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ZAP! COnservationists in Action

ZAP! Conservationists in Action connects students with diverse groups conducting conservation work locally, nationally, and globally. Through free virtual presentations, participants are able to learn from, and inquire about, ways that these conservationists positively impact the environment.

Aligned with the history and heritage months throughout the year, these programs provide an opportunity for underrepresented voices to share their stories, culture, and personal impact on the students who may identify with them and their lived experiences.

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Wednesday, May 8, 2024
5:00 p.m.

DR. SATHYA CHINNADURAI

Dr. Sathya Chinnadurai (he/him) leads the Animal Health, Welfare and Science group at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Dr. Chinnadurai obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Missouri, where he also completed a Master’s degree in wildlife sciences. He is a board-certified specialist in zoological medicine, veterinary anesthesiology, and animal welfare. He is an associate editor for the anesthesia section of the Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine and is a prolific scientific author. For the past several years Dr. Chinnadurai has also served as a member of the Morris Animal Foundation Wildlife Scientific Advisory Board and the Animal Welfare Committee of the American Veterinary Medical Association, as well as representing the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians on the AVMA House Advisory Panel. He is an avid researcher, educator and clinician, and a professional girl-dad who has memorized the entire Barbie soundtrack and Taylor Swift’s full catalogue.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024
5:00 p.m.

PANEL: ENDANGERED HAWAIIAN BIRDS

The mission of the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project is to develop and implement techniques that recover Maui's endangered birds and to restore their habitats through research, development, and application of conservation techniques. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance is an international, nonprofit conservation organization with two front doors: the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. We integrate wildlife health and care, science, and education to develop sustainable conservation solutions. Birds, Not Mosquitoes is a multi-agency partnership urgently working to protect the native Hawaiian honeycreepers from extinction. The southern house mosquito is invading these birds’ habitats and spreading a deadly disease called avian malaria. Meet Rachel Kingsley, Brissa Christophersen, and Ben Catcho, the brilliant conservation leaders within these organizations.

Wednesday, May 22, 2024
5:00 p.m.

JENNIE JANSSEN

Jennie is an Assistant Curator at National Aquarium, a Research Associate at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, and the President and co-founder of Minorities in Aquarium and Zoo Science (MIAZS). Specializing in the care of both elasmobranchs and jellyfish for over 20 years at various public aquaria, she is also passionate about husbandry professionals participating in research as both professional development and a means of communicating the discoveries and innovative advances that commonly arise from aquariums and zoos. A champion of collaboration, she leads the International Census of Chondrichthyans in Human Care, serves as the Vice Chair of the AZA Professional Development Committee, is a co-creator of the Kraken Curriculum, the POSea Conference, Jelly Camp, and MIAZS, and was named in the Blooloop 50 Zoo & Aquarium Influencer List in 2022 and 2023 and highlighted in the Power 10 in 2022.

Wednesday, May 29, 2024
5:00 p.m.

Legacies

Join KCLA Community Engagement staff members as we share stories about individuals and organizations that have inspired conservation leadership in others. Participants can join in the dialogue about how the work and ideas presented can be applied in our daily lives to extend the conservation legacy of those discussed.

Missed a presentation?
Check out our past Conservationists in Action by clicking the button below.

View all Previous Presentations

This program is made possible, in part, with support from the King Family Foundation, BNSF Railway Foundation, FedEx Corporation, the Julius N. Frankel Foundation, the Gerald A. and Karen A. Kolschowsky Foundation Inc., the Edmond and Alice Opler Foundation, Peoples Gas Community Fund, the Schmidgall Family Foundation, the Dr. Scholl Foundation, and Wintrust Financial Corporation.

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ZAP! COnservationists in Action

DR. SATHYA CHINNADURAI

PANEL: ENDANGERED HAWAIIAN BIRDS

JENNIE JANSSEN

Legacies

Missed a presentation?
Check out our past Conservationists in Action by clicking the button below.

Directions

North Gate Main Entrance

South Gate Entrance

ZAP! COnservationists in Action

DR. SATHYA CHINNADURAI

PANEL: ENDANGERED HAWAIIAN BIRDS

JENNIE JANSSEN

Legacies

Missed a presentation? Check out our past Conservationists in Action by clicking the button below.

Missed a presentation?
Check out our past Conservationists in Action by clicking the button below.