Is 2025 the year your organisation embraces social science evidence?
People are a fundamental part of the ecosystems many of us work to restore and protect. To achieve our organisation’s missions, we need to understand and connect with stakeholders and human communities. But that isn’t always easy. The social sciences – those disciplines which allow researchers to explore and gather the evidence of people – are a big gap in conservation efforts. Human Nature exists to help those working in the environment sectors to fill this gap and harness the valuable evidence social science can provide.
Does your organisation need to embrace social science evidence this year?
? Perhaps social science is one of those topics which is constantly important but never urgent enough to get to the top of your to do list
? Maybe your organisation has a small team of social scientists, but you know you need to do more
? Or maybe you keep hearing about social science but you’re not really sure what it is or why you need it, or why it’s even got a place in conservation.
Here are three ways we can help you and your organisation take action fast:
Build a foundation understanding
For those needing to know what social science is, how it’s done and why it’s vital to conservation, our one-day Essentials of Conservation Social Science course is the next step for you. This course can be run in-house for your department or organisation to support conversations around how social science can help you achieve your mission. Or you can join us online on Tuesday 25thFebruary, 9:30am – 4:30pm (GMT). Standard rate is £125, reduced rate is £95.
Get the skills to gather people data
We wouldn’t ask a sociologist to do a population assessments of rare orchids without botany training, so we shouldn’t be asking ecologists to write questionnaires or conduct interviews without training either!
Anyone gathering people data needs to be trained to ensure: 1) safety of the researcher; 2) that the research process minimises risk to respondents, community and location; and 3) that the evidence gathered is the best quality it can be.
If you or your team need to gather and analyse text-based data e.g. that collected through open-ended questionnaires, interviews or focus groups, you need the Qualitative Methods for Conservation course. Over five online sessions, or three days in person, participants build their skills in designing, collecting and analysing text-based data. This course can be run in-house for your team. Or you can join the next course online from Monday 28th April to Friday 2nd May 10am to 3pm (BST).
Support for social science leaders
If you’re the one trying to drive a change in the way your organisation values and uses the evidence of people, then you’re doing a much needed job. I’ve been where you are, and know it can be slow and lonely, but it can also be exciting and visionary.
So I’ve designed a new workshop to support people just like you to accelerate your organisation’s use of social science. This includes:
- A one day workshop with other social science leaders to explore how to change organisations and what will work for you
- A one hour mentoring call with your course lead to get your actions clearly defined
- One place on the Essentials of Conservation Social Science course for you or a colleague
By the end you’ll have identified the priority next steps for you and have a plan to achieve them.
There are two date options for the social science leadership workshop depending on your location either Thursday 6th February(Europe/Africa) or Tuesday 11th February (N/S Americas).
To find out more, please email rebecca@humannature.co.uk and share a bit about your interests so we can work out the best next steps for you.
Thank you for reading this email. It shows you’re interested in a style of conservation which values and listens to people. And we really need that approach to make progress on the social and ecological challenges we face.
If you have any other questions about conservation social science, drop me an email rebecca@humannature.co.uk. I’d love to help.