Important Notice: Due to the ongoing global pandemic of COVID-19, BNHC 2020 has been postponed until next year (dates TBA). Thank you to our sponsors, guest speakers, and participants. We hope to see you next year!

BNHC 2020/1

The theme for BNHC 2020, Through the Looking Glass: Hindsight in 2020, calls for us to take a critical look at and critically reflect upon what science in The Bahamas has achieved; analyze our policy, socio-economic and educational frameworks; and where we are going in the face of a changing climate. Did we accomplish everything we set out to do by the year 2020? With better hindsight could we have been more prepared? How can we overcome the challenges that lie ahead?

Our sub-themes are as follows:

  • Retrospectives: Taking a look at research from the past. The archaeological, historical, geological and ecological windows into the history of The Bahamas.
  • Introspectives: Any research that analyses the current ecology, policy, social, cultural, economic, and educational frameworks.
  • Prospectives: All research that includes actual planning for the future. Includes ecology, policy, social and land use planning.
  • Climatospectives: Any research or policy that focuses on climate change.

As we continue through the year of 2020, our fifth iteration of this conference will be our biggest and most important yet, during which we hope to properly address the issues of decision-making on the issue of climate change, particularly in the wake of the apocalyptic Hurricane Dorian. The conference is set to take place from May 4-8, 2020 at the Baha Mar Convention Centre.

GUEST SPEAKERS

Ama Francis (Ph.D. Candidate)

Dr. Ama FrancisAma joined the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University in September 2018 as the 2018-2020 Climate Law Fellow. Ama’s work focuses on developing legal solutions to disaster displacement and climate migration. She also analyzes and supports the implementation of adaptive measures in small islands and least developed countries. Ama’s work at the Sabin Center cuts across issues of international law.

A native of the Caribbean Commonwealth of Dominica, Ama decided to study environmental law after Hurricane Maria devastated her homeland in 2017. 90% of buildings lost their roofs and 20% of the country’s population left the island. She noticed that people leaving their countries due to natural disasters enhanced by climate change were not afforded the same treatment as other refugees. She is working on creating better international protections for climate refugees.

Penny Langhammer, Ph.D.

PLangPhoto2.jpgPenny Langhammer, Ph.D., is Executive Vice President of Science and Strategy at Global Wildlife Conservation. Penny served as lead editor of A Global Standard for the Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas and now co-chairs the KBA Technical Working Group. Passionate about amphibian conservation, Penny also serves as Director of Key Biodiversity Areas for the Amphibian Survival Alliance. She is Adjunct Faculty in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University.

 

IMPORTANT DATES