Saving the Earth as a Career: Advice on Becoming a Conservation Professional

Contents: Preface Read this before you begin 1. Is this the right career for you? 2. Establishing an undergraduate foundation 3. Selecting an educational program 4. Applying for admission 5. Designing your program of study 6. Designing your research project 7. Executing your research project 8. Attending conferences and making presentations 9. Writing papers 10. Finding a job 11. Making a difference Index

A lively and informative guide for those starting a career in conservation, or thinking about such a career, to how it's done! This book should be useful for college and university students - and their advisors - as well as anyone interested in the rapidly-expanding and vitally important field of conservation. Peter H. Raven, President, Missouri Botanical Garden "Informative, engaging, practical and empathetic: these are just a few of the adjectives that describe this guide for fledgling conservation professionals. The authors - all seasoned and highly respected conservation professionals - have provided aspirant planet doctors with the wisest advice possible." Richard Cowling, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University "Conservation professionals invariably take themselves way too seriously. This, in contrast, is a useful, novel and very entertaining book packed full of pithy advice" Hugh Possingham, University of Queensland "Read, absorb, act and save" William Sutherland, University of Cambridge "So you want to change the world? If the thought of politics turns your innards, then don't despair. Hunter, Lindenmayer and Calhoun have written a thoroughly engaging 'road map' of the many options available to the aspiring conservation professional. It's packed with the hard-won experience of some of the world's most respected conservation biologists. Importantly, they tell you just how to get there, from the now-mandatory University education, to learning how best to plan research and get it published, to securing the right job." Barry Brook, University of Adelaide "This is a much-needed and invaluable resource for those pursuing a career in conservation, written by an experienced trio who freely dispense sage advice. If you want to be a conservation professional, read this book, perhaps more than once." Gary K. Meffe, Editor, Conservation Biology "Many people seek careers or even just fulfilment from contributing to conservation. With mounting environmental problems, we need all the best people we can find. This very readable book provides sound advice. Crucially, it will help match able and committed people to the right jobs, whatever their nature. I strongly recommend it as essential reading for anyone, whatever their interests, or wherever they are in their career." Georgina M. Mace, Imperial College London

Malcolm L Hunter is the Libra Professor of Conservation Biology and Professor of Wildlife Ecology at the University of Maine. He is also the former President of the Society for Conservation Biology. David B Lindenmayer is a Research Professor in Ecology at the Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies at The Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. Aram J K Calhoun is Associate Professor of Wetland Ecology at the University of Maine, a staff scientist at Maine Audubon Society, and chair of the Student Affairs Committee of the Society for Conservation Biology.