Protecting nature by empowering local communities

Welcome to the Inclusive Conservation Lab!

In our lab, we endeavor to conduct applied community and ecosystem ecology research and practice conservation at various scales while incorporating the values and needs of local communities directly into our work. Our lab is located at the University of British Columbia - Vancouver, with joint appointments in the Forest & Conservation Sciences and Botany Departments, and affiliated status with the Institute of Resources, Environment, and Sustainability as well as the Biodiversity Research Centre.

Lab News

Recruiting Graduate Students to Join the ICL!

The Inclusive Conservation Lab at the University of British Columbia is recruiting one PhD student or two MSc students to conduct research on coastal ecosystem ecology and conservation. These positions are fully-funded and will begin in the Fall of 2024 on the Vancouver campus. We are looking for students who are interested in conducting applied ecological research in coastal wetlands and are willing to engage in issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in their learning and their approach to research. Students can be accepted through the following departments: Forest and Conservation Sciences, Botany, and the Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability.

The ICL is anti-racist and fully supportive of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

To apply: Please complete the Prospective Student Inquiry Form found at the “Join the Lab” menu item at the top of this page by August 28th. We look forward to hearing from you!

Recruiting Postdoctoral Fellows to Join the ICL!

The ICL is currently recruiting 1-2 postdocs to join the lab in 2024 and conduct research related to coastal wetland ecology, conservation, and restoration. Projects will be co-developed by prospective applicants and Dr. Moore and can include topics ranging from eDNA/bioinformatics to landscape-level processes and management approaches. Research projects that include global change aspects are preferred!

Interested applicants must be willing to apply for postdoctoral fellowships for stipend support and research funding. Upcoming fellowship opportunities are listed below:

To inquire further or apply, please send an email to alex.moore@ubc.ca by September 30th with “Prospective Postdoc Inquiry” in the subject line and include a brief statement of research interest along with your CV. We look forward to hearing from you!

Research in the ICL

Research in the ICL focuses on broad ecological questions with conservation and restoration applications. These include addressing how the ecological community and food webs influence ecosystem functions , identifying the various contexts that influence these relationships, and determining the relative importance of biotic and abiotic factors in maintaining ecosystem health.

Across all of this work, recognizing and incorporating local cultural values, uses, and traditional ecological knowledge and land stewardship practices is crucial for inclusive, equitable, and sustainable research.

For more information, see the “Research” tab above.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice

Our lab is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and just community that values all aspects of diversity, including but not limited to: race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, socioeconomic status, immigration status, and disability designation. We seek to recruit, support, and retain members from diverse backgrounds and groups that have historically been marginalized in STEM and the academe at large.
As a lab, we are committed to creating a learning and working environment where individuals feel supported and invested in the lab mission. Toward this end, we believe that it’s not enough to not be racist, and we commit ourselves to act against racism by acknowledging personal privileges, confronting acts of racial discrimination, and working to change personal implicit biases. These values are not only part of our lab culture, but are also deeply embedded in the research that we do. This work is challenging, but essential, and as a lab we will work together to develop practices and policies that address individual and collective needs.