TROPIBIO Roundtable Explores the Potential of Social Media for Conservation Ecology
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The roundtable provided a platform for fruitful discussions among the panelists and the participants. A diverse group of individuals from various backgrounds and nationalities attended the roundtable. In total, there were 60 participants. They hailed from different cities and countries around the world. The nationalities represented included Spanish, Portuguese, Nigerian, Italian, Mozambican, Brazilian, Swedish, Angolan, Saotomense, and American. These participants were affiliated with institutions such as CIBIO, Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Ambientais, Federal University of Technology, Universidade dos Açores, MARE-Madeira, Centro de Saude Vida Feliz, private sector, SPEA, Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Alterações Climáticas, University of Porto, CRIA, CIIMAR, IFCE, BirdLife International, UFPA, UNOPAR, Fatec, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, and UFAL. The roundtable brought together a diverse range of expertise and perspectives to discuss relevant topics and contribute to the exchange of knowledge.
Capture screenshots of the panelists presenting, the YouTube livestream, and the Zoom room during the roundtable
The TROPIBIO team organized a thought-provoking roundtable on June 23, 2022, to discuss the potential of social media for Conservation Ecology. This virtual event, broadcast live on CIBIO's YouTube channel, attracted experts and researchers from various countries worldwide.
Date: June 23, 2022
Location: Live Broadcast on CIBIO's YouTube channel
Moderated by Fernanda Alves-Martins, Assistant Researcher at TROPIBIO, the roundtable brought together a distinguished panel of experts in the field. The panelists included Ana Sofia Vaz from CIBIO-BIOPOLIS, University of Porto, Jhonatan Guedes-Santos from the Federal University of Alagoas, Brazil, and Ricardo A. Correia from the University of Helsinki, Finland.
The roundtable focused on exploring the diverse aspects of social media as an emerging source of data for conservation ecology. The panelists delved into the potential of social media content to provide valuable insights into species distributions, phenology, behavior, and public interest in various landscapes and species.
During the discussion, several pertinent questions were raised, stimulating an engaging debate among the participants. Some of the key questions addressed were:
- What research topics can be addressed, and what types of data can be extracted from social media?
- How do social media platforms represent social realities and human-nature interactions, considering that some communities lack access to the internet?
- How can ethical issues related to using social media data, such as user privacy or revealing sensitive locations or species, be effectively addressed?
- In what ways can social media data influence conservation policy-making positively?
- How can social media data help understand and reconcile different human perceptions of environmental issues, considering the disparity between scientific and local community viewpoints?
- What are the potential downsides or unintended consequences of social media for nature conservation, as exemplified by the increased trade of owls as pets associated with online communities and the popularity of Harry Potter?
- What are the limitations and main obstacles to the growth of social media usage for nature conservation?
The roundtable provided a platform for fruitful discussions among the panelists and the participants. A diverse group of individuals from various backgrounds and nationalities attended the roundtable. In total, there were 60 participants. They hailed from different cities and countries around the world. The nationalities represented included Spanish, Portuguese, Nigerian, Italian, Mozambican, Brazilian, Swedish, Angolan, Saotomense, and American. These participants were affiliated with institutions such as CIBIO, Centro de Ecologia, Evolução e Alterações Ambientais, Federal University of Technology, Universidade dos Açores, MARE-Madeira, Centro de Saude Vida Feliz, private sector, SPEA, Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Alterações Climáticas, University of Porto, CRIA, CIIMAR, IFCE, BirdLife International, UFPA, UNOPAR, Fatec, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, and UFAL. The roundtable brought together a diverse range of expertise and perspectives to discuss relevant topics and contribute to the exchange of knowledge.
The TROPIBIO team believes that harnessing the potential of social media for conservation ecology can significantly advance our understanding of ecosystems and support evidence-based conservation strategies. The recording of the roundtable will be made available for those who could not participate in the live event, ensuring broader access to the valuable insights shared.
With the successful completion of this roundtable, TROPIBIO continues to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among experts in the field, paving the way for innovative approaches to conservation ecology in the digital age.
Watch here the recording:
Watch here the recording:
Capture screenshots of the panelists presenting, the YouTube livestream, and the Zoom room during the roundtable