معرفی
Dr Chris Sandbrook is Professor of Conservation & Society in the Department of Geography at the University of Cambridge, where he also serves as Director of the Conservation Research Institute and Director of the MPhil in Conservation Leadership. A Fellow of Darwin College, he is a prominent conservation social scientist with expertise spanning the relationship between conservation and development, the values of conservationists, and the social implications of digital technologies in conservation. His work bridges natural and social sciences to address complex conservation challenges globally.
His educational background includes a PhD in Anthropology from University College London, an MSc in Integrative Biosciences from the University of Oxford, and an MA in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge. This interdisciplinary training reflects his approach to conservation as a field that requires integration of diverse knowledge systems and methodologies.
Dr Sandbrook's research explores three interconnected themes: the relationship between conservation and development in theory and practice; the values and viewpoints of conservationists and how these influence conservation action; and the social and political implications of digital technologies for conservation. His work on the Future of Conservation project represents the first large-scale global survey of values held by conservationists, while his leadership of the GO-FOX project develops tools to help organizations reflect on their conservation values. He has also conducted significant research on the implications of digital games and surveillance technologies like drones and camera traps for conservation practice, particularly in the global south.
His recent publications reveal a growing emphasis on the social dimensions of conservation technology, with particular attention to gender implications, ethical considerations, and power dynamics. There's also a strong focus on interdisciplinary approaches, connecting conservation science with political ecology, feminist theory, and critical technology studies. His work increasingly addresses the implementation challenges of global conservation targets like 30x30, examining how these play out in specific national contexts.
Dr Sandbrook has made significant contributions to conservation leadership development through his role as Director of the Cambridge Masters in Conservation Leadership, which has trained numerous conservation professionals over its first decade. He has supervised numerous PhD students working on diverse conservation topics across multiple continents, and his research has been supported by major funding bodies including the Global Challenges Research Fund and the Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation program.
He serves as Associate Editor for Conservation and Society and has previously been a Handling Editor for Conservation Biology and Secretary of the Board of the Social Science Working Group of the Society for Conservation Biology. His leadership extends to the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, where he serves on the governing Council, and to Natural England, where he is a member of the Social Science Expert Panel.
