Bowdoin alumnus and scientist at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Mike Mascia '93 strongly believes that experts in both the biological and social sciences should help to tackle issues of environmental conservation. In a lecture on Tuesday night entitled, "Saving the Planet with Social Science," Mascia expounded upon this theme, describing his work at the WWF and the importance of sustaining biodiversity.
According to the organization's Web site, the WWF is "working for a future in which humans live in harmony with nature." Mascia said that the WWF works to conserve "species rare and threatened that we find [around the world]." However, he stressed that these attempts cannot be limited to biological interventions.
"People are the cause of biodiversity loss," Mascia said.
Yet, Mascia said that people see biodiversity primarily through an ecological lens, failing to recognize their contributions to the disappearances of species and ecosystems. As a result, a change in human behavior?facilitated by social science?"is the key," he said. Social science helps to inform natural resource governance and environmental policy by determining where conservation should be focused and how it should be conceived and enacted. According to Mascia, both of these considerations help scientists to assess conservation benefits.
Mascia cited palm oil plantations as an example of successful social science conservation efforts. According to Mascia, Chinese plans to level forests for a palm oil plantation were halted after social scientific investigations revealed the importance of preserving the forests for air quality and forest products.
"Conservation is a social phenomenon," he said.
Mascia's lecture drew a number of Bowdoin students interested in conservation. Spencer Nietmann '11 said,
"I think that human effects on ecosystems is a topic that should be at the forefront of individual minds and international politics. I think it would behoove all humans to view environmental problems in the way Mascia presented them," Nietmann added.
In his lecture, Mascia described how his Bowdoin education shaped his approach to tackling environmental issues.
"Bowdoin was really good for helping me to think critically and to see different sides of an issue," said Mascia, who double majored in biology and government at Bowdoin. "That diversity of angles is helpful in thinking about environmental challenges out there. The environmental problems that we face aren't one-dimensional," he added.