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IZE Conferences

21st International Zoo Educators' (IZE) Biennial Conference
August 28 - September 1, 2012
Hosted by Chester Zoo, UK

Changing Hearts, Minds and Ultimately Behaviours

Agenda 21, the protocol that emerged from the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, identified zoos as education providers for ‘Think Globally, Act Locally’, the mantra that urged every citizen to take responsibility for their lifestyle and the resultant environmental impact.

The 2005 World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy clearly defines the outcome of zoo education as being to inspire visitors to change behaviour and live more sustainably.

Environmental education initiatives that aim to change human behaviour provide the focus of many field projects where human activity impacts negatively on fragile habitats and threatened species.

Facilitating change is one challenge zoo and field educators face; another is devising monitoring and evaluation techniques that evidence success and increasingly we are asked to demonstrate that our education programmes are effective.

How can we as a global zoo community address this dual challenge in a meaningful way?

Come and be inspired and share your own thoughts, ideas and experiences with educators from around the world at IZE’s 21st Biennial Conference in Chester 28 August – 01 September 2012.

The conference will be held at the world-famous Chester Racecourse on the banks of the River Dee just outside the city walls. Although it first opened in 1539, the facilities have been considerably upgraded since then and we will have the full use of the excellently–equipped Leverhulme Stand for the duration of the conference. Literally next door is the Holiday Inn Express who is offering excellent rates to conference delegates. The hotel is a five minute walk from Chester’s historic centre with the most complete Roman amphitheatre in the UK, the famous city walls and its stunning 1000 year old Norman cathedral. We will of course be spending time in Chester Zoo, a ten minute drive away. We’re busy finalising the conference fee and some other details and will be launching a conference website very soon. Online booking will be available before the end of the year. We’re looking forward to welcoming you to Chester!

Special Events, Celebrations and Themes

World Wetlands Day
February 2

World Wetlands Day (WWD) marks the date of the signing of the Convention on Wetlands on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea. WWD was celebrated for the first time in 1997 and made an encouraging beginning. Each year, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and groups of citizens at all levels of the community have taken advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits.

Party for the Planet
Earth Day Weekend

Join the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) for a Party for the Planet! Party for the Planet will share with our guests a variety of ways they can protect wildlife in their daily lives. Guests leave with the message that every day can be a Party for the Planet!

Earth Day
April 22

Earth Day, which began in 1970, is now celebrated by millions of people worldwide. This year is its 35th anniversary, and around the world, hundreds of thousands of nongovernmental organizations, governments, teachers, and faith-based groups, among others, are making plans to declare that they are part of something extraordinary: a worldwide movement to protect our planet, our children, and our future...This Earth Day, hundreds of major events will take place around the world, in communities large and small, in classrooms, in parks and on beaches, in places of worship. From Kiev to Beijing, from India to Romania, from Africa to the Americas, we will demonstrate our diversity and our resilience. We look forward to your participation and working with you to make this Earth Day the beginning of a global effort to protect our children’s future.

International Migratory Bird Day
May 14, 2011

International Migratory Bird Day celebrates the incredible journeys of migratory birds between their breeding grounds in North America and their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central, and South America. The event, which takes place on the second Saturday in May each year, encourages bird conservation and increases awareness of birds through hikes, bird watching, information about birds and migration, public events, and a variety of other education programs. Join us in the celebration!

World Environment Day
June 5

Every 5th of June is a day used by the United Nations to stimulate worldwide awareness of environmental issues and encourages political action.

World Ocean Day
June 8

Created in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the World Ocean Day is an opportunity each year to celebrate our world's ocean and our personal connection to the sea. Whether you live inland or on the coast, we are all connected to the ocean. Take the time to organize or participate in activities that celebrate our world's ocean.

United Nations Decade for Sustainable Development
March 1, 2005 - 2014

The vision of education for sustainable development is a world where everyone has the opportunity to benefit from quality education and learn the values, behavior and lifestyles required for a sustainable future and for positive societal transformation. Education for sustainable development is a life-wide and lifelong endeavor which challenges individuals, institutions and societies to view tomorrow as a day that belongs to all of us, or it will not belong to anyone. UNESCO's Key Themes for the decade include: Environmental Protection, Economic Development, and Social and Cultural Development.