International Zoo Educators

Expand Your Horizons with IZE’s Job Experience Program! Host applications are due May 31st. /training/job-experience-program/

🤝 This week, the WAZA Council met in person in Amsterdam at ARTIS Zoo @artis.amsterdam for its first face to face meeting of the year. Over two days of stimulating and productive discussions, Council members addressed a wide range of strategic priorities, with a strong focus on shaping WAZA’s 2027–2031 Strategy. Building on insights from consultations with WAZA members, committees and the Executive Office, discussions centred on ensuring WAZA remains an inclusive and forward looking association, while strengthening the evidence base to showcase the collective contribution of zoos and aquariums to conservation. WAZA extends sincere thanks to President David Field, Vice President Cynthia Whitbred-Spanoulis, all Council members, and to our host ARTIS for their exceptional hospitality, including an engaging and insightful guided tour of their institution. During the meeting, WAZA also renewed and extended its Memorandum of Understanding with the International Zoo Educators Association @izeducators , reaffirming a long standing strategic partnership to advance global conservation education and public engagement, including developing a shared global narrative on the societal value of zoos and aquariums and enhancing the impact of the World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Education Strategy. 🔗 Read more about the renewed partnership here: /news/waza-and-ize-extend-strategic-partnership-to-advance-global-conservation-education/ 📸 © WAZA

Let's read the wonderful educational story from Marine Mammals Center! Youth volunteers at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA are leading the conversation on conservation! On the frontlines of communicating about marine mammal threats and conservation actions in their local communities, they learned the science of climate change and sustainable seafood, and logged their conservation actions through an interactive, custom mobile application (GetGreen) allowing them to track their carbon emission offsets. They engaged over 7,400 visitors and encouraged nearly 600 pledges for conservation actions. In total, the over 1,700 recorded actions equated to the reduction of 18 metric tons of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. Youth also reported a significant increase in their comfort and frequency of environmental conversations in their personal lives and increased their belief that they could have a positive impact through their own actions and increasing communication about these critical environmental topics to others. Learn more by reading the article published by The Marine Mammal Center in last year's International Zoo Educators Journal!

Here's the great educational story from Nashville Zoo. Let's take a read! This summer, Nashville Zoo and Metro Nashville Public Schools connected thousands of students in Tennessee with conservation work in Zimbabwe through the Wildlife Research Scholars Program. Zoo educators Roger Torbert and Thaisa Bell joined MNPS staff at Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage, fostering connections between students and conservationists protecting wildlife across southern Africa. In just three days, nearly 4,000 students and 100 teachers participated in live virtual lessons, witnessing fieldwork like relocating genets and drone-assisted black eagle monitoring. “It’s about more than sparking interest for a day,” said Roger. “We’re nurturing a conservation ethic that could last a lifetime.” Students experienced conservation in action, gaining a global perspective while seeing how science and care for wildlife directly impact communities. /nashvillezoo /nashvillezoo/

What if hope and optimism were the primary drivers for global species recovery? In the article 'Hope in Action: How the World Species Congress Mobilised Species Recovery Action in the conservation community', published last year in the joint WAZA and @izeducators publication, Megan Joyce and Jenny Gray explore how the inaugural World Species Congress mobilised the conservation community. Organised by @reverse.the.red in May 2024 as a 24-hour virtual event, the Congress engaged over 110,000 participants worldwide, shifting the professional narrative towards a mindset of agency and possibility. Rooted in behavioural science, the Congress demonstrated that hope is a practical necessity for long term commitment and action. This approach empowered professionals to influence outcomes, resulting in more than 13,000 direct conservation actions and thousands of public Species Pledges. Read the full article 👉Link in bio

The first quarterly update from Dr Sarah Thomas, the President of the International Zoo Educators Association is now live. It highlights recent milestones across IZE’s global conservation education community, including new IZE Board appointments, the launch of the Emerging Leaders Mentorship Program, global participation to celebrate IZE Day, and a special joint publication with WAZA. Want to stay connected with IZE’s work and what’s coming next? Please read the update and subscribe to receive future quarterly briefings here:�/2026/03/new-quarterly-briefings-from-your-ize-president/

Last day to go!!! We know you are doing great educational activities day by day. Why don't you share it with other members around the world? IZE is seeking the papers for our next journal. The deadline is March 1st. We look forward to receiving your wonderful article today! Please find the details at /resources/ize-journal/

Last day to submit! Let's join and present at the 27th Biennial Conference of IZE! Our global community of conservation educators will gather in Cape Town, South Africa, from October 12-16, 2026. The call for abstracts is open through Feb 28th. You are invited to submit an abstract for consideration in the conference program. Please find the details at https://www.aquarium.co.za/ize-conference-2026 #IZE #conference #educator

🍃 Reconnecting communities with nature sits at the centre of @aucklandzoo ’s evolving approach to conservation and wellbeing. The article, Driving Social Change to Build Harmonious Futures for People and Nature, was featured in Leading Social Change for Biodiversity Conservation, a joint publication by WAZA and @izeducators – International Zoo Educators Association. The case study explores how Auckland Zoo is embedding community wellbeing into its organisational purpose through its Wellbeing in Nature approach, drawing on Indigenous knowledge systems, recognised wellbeing and nature connection frameworks, and a strong evidence base linking nature connection with improved mental health and positive environmental behaviour. With measurable outcomes, long-term community partnerships and a clear theory of change, the article offers valuable insight into how zoos can strengthen public engagement with biodiversity conservation while supporting social resilience. Read the full article: 👉Link in bio

Dear IZE member educators, We know you are doing great educational activities day by day. Why don't you share it with other members around the world? IZE is seeking the papers for our next journal. The deadline is March 1st. We look forward to receiving your wonderful article soon! Please find the details at /resources/ize-journal/

A week left! Let's join and present at the 27th Biennial Conference of IZE! Our global community of conservation educators will gather in Cape Town, South Africa, from October 12-16, 2026. The call for abstracts is open through Feb 28th. You are invited to submit an abstract for consideration in the conference program. Please find the details at https://www.aquarium.co.za/ize-conference-2026 #IZE #conference #educator