Abstract: Drawing on the Self Determination Theory and the Theory of Basic Human Values, Maï will provide two frameworks that can help conservationists and educators develop programs, policies and intervention strategies to facilitate deep, widespread and enduring cultural change. She will use examples from small-scale fishing communities in the Philippines, farming communities in Tasmania, as well as university students and faculty to demonstrate why it is important that practitioners understand the motivations and values within communities, and develop interventions in conservation, education, and equity and inclusion that support self-transcendence values, autonomy, competence and relatedness.
Mai's bio —
Maï obtained her MSc in Zoology at the University of Oxford and her PhD in Geography at the University of Victoria. She also did an NSERC post-doc in the Institute for Oceans and Fisheries here at UBC on the social and ecological impacts of community-based marine reserves in the Philippines. She has taught and developed over 50 interdisciplinary, student-centered courses, including field and remote classes in ecology, conservation, and environmental studies. Maï has published over 40 peer-reviewed papers in disciplines including zoology, geography, psychology and education.
Over the past 13 years, Maï has worked as a faculty member and an administrator developing policies and practices that support equity, diversity, and inclusion at a small, teaching-focused university. She chaired the university’s first equity and diversity committee. She also chaired its admissions and financial aid committee, where she helped revise admissions procedures to enhance transparency and equity while improving support for students with financial needs. As the head of social sciences and the faculty assessment and review committee, she embedded more equitable, transparent, and inclusive practices in faculty hiring policies, evaluation, and review procedures.