Emerging Conservation Professionals Network

What We Do

Annual Meeting Programming

We host events at AIC's Annual Meeting that address the interests of our membership and strengthen our relationship with established professionals. Past events have included networking sessions, lightning round presentations, portfolio sessions, panel discussions, happy hours, and informational meetings. We also frequently contribute to the Poster Session, presenting on the network activities or key topics of interest to emerging professionals.

Below are some ways to connect at the annual meeting.

• Bookmark Events on Meeting Schedule: Be sure not to miss our Annual Meeting programming! Search for "ECPN" to find all of our events.
• Wear our Ribbon: Snag a purple our ribbon at registration. This is an easy way to spot fellow emerging conservation professionals at the conference and forge new connections!
• Download our Tips Sheet: Learn how to prepare for and make the most of your conference experience.

Wiki

We maintain the Emerging Conservation Professionals section of the AIC Wiki. The wiki is an interactive and collaborative resource to bring together some of the resources developed for emerging conservation professionals. It is a dynamic endeavor that aims to foster communication and connectivity through an active exchange of information and the current trends and needs of the field.

We were established in 2008 to provide support and resources for conservation professionals in the early stages of their professional career. We first hosted informal events at the AIC Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, CA, in 2009, and introduced specialized programming beginning in 2011 at the AIC Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA. We continued to expand our resources for members by establishing a Liaison Program and Webinar Program in 2012, and in 2015 launched a page on the AIC Wiki for emerging conservation professionals.

Officers

Our officers serve in roles with 1- or 2-year terms, but some roles advance into another, such as vice chair to chair, and they may also take on a new role when their term ends. 

Liaisons

Our liaisons cultivate local networks of emerging conservation professionals and foster a sense of community, organizing local events such as lab tours, portfolio days, or happy hours. We have three liaison groups: regional liaisons, graduate program liaisons, and group liaisons. Our outreach officers manage the liaison program. If you are interested in a vacant position, please let them know. We encourage liaisons to have AIC membership, but it is not required.