Conservation Biology: Call for Special Section Papers

Abstracts for papers for a planned special section in Conservation Biology entitled "Advancing Conservation Culturomics" are due on 1 September 2019.

The internet is a unique source of global data on human knowledge, attitudes, and interactions with nature. A set of methods, broadly termed culturomics, has emerged that can be used to capture, collate, cross-reference, and analyze data from large digital databases to derive novel and relevant insights on human interactions with nature at temporal and spatial scales that are difficult to address with more traditional methods. Culturomic methods have already been applied to generate insights on pressing conservation issues, including demonstrating public interest in nature and conservation, understanding the drivers of such interest and their spatiotemporal dynamics, and assessing the success of conservation interventions. Although conservationists were quick to recognize the possibilities emerging from culturomics methods, these applications represent only a small demonstration of their broader potential to contribute to conservation science and practice.

We invite innovative contributions that highlight new avenues for the application of culturomics methods and emerging online data sources to the study of human-nature interactions that are of relevance to conservation science and practice. Submissions can be under any manuscript category accepted by the journal, including research (Contributed Paper) and methods papers (Conservation Methods), reviews, and essays. The emerging field of conservation culturomics draws from a range of natural, social, and computer sciences, and we welcome interdisciplinary contributions as long as they provide clear evidence of relevant contributions to conservation.

We are particularly interested in contributions that (i) outline new pathways for the application of culturomics methods to conservation, (ii) address methodological issues and best practices in applied conservation culturomics, (iii) provide examples of the application of culturomics methods to pressing conservation challenges, or (iv) discuss barriers and opportunities for the adoption of culturomics methods by conservation stakeholders. At their core, all contributions should clearly outline how emerging digital technologies and big-data analytics can provide new and valuable contributions for conservation science and practice.

If you are interested in contributing to this special section, submit an abstract by email (cons.cult.wg@gmail.com) for consideration by 1 September 2019. We anticipate a manuscript deadline of January 2020.

Abstract Requirements

Abstracts should be no longer than 300 words and include information on the tentative title and article type. Abstracts should clearly indicate (1) the paper's alignment with the aims and scope of Conservation Biology and the focus of the special section, (2) the data-collection and analysis methods (when applicable), and (3) the paper’s contributions to conservation policy or practice.

Conservation Biology is a hybrid journal. Open-access charges apply for those choosing this option. Standard page charges can be reduced or waived if there is financial need. For additional advice and author instructions and guidelines, contact guest editors Ricardo A. Correia (rahc85@gmail.com), Richard Ladle (richardjamesladle@gmail.com), or Uri Roll (uri.roll@gmail.com).