Communicating the importance of the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats- as well as the scientific research behind- it is a significant problem for the conservation community. What will it take to make conservation fashionable, ultimately leading to changes in behaviour and a more sustainable relationship with our planet? ZSL wants to find out.

Do we fail to sell conservation to the general public?

In May this year, ZSL embarked on an innovative conservation-communication experiment Project Ocean, with the world-famous department store Selfridges. Celebrities scientists, royalty, musicians, policy-makers, leaders from the fishing industry, artists and fashion designers were involved in events that celebrated the beauty of the ocean and communicated the threat of over-fishing and other marine conservation issues to new audiences.  From the special edition Katharine Hamnett t-shirts (with the slogan ‘No more fish in the sea’) to a dazzling coral reef window display on Oxford Street, it really was a unique event.

On 11 October, we will be holding a special event (free and open to the public!) to talk about Project Ocean and discuss other new and innovative ways of engaging a broader audience in conservation.  Speakers will include the Creative Director of Selfridges, Alannah Weston, Adam Matthews (GLOBE International) and Stephen Emmott (Microsoft Research).

You don’t have to be an expert to come along – anyone with an interest in conservation is welcome to join us on 11 October at 6pm for an evening exploring the future of communicating conservation.

Find out more about the event now.

Location: ZSL Huxley Theatre, ZSL London Zoo, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY

Date: 11 October 2011

Time: Starts at 18:00

This is a free event.