My varied academic background, which includes the natural and social sciences, as well as the arts, reflects an interest in understanding the relationship between humans and their environment from a range of perspectives, in particular a strong belief in the value and potential of education and training, both as a general process that builds capacity in individuals and institutions, and as a specialist subject area within conservation. Although the primary areas of my research focus might be categorised a Conservation Education and Communication I am concerned with the development of ‘interdisciplinary’ and sustainable solutions to conservation problems. Here I privilege ‘interdisciplinary’ over ‘multidisciplinary’ approaches because the latter often consist of the parallel and largely unconnected application of different disciplines. In my view it is the integration of knowledge and understandings from different fields which best offers new insights and new ways of working for biodiversity conservation, and which should provide the central focus of conservation research and education.

Publications

Bride, I.G., Griffiths, R.A., Meléndez-Herrada, A., and McKay, J.E. (2007) Flying an amphibian flagship: conservation of the axolotl at Lake Xochimilco through nature tourism. International Zoo Yearbook.

Bride, I. (2006) Editorial: The Conundrum of Conservation Education and the Conservation Mission. Conservation Biology 20(5).

Punde, S., Bride, I., Watmough, B., Dandekar, P., and Prasanna, K. (2006) Incorporating nature conservation into urban planning and riverside development: a case study from India and the UK. inL. Vyas (ed.) Urban Planning and Environment: Strategies and Challenges. MacMillan Advance Research Series: MacMillan India Ltd.

Bride, I. (2004) Trionyx triunguis in Dalyan and Dalaman, (Turkey) – MEDASSET Report to the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention) Strasbourg, T-PVS/Files (2004) 12.

I am interested in research that cuts across such topics as: conservation education; biodiversity management; PA and visitor management; nature tourism; guiding and interpretation; community-based conservation; and restoration ecology. For instance, I currently hold a Darwin Initiative Scoping Project (with Prof. MacMillan, DICE) entitled: "Adapting to climate change in the Western Ghats, India: developing and disseminating flexible strategies through the integration of traditional knowledge, appropriate land use patterns, conservation economics, communication and education."

Previous research projects include:

Feb. – Nov. 2008. Project Officer, "Social Hubs Research Project". Dept. of DICE/Anthropology, University of Kent.

April 2002 – Mar. 2007 "Aztecs and Axolotls: Integrating Tourism and Conservation at Xochimilco. Mexico City" (Darwin Initiative project 162/11/018) and extension project "Flying the Flagship: Implementing the Axolotl Species/Habitat Action Plan" (Darwin Initiative extension project EIDPo6/11-018) – (both with Prof. R. Griffiths).

June 1995 – Mar 1996. "Tourism, Conservation & Sustainable Development ". Department for International Development, DfID. (with Prof. H. Goodwin)

Mar. 1992 - Feb. 1993. "The Welfare Aspects to the UK Trade in Reptiles and Amphibians as Pets", RSPCA (with Dr. A. Smart).

I am engaged with a number of projects and activities, mainly focussed on the University campuses, which seek to integrate outside spaces within the formal and informal learning and teaching curricula, for instance, habitat maintenance and management (with the student Conservation Society), the development of an outside Forensic Incident Site and Lab., the restoration of the Canterbury Nature Trail, an exercise trail (Medway campus), the Creativity in Professional Practice Network, and studies of, and changes to the use of social spaces (Canterbury and Medway).

Selected external activities and advisory positions