Sir David Attenborough celebrates achievements of Conservation Leadership alumni
Attendees at the conservation leadership celebration
This month Sir David Attenborough returned to Cambridge to join alumni of the MPhil in Conservation Leadership, to celebrate the collective achievements of the first eight cohorts of the course.
Over 120 alumni from across the globe attended the event, along with many of the conservation researchers and practitioners who contribute to the delivery of the course.
Sir David gave a speech to close an afternoon of presentations by the alumni that showcased the diverse, inspiring and important work they have been doing since graduating. He said:
This afternoon has been one of the most heartening afternoons I’ve had for a long time…because seeing people…who have come to Cambridge from all over the globe, and have got together and laughed together and devised new thoughts and new approaches; that’s a marvel. The world will need you and the likes of you more than it ever has done. If humanity [is to come] to its senses…it will only happen by events and organisations that produce communities like this one.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stephen Toope said:
As Vice-Chancellor, I have made no secret of my belief that as a world-leading University, Cambridge must engage with the great challenges facing humanity, through applied research, partnership with civil society and the training of future leaders. The MPhil in Conservation Leadership is a perfect example of this vision in action, and a flagship course in more than just conservation.
The event presented a unique opportunity to create new connections between alumni, and to strengthen ongoing links with the partners that make up the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, housed in the David Attenborough Building. Dr Chris Sandbrook, Director of the Masters, who fronted the delivery of the event, said:
Through the Masters we are creating a global network of conservation leaders, better equipped to bring about the changes that are needed to conserve the world’s biodiversity. Bringing our alumni together in one place for this event has allowed us to create new connections between them so that in future they can support each other in their vital work.
Masters in Conservation Leadership
The Masters in Conservation Leadership is a professional degree launched in 2010 to equip the next generation of conservation leaders with the skills and experience they need to bring about positive change for the natural world. The 143 students who have joined the course come from over 70 countries, predominantly in the Global South. Graduates have gone on to hold key roles in charity, government and business.
The Masters is a full-time, 11-month degree aimed at graduates of leadership potential with at least three to five years of relevant experience. The course focuses on issues of leadership and management, and delivers a world-class and interdisciplinary education that is not available elsewhere.
The course is based at the Department of Geography. Unique among graduate courses in conservation, in the UK and across the world, the Masters is delivered in collaboration with biodiversity conservation organisations at the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI), who provide more than 50% of the lectures as well as hosting group and individual projects.
The course also benefits from teaching from multiple University departments that are affiliated to the Conservation Research Institute. The Masters in Conservation Leadership has a dedicated teaching room within the David Attenborough Building, offering the students unrivalled access to world-leading conservation practitioners and researchers.
Find out more about the MPhil in Conservation Leadership.