Graduate students in conservation biology: Bridging the research-implementation gap

There is a growing consensus that a gap exists between research conducted at academic institutions and information available to practitioners that implement research into conservation policy and practice. Here, I review common recommendations for bridging the Research-Implementation Gap in conservation biology, highlight the unique abilities of graduate students to contribute solutions to this problem, and propose ways research institutions and professionals can encourage graduate students to participate in this process. While some appropriately point out that the main purpose of graduate school is to focus on research, I argue that being exposed early to the broader issues of research and implementation enhances the graduate research experience, helps train students to become leaders in conservation science, and contributes both immediate and long-term solutions to the research-implementation problem. (C) 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.