UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The 2022-23 Penn State Forum Speaker Series concludes this spring with wildlife biologists and activists Derek Lee and Monica Bond, co-founders of Wild Nature Institute and professors in the Penn State Eberly College of Science. Lee and Bond will present a talk titled, “True Tall Tales from Tanzania: Giraffe Science and Reasons for Hope in the Biodiversity and Climate Crises."
The talk and buffet-style luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, in the Presidents Hall of the Penn Stater Conference Center and Hotel, on the University Park campus.
Tickets must be purchased in advance of the event. Visit the registration page to purchase tickets or tables.
About the speakers
Derek Lee, associate research professor of biology at Penn State and principal scientist at Wild Nature Institute, is a wildlife biologist and activist-scientist with 20 years of experience in the field. He studied cultural anthropology for his bachelor's degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara, received a master's degree in natural resource management from Humboldt State University and a doctorate in biology from Dartmouth College. Lee was a Fulbright Scholar in 2012, and is the author of more than 40 scientific publications on wildlife ecology.
Monica Bond, academic affiliate of biology in the Eberly College of Science and principal scientist at Wild Nature Institute, is a wildlife biologist with a focus on population ecology, habitat selection, and social behavior of wildlife. Bond received a bachelor's in biology from Duke University, a master's in wildlife science from the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University, and a doctorate in ecology, Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich.
In 2010 Lee co-founded with Bond the Wild Nature Institute, where they study the ecology of endangered wildlife and aim to inspire actions to protect wild nature.
In 2011 Lee established the first long-term study of wild giraffes, and since then he has been living and working full-time in Tanzania. Lee and Bond recently created a giraffe-themed environmental education curriculum of materials and learning activities that have been used by more than 200 teachers and reached more than 25,000 children across Tanzania.
In the presentation, Lee will describe his journey to becoming a giraffe biologist using high-tech, big data tools in one of the world’s largest wildlife conservation research programs. He and Bond also will provide hopeful examples of people, government and industry working together to find integrated solutions to biodiversity, climate and economic issues.
About the Forum Speaker Series
The forum series is modeled after the National Press Club Speaker Series, which includes a presentation by an invited speaker, followed by audience questions.
The buffet-style luncheons are held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Presidents Hall of the Penn Stater Conference Center and Hotel, on the University Park campus.
All events are open to faculty, staff, students and the general public. Tickets for the Penn State Forum are $25 each, or $250 for a table of 10, and include a buffet lunch. Tickets may be purchased by visiting the Forum Speakers website.
More information about the series is available on the Penn State Forum Speakers website.