Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology
Encyclopedia
The Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) is a subdivision and research institute of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Kent
, started in 1989 and named in honour of the famous British naturalist Gerald Durrell
. It is the first institute in the United Kingdom
to award undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and diplomas in the fields of Conservation
, Eco-tourism, and Biodiversity
Management. The institute awards diplomas to graduates of the International Training Centre for captive breeding and zoo specialists at the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
, formerly the Jersey Zoological Park
, founded in 1978 by Gerald Durrell
.
The Durrell Institute's graduate degree programme began in 1991 with a class of seven international students. Adopting a unique teaching model, specialized instructors from various institutions contributed short, intensive courses in biological conservation and management issues. The founder of DICE, Professor Ian Swingland
, was awarded the OBE in 2007 for his services to conservation and sustainability.
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
, started in 1989 and named in honour of the famous British naturalist Gerald Durrell
Gerald Durrell
Gerald "Gerry" Malcolm Durrell, OBE was a naturalist, zookeeper, conservationist, author and television presenter...
. It is the first institute in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to award undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and diplomas in the fields of Conservation
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
, Eco-tourism, and Biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
Management. The institute awards diplomas to graduates of the International Training Centre for captive breeding and zoo specialists at the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust is a conservation organisation with a mission to save species from extinction.Gerald Durrell founded the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust as a charitable institution in 1963 with the Dodo as its symbol...
, formerly the Jersey Zoological Park
Jersey Zoological Park
Jersey Zoological Park or Jersey Zoo is a zoological park established in 1959 on the island of Jersey in the English Channel by naturalist and author Gerald Durrell . It is now officially called Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust after its founder, or Durrell for short...
, founded in 1978 by Gerald Durrell
Gerald Durrell
Gerald "Gerry" Malcolm Durrell, OBE was a naturalist, zookeeper, conservationist, author and television presenter...
.
The Durrell Institute's graduate degree programme began in 1991 with a class of seven international students. Adopting a unique teaching model, specialized instructors from various institutions contributed short, intensive courses in biological conservation and management issues. The founder of DICE, Professor Ian Swingland
Ian Swingland
Professor Ian Swingland founded DICE at the University of Kent in 1989. While at DICE he served as director and was elected to the first Chair in Conservation Biology in the United Kingdom....
, was awarded the OBE in 2007 for his services to conservation and sustainability.