The 25th Student Conference on Conservation Science takes place here in Zoology next week.  Conservationists and students from across the globe will travel to Cambridge to take part.

Four delegates told us about the importance of the event to them, and to their research.

Fetratiana Rakotomanga
University of Antananarivo, Madagascar

I first became interested in conservation science when I realized how rich my country is in biodiversity, yet how fragile these ecosystems are. 

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Home, to me, is a place where people no longer work against nature but instead work with it, using nature itself to restore and repair ecosystems. For me, that place is Madagascar, where I feel most at home in the heart of our rainforests.

My decision to participate in the SCCS comes from my passion for conservation. It is also a great opportunity to expand my network and connect with both young conservationists and experienced professionals.

My research shows that restoration doesn’t begin with planting trees, but with managing the ground cover and surrounding habitat to make it suitable for new tree populations. I studied how different types of ground cover affect plant recruitment in post-agricultural areas in Marojejy National Park. I found that some ground cover can support tree recruits, while others can limit their establishment, helping us better understand how to support natural regeneration.

Beatriz da Silva Monteiro Lima 
Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)

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I grew up in an urban environment, but the first time I visited a forest reserve I felt an immediate sense of belonging and knew this was what I wanted to pursue.

In the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, many remaining forest patches are located in mountainous areas and can become isolated when not connected to surrounding lowland forests. This led me to focus on fragmented landscapes and ecotones—the transition zones between human-modified areas and preserved forests—where these connections are often lost.

I became increasingly aware that insects are still underrepresented in conservation, despite their essential roles as pollinators. Butterflies, however, can act as powerful ambassadors: they are charismatic and familiar, and can help draw attention to the importance of conserving insect diversity. This combination of personal connection and scientific motivation is what drives my work in conservation.

My research explores how habitat fragmentation affects the survival of butterflies in fragmented Atlantic Forest landscapes in Brazil. When forests are broken into isolated patches, many species can no longer move between them, limiting  access to food and mates, reducing genetic diversity, and increasing the risk of population decline over time.

I study how butterflies perceive and move through fragmented landscapes. My preliminary results suggest that, for butterflies, much of our landscape is no longer connected, but instead functions like a series of ecological islands.

I first heard about SCCS at the beginning of my PhD, when a close friend encouraged me to apply. Now, at the end of my PhD, I finally have the opportunity to take part and share my research. It feels especially meaningful to come full circle and to contribute to a global community of researchers, one I have been hoping to join for a long time.

Aimé Gansa
National University of Agriculture (UNA), Benin

Home to me is Benin, particularly the Ouémé floodplain, where my research and conservation work are rooted.

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My interest in conservation science grew from observing how closely local communities depend on natural resources, and how quickly these can decline without management. I became motivated to work at the intersection of ecology and livelihoods, where science can directly inform practical solutions.

My research looks at whether frog harvesting in southern Benin is sustainable. By estimating population size, habitat limits, and harvest levels, I found that current harvesting is relatively low, but the population depends strongly on the availability of breeding wetlands. Protecting these habitats is therefore essential to ensure both conservation and local livelihoods.

I was drawn to the SCCS because it brings together early-career conservation scientists from around the world, offering a unique space to exchange ideas and learn from diverse field experiences. It is also a valuable opportunity to share applied research from West Africa in an international setting. 

At the conference, I hope to gain new perspectives on conservation challenges, especially approaches that link science to policy and community action.
 

Abigail Jeevachandran
Imperial College London

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I first got interested in conservation science during a BSc module where I carried out a species reintroduction survey and looked at how human activities were affecting a heathland area. A two-week conservation trip to South Africa then made the value and urgency of conservation science feel real to me.

My lecturer encouraged me to apply SCCS, but attending the conference last year is what really made me want to return. Witnessing a range of meaningful conservation research made me want to contribute too, so being accepted to present my MSc thesis feels like a real privilege.

My thesis looks at what kinds of evidence conservation practitioners prefer when making decisions, and which features matter most. Using two methods, it shows what they prioritise and why this matters for improving evidence use in conservation.