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Dean’s Distinguished Lecture in the Natural Sciences: Artificial Intelligence, Citizen Science and the Future of Conservation
Presented by Dr. Ian Owens
Thursday, April 9, 2026
5:00-6:00 pm, Reception to Follow
Ball Room – UWM Student Union
2200 East Kenwood Blvd.
It’s an exciting time to be a natural historian! New technologies are revolutionizing how we discover, monitor and conserve nature. Amateur naturalists, armed with cell phones and Apps are collecting data at rate that would have seemed impossible only a few years ago, and there is now the prospect of using similar technologies to understand how populations are changing in even the most remote forests and deepest oceans. And tens of millions of people are getting excited about what the spring sounds like. Ian Owens will ask what the next ten years will look like in this fast-moving area, drawing on examples from the CornellLab of Ornithology’s and other leaders in the field.
Ian Owens is a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Cornell University. As an ornithologist, he focuses on the ecology, evolution and conservation of birds, using their appeal to engage the public in critical scientific and sustainability issues. Since 2021, he has served as the Louis Agassiz Fuertes Executive Director of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, a leading scientific institute that integrates major programs in technology, research, education, communication and global bird conservation. The Cornell Lab is not only a hub for research and training but also enjoys a prominent public profile as the home of several citizen science projects, apps and websites. Notable initiatives include eBird, Merlin, All About Birds, Bird Cams, Celebrate Urban Birds, Birds of the World and the Macaulay Library of sound recordings.