientific knowledge, and connect with dynamic conservation professionals - all key factors needed to start a successful career in conservation, science or natural resource management.

Students will have the opportunity to gain an understanding of fundamental ecological principles of rivers, wetland ecosystems, and forests and wildlife in the spectacular North Cascade Mountains. Students will participate in PBI’s ongoing research projects focused on ponderosa pine forests and fire ecology, riparian ecosystems, endangered wildlife surveys and restoration ecology. Students will use state-of-the-art research techniques and protocols to assist in conducting research on wildlife distributions, impacts of wildfires, effects of climate change and ecological assessments.

Students will participate in community service projects, multi-day field trips, team research projects, and keep detailed field journals of their experiences. Campfire circle lectures, classroom presentations, reading material and field discussions will focus on conservation and management issues and ecological topics of interest. These discussions will not use textbooks, but will be largely based in the outdoor classroom and led by a network of guest speakers representing state and federal agencies, and non-profit organizations and institutions. The final week of the course will culminate with students working in groups to analyze and present their own research project, with data collected during the course.

Most importantly, students will learn leadership skills from seasoned conservation professionals and expert leadership trainers, with a strong emphasis on communication and discovery, science-based decision-making and human-nature relationships. They will be exposed to a network of directors, managers and scientists in NGOs and public agencies, and will learn about the power of team building and collaborative practices. Also important, students will have a rich opportunity to make lifelong friendships, start professional bonds with peers, and build a next-generation community of conservation leaders. Click here to learn about the course instructors.

During the 4-week course, students will study:

Conservation Biology

  • Key concepts
  • Primary challenges of the 21st century
  • The role of science in meeting these challenges
  • Making intelligent decisions that provide long-term societal benefits

Current Conservation Issues in a Local and Regional Context

  • Climate change and its impact on biodiversity
  • Wildfires and their relationship to climate change and ecosystem health
  • Mining and its impact on water, local ecosystems and human communities
  • Ecosystem health – how it is defined, measured and restored

Wildlife Monitoring Techniques

  • Motion-detecting wildlife cameras
  • Small mammal hair sampling tubes
  • Carnivore hair-sampling corrals
  • Wildlife tracking and sign surveys
  • Identification of common birds, mammals and plants of the region

Riparian Ecosystems and Restoration

  • Native plant restoration and propagation
  • Protection and restoration of river side-channel habitat for endangered salmonids
  • Beaver reintroduction to restore wetlands and riparian ecosystems

Endangered Species Conservation and Research

  • Gray wolves in the North Cascades
  • Western gray squirrels in the North Cascades
  • Endangered Species Act and the northern spotted owl
  • Threatened and endangered fish populations
  • Rural community responses to environmental challenges

Ponderosa Pine and Shrub-steppe Ecosystems

  • The role of fire in eastern Washington's ecosystems
  • Wildfire behavior, forest ecology, climate change, fire policy and management
  • Research techniques to evaluate ecosystem recovery and wildlife use in recently burned areas

Leadership, Planning and Technical Skills

  • Communication, decision-making and leadership skills
  • Biodiversity planning through the lens of an urban planner
  • How to use GPS and GIS technology to map and analyze ecological data

A note about college credit:
We are not able to directly offer credits at this time, however students can petition their advisor or department head to take the course for elective credits. Students can also petition to have their professors accept this program as credit for a required internship, field course experience, or a senior project.

PBI is accepting applications from students who aspire to be conservation leaders and are interested in the fields of conservation, biological sciences, natural resources, or other similar discipline. We have now filled the available seats for the course, but you may submit an application to education@pacificbio.org, if you would like to be placed on the wait list.

This course is made possible with generous support from the Mountaineers Foundation, Paul Wiseman Environmental Education Grant. Additional funding has been provided by the Washington Foundation for the Environment, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Washington Fish and Wildlife Office.

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PO Box 298, 517 Lufkin Lane
Winthrop, WA 98862 509-996-2490