About us:

news archive

TBA alumni at Student Conference

The 12th Student Conference in Conservation Science was a resounding success. Organised jointly by TBA, Cambridge University's Zoology Department and the RSPB, the conference brought together 200 conservation students from 63 nations. The conference highlighted innovative and inspirational examples of how young researchers develop and test scientific ideas that make a real difference to conservation policy and practice.

Among the participants were 29 TBA alumni. Three gave talks and 14 displayed posters. Legi Sam from Papua New Guinea (10/3 Borneo) asked “Are butterflies expanding their altitudinal ranges in Papua New Guinea?”; Aida Cuni Sanchez from Spain (05/4 Kirindy) talked about assessing the impact of climate change on Madagascar's endemic baobabs; and Gilbert Baase Adum from Ghana (10/1 Amani) spoke about the recovery of forest amphibian communities after logging. Gilbert was one of four TBA alumni to get prestigious Miriam Rothschild Internships enabling them to spend up to a month with a UK-based conservation NGO or University department after the conference. The other TBA alumni to get internships were Chabi Djagoun from Benin (09/4 Kirindy), Tokiniaina Hobinjatovo from Madagascar (08/2 Kibale) and Bruktwawit Mahamued from Ethiopia (07/4 Kirindy). Joseph Daniel Onoja from Nigeria was one of three alumni who had participated in TBA's Specialist Training Programme. As a result he obtained a grant for some research about which he displayed a poster at this year's conference.

Filipa Palmeirim with her poster (left) and Eleni Foui with her poster (right)

TBA at Student Conference

TBA alumni of many nationalities came to Cambridge for the 11th Student Conference on Conservation Science (23rd-25th March 2010). Going back as far as 2003, course alumni found time to meet up with old friends and make new friends. Four of them gave talks, including the third prize winner, while two others were awarded internships and bursaries. The 12th Conference will take place on 22-24 March 2011, in the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge. Full details and application forms will appear on the SCCS website.

JOB VACANCY: Project Manager

Corporate Partnerships Project Manager (full-time)

Competitive salary
Five year contract
Location: based in Cambridge with some international travel

The Tropical Biology Association (TBA) is a Cambridge based NGO which works in partnership to build expertise in biodiversity conservation and research. It is currently seeking a Corporate Partnerships Project Manager to support its Corporate Partnerships Programme. The position is an exciting opportunity for an individual to work within a cross-sectoral partnership that addresses biodiversity and ecosystem impacts in agricultural landscapes in East Africa.

It would suit an individual with a strong background in biodiversity conservation and project management who is interested in working with the corporate sector. TBA is looking for someone who has an understanding of tropical ecosystems, preferably forests, and holds a first degree and preferably a higher degree in a relevant subject.

Please click here for job description and person specification.

Closing date: 6th December 2010
Interview date: 17th December 2010

Please send a letter of application and a C.V to:

Corporate Partnerships Manager
Tropical Biology Association
Dept. Zoology
Downing Street
CB2 3EJ

Email: office@tropical-biology.org

Simon Musila graduates

Simon Musila has just graduated from Kenyatta University with a Masters degree. What makes his degree unusual is that it was sponsored by the participants on his TBA course in Amani in 2003 who wanted to enable one of their fellow African participants to do a Masters after his TBA course. Called the African Education for Leaders in Conservation (AELC) Masters scholarship, and launched by fellow course participant Nick van de Wiel, this is a great example of how the TBA network continues to function well after the courses have finished.

Simon is now working as Assistant Research Scientist in Mammalogy at the National Museums of Kenya. TBA wishes him the best for his current and future work.

Simon Musila at his graduation ceremony on 2nd July 2010

 

Apply now for TBA's courses in 2010

The Tropical Biology Association will again be running four field courses in 2010.

See the publicity poster, 'What are TBA courses?' and 'current courses' for further details. The closing date for applications is 20th February 2010.

Please read carefully the information on how to apply.

back to top

TBA 2009 newsletter now out

The 12th TBA Newsletter is now out and is being emailed to over 1100 alumni and many other contacts. It highlights recent milestones, including TBA's 50th course and launches TBA's Small Grants Scheme for TBA's alumni groups. The newsletter is an enjoyable way to gain first hand experience of TBA'S courses and workshops - we hope you have fun reading it.

back to top

11th Student Conference on Conservation Science

The Student Conference on Conservation Science is aimed at young researchers working in university departments, conservation organisations, or resource management agencies. Approximately 200 postgraduate students (and similar-stage researchers) attend the conference each year, from a broad range of disciplines in conservation, including ecology, geography, sociology and economics. It will take place at the University of Cambridge from 23-25 March 2010. Full details and application forms are on the SCCS website. The closing date for applications is 31 October 2009.

back to top

New Small Grants Scheme for TBA alumni groups

These grants are now available to TBA alumni groups to assist them with their conservation projects and to strengthen their proficiency in natural resource management and research. The closing date is 30th April each year. See Small Grant Scheme for more information and instructions for applicants and contact TBA's Project Officer in the Nairobi office if you are interested.

back to top

TBA participates at the Student Conference on Conservation Science

The TBA enjoyed the 10th Student Conference on Conservation Science as both an organiser and host to over two dozen TBA alumni who took part as speakers, poster presenters and chairs. Mija Andriamarovololona (Kibale 2005) chaired the session on habitat loss and land-use change while Mark Otieno (Kibale 2001) chaired the one on insights from Africa. Mija and Mark also joined 8 other SCCS alumni to lead a workshop on careers advice for young conservation scientists.

Abu Conteh (Kibale 1998) gave a presentation about the impact of war on conservation in Sierra Leone, Roma Randrianavelona (Kirindy 2003) spoke on identifying sites for conserving golden mantilla frogs in Madagascar and Ben Phalan (Kibale 2005) talked about farming and tropical forest diversity. There were posters displayed by at least nine alumni. Two posters displayed the work that TBA alumni had carried out during their TBA courses. Fons van der Plas (2008) presented a poster on the effects of logging on arthropod diversity and biomass in Kibale Forest. Agnieszka Malinowska's poster related to work she had done on frog and invertebrate species-richness while on the TBA course (Amani 2007) in Tanzania.

back to top

TBA Alumni meet at SCB Conference

Nine alumni attending the 1st Conference of the Africa Section of the Society for Conservation Biology (28 to 30 January 2009) held at the University of Ghana, together with TBA staff, held a rare side meeting-cum-reunion that discussed among others the challenges facing alumni groups across Africa. Alumni groups represented were Benin, Tanzania, Ghana and Kenya. The TBA will use the outcome of this meeting to help profile, but also support activities and growth of the alumni groups.

TBA alumni at SCB

It was excellent that 14 alumni from 12 past TBA courses (and one specialist training workshop), and the four TBA course field stations in Africa, participated in this conference; this was a unique opportunity for the alumni to make contacts and share their work with like minded scientists and conservation practitioners from across Africa. The conference, whose theme was “from conservation science to policy in Africa” combined talks, posters presentations and open discussion with good contributions from the alumni present. The TBA also ran the only pre-conference workshop focusing on fund-raising. We encourage, all alumni to always take advantage of such events that run in Africa as this represent a cheaper were to gain knowledge, and create new links that will enhance your personal profile.

The TBA alumni desk announces key events through the TBA bulletin board – keep up-to-date, read the bulletin board regularly.

back to top