From left to right in front of the Santa Barbara Zoo 鈥淗elp the Kelp鈥� marine debris art exhibit created by 海角社区CI students: Zoo President Richard Block; Jennifer Perry, Executive Director of Regional Educational Partnerships at 海角社区CI; Joe Forrest, 海角社区CI Santa Rosa Island Research Center Coordinator; Christy Kehoe, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program Mid-Atlantic regional coordinator; Michaela Miller 鈥�16, B.S. Environmental Science & Resource Management, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation conservation manager; 海角社区CI Professor of Art Matthew Furmanski; Karly Kennedy 鈥�23, B.A. Art; Kenny Neal 鈥�23, B.A. Art; Zoo Director of Education JJ McLeod; 海角社区CI President Richard Yao.By Marya BarlowA new partnership between 海角社区CI and the Santa Barbara Zoo will enrich academic opportunities for students and enhance wildlife conservation, education and research throughout the region.
President Richard Yao and zoo President and CEO Richard Block signed a memorandum of understanding in April, paving the way for future collaboration and a zoo-owned- and-managed conservation center on the 海角社区CI campus.
鈥淏y partnering with a world-class zoo right here in our backyard, we are strengthening our commitment to be a 鈥榗onservation campus鈥� on the Central Coast,鈥� said Yao. 鈥淲e are excited about the opportunities for our students to work side by side with zoo personnel and 海角社区CI faculty to protect and reestablish threatened species in our region and to develop vital skills in conservation education and management. It is our hope that students and faculty from all disciplines and majors will have a chance to make an impact through our partnership with the zoo.鈥�
鈥淲e are excited to partner with 海角社区CI to establish the first zoo-owned-and-managed facility accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums on a university campus,鈥� Block said. 鈥淭hrough this alliance, we look forward to expanding our zoo conservation programs and providing a learning laboratory where students can assist in the important work of wildlife conservation, education, zoo management and marketing, animal husbandry, guest services, and more. The opportunities to align our programs and resources with 海角社区CI are limitless.鈥�
The partnership resolves the zoo鈥檚 need for more space in which to expand its wildlife conservation efforts. At its 28-acre Santa Barbara site, the zoo is running out of room to house a growing collection of threatened and endangered species, including Western snowy plovers, California red-legged frogs, California condors, and Western pond turtles, which it hopes to shift to the 海角社区CI conservation center.
Work for the conservation center will begin later this year on a 60,000-square-foot site on the western edge of the campus near Modoc Hall. In the meantime, collaborations between the zoo and 海角社区CI鈥檚 varied disciplines are being explored. The Performing Arts program is working with the zoo on live performances for visitors.聽Students in a Spanish capstone course are translating the zoo鈥檚 educational materials into Spanish. And 海角社区CI is teaming up with the zoo鈥檚 Early Explorers Preschool to bring its bachelor鈥檚 degree in Early Childhood Studies to Santa Barbara County in Fall 2023.