Positions
Publications in VIVO
Jeffrey C Skibins
Overview
overview
My research focuses on three overarching issues of human dimensions of wildlife conservation. 1) How can parks, protected areas, zoos, and aquariums increase public participation in wildlife conservation? 2) How do we improve wildlife conservation outcomes from ecotourism? 3) How does interpretation influence wildlife conservation? I use conservation and environmental psychology theories to investigate how visitors' emotions, attitudes, and on-site experiences can be measured to predict pro-conservation behaviors. My research methods use multivariate statistics to develop population-level models. Projects are designed to provide managers strategies to enhance wildlife conservation, interpretation and exhibit design, public campaigns, and visitor experiences.
Publications
presentations
presentation
Not all connections are cuddly ,
Monitoring and Management of Visitors 2024
Motivations for Exotic Pet Ownership and the Role of the Zoo Experience ,
Empathy Learning Group - Invited Presentation 2024
SCORE through WaterCorps: Scaffolding Community Outreach and Research Experiences to build the geoscience workforce ,
American Geophysical Union Meeting 2023
SCORE through WaterCorps: Scaffolding Community Outreach and Research Experiences to Build the Geoscience Workforce ,
American Geophysical Union Meeting 2023
Advancing Empathy Best Practices ,
Designing Empathy for Conservation Outcomes 2022
The Infinite Visit: A new visitor use management paradigm ,
National Park Service - Intermountain Range Science on Tuesday 2022
Cold as ice? Arctic tourists' epiphanies and connection to wildlife. ,
Pathways to Success: Integrating Human Dimensions into Fish and Wildlife Management Conference and Training 2022
Is one the loneliest number? Influence of identifying individual bears on empathy ,
Empathy Cafe 2022
The impact of social media on individual interactions and experiences in nature ,
East Carolina University Research and Creative Achievement Week 2021
Cold as ice? Arctic tourists' epiphanies and connection to wildlife ,
Managing and monitoring visitors 2021
Conservation Commerce: Conservation and Commerce Together ,
Conservation Commerce Webinar Series 4 2021
The infinite visit: A unifying temporal/spatial framework for visitor management ,
Managing and monitoring visitors 2021
Assessing Interpreter Training: Evaluating Western concepts in non-Western trainings ,
National Association for Interpretation Annual Conference 2020
Connection to Nature Master Webinar Workshop ,
Kansas & Missouri Environmental Education Conference 2020 2020
Why don't they do what they say? Normative vs. descriptive decision-making in black bear viewing at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge ,
International Symposium for Society & Resource Management 2020
Inspiring wildlife conservation behaviours through innovations in zoo exhibit design ,
Visitor Research Forum 2020
Visitor proximity preferences for black bear viewing ,
Southeast Environment and Recreation Research Conference 2020
Tipping point: Using research, social media, and interpretation to improve conservation outcomes of an aquarium visit ,
North Carolina Aquarium Education Strategic Planning Workshop 2019
Cross-cultural perspectives of interpreter training: How and why Japanese interpreters develop competencies ,
National Association for Interpretation National Conference 2019
Assessing outcomes of interpreter training in Japan ,
International Conference of Museums 2019
Interpretive praxis and cross-cultural relevancy: Evaluating outcomes and efficacy of Japanese interpreter training ,
Pathways to Success: Human Dimensions of Wildlife International Conference 2019
Is it just a popularity contest? Developing a broader fleet of flagship species ,
Pathways to Success: Human Dimensions of Wildlife International Conference 2019
Transboundary benefits: Managing the bear viewing experience to maximize conservation outcomes ,
Pathways to Success: Human Dimensions of Wildlife International Conference 2019
The devil made me do it: Influence of values on interpretation and pro-conservation behaviors for Tasmanian Devils ,
National Environment and Recreation Research Symposium 2019
Sliding Scales: Designing a Zoo Experience to Cultivate Empathy and Motivate Action ,
Creating Change Through Empathy Symposium 2019
Conservation Caring: Using Psychology and Statistics to Save Wildlife ,
Conservation Psychology Institute Webinar Series 2018
Are a nature connection and WIFI connection compatible ,
North American Association for Environmental Education 2018
Stakeholder attitudes towards and wildlife acceptance capacity for elk in Kansas ,
Pathways to Success: Human Dimensions of Wildlife International Conference 2018
Evaluating visitor preferences for social media and access to technology at Shenandoah National Park ,
Shenandoah National Park 2018
Evaluating visitor support for restricting brown bear viewing at Katmai National Park and Preserve ,
National Environment and Recreation Research Symposium 2018
Engaging with the devil: Healesville Sanctuary's Tasmanian Devil exhibit ,
Visitor Research Forum 2018
Flagship species: Using emotions and communication to create visitor action ,
Taronga Zoo 2018
Inspiring future conservationists through a Junior Zookeeper program ,
Zoos and Aquariums Committing to Conservation Conference 2018
Webcams increase awareness, appreciation, and understanding of wildlife conservation and national parks ,
National Association for Interpretation Annual Conference 2017
Ecotourism and visitor behaviors: A case study of the Konza Prairie ,
Kansas State University 2017
Binge watching bears: Comparing online and onsite viewing experiences ,
Pathways to Success: Human Dimensions of Wildlife 2017
Conservation beyond knowledge: Embracing values, attitudes and experiences ,
Pathways to Success: Human Dimensions of Wildlife 2017
Inspiring future conservationists through a Junior Zookeeper program ,
Pathways to Success: Human Dimensions of Wildlife 2017
Monitoring horseback riding use and understanding visitor perceptions of current and proposed conditions at Ozark National Scenic Riverways ,
Ozark National Scenic Riverways 2017
A primer on interpretation theory and practice ,
Sunset Zoo 2017
Career advice for young professionals ,
George Wright Symposium on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites 2017
Evaluating visitor support for restricting brown bear viewing at Katmai National Park and Preserve ,
George Wright Symposium on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites 2017
Implications of webcam viewing for brown bear management at Katmai National Park and Preserve ,
George Wright Symposium on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites 2017
On the beaten path: Exploring the potential for conflict between management actions and horseriders at Ozark Scenic National Riverway ,
George Wright Symposium on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites 2017
Visitors' perceptions of authenticity at World Heritage Sites ,
International Conference on Interpretation 2017
Building successful partnerships between parks and people ,
Kansas Recreation and Park Administration Annual Conference 2017
Applying conservation psychology to outdoor recreation ,
University of Utah 2017
On the beaten path: A look at horse trail use in Ozark National Scenic Riverways ,
Students Promoting the Advancement of Research at Kansas State University 2016
Planning for use: Understanding horseback riding use patterns at Ozark National Scenic Riverways ,
Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium 2016
Eliciting and modeling zoo visitors' values as predictors of receptiveness to interpretive messages, emotions, and behavioral intentions ,
Zoos Victoria 2016
Is it live or is it Lunar? Examining the role of anthropomorphism in zoo visitors' conservation behaviors ,
Pathways to Success: Human Dimensions of Wildlife 2016
Advancing the profession ,
Wildlife Tourism Australia - Closing convocation 2015
Designing visitor management studies ,
National Park Service 2015
Ensuring successful synergies for wildlife and visitor management ,
National Park Service 2015
Wildlife tourism's untapped potential: How tourists' emotions contribute to conservation and your bottom line ,
Wildlife Tourism Australia - Keynote Address 2015
Proximal wildlife viewing at Denali: An analysis of visitor preference and management practices ,
International Symposium on Society and Resource Management 2015
Are grizzly bears more than just scenery? Strategies to improve visitor-based conservation actions ,
George Wright Symposium on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites 2015
Understanding visitors' commitment to grizzly bear conservation at Denali National Park and Preserve ,
George Wright Symposium on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites 2015
Understanding visitors' commitment to grizzly bear conservation, on-site pro-conservation behaviors, and emotional impact at Denali National Park and Preserve ,
Global Change and Sustainability Center Research Symposium 2015
Importance of ecotourists' preferences on experiences and engagement in pro-conservation behaviors ,
Professional training - Echidna Walkabout Tours 2015
'Love Your Locals': Conservation impacts of zoo campaign for local non-traditional flagships ,
Pathways to Success: Human Dimensions of Wildlife 2014
As plain as the nose on their face: Efficacy of nostril pigment patterns in identifying individual koalas ,
Pathways to Success: Human Dimensions of Wildlife 2014
Conservation Caring: Measuring the influence of zoo visitors' connection to wildlife on pro-conservation behaviors ,
International Symposium on Society & Resource Management 2014
Understanding visitors' commitment to grizzly bear conservation at Denali National Park and Preserve. ,
International Symposium on Society & Resource Management 2014
Stakeholder perceptions of sustainability along the Illinois & Michigan National Heritage Corridor ,
Southeastern Recreation Research Conference 2014
Assessing impacts of zoo exhibits ,
Healesville Sanctuary 2013
How can we make wildlife tourism contribute to wildlife conservation? ,
Wildlife Tourism Australia - Practitioner Workshop 2013
Lucky 13: Conservation implications of broadening 'Big 5' flagship species recognition in East Africa ,
International Symposium on Society & Resource Management 2013
Bridging connections: Exploratory social network analysis of the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor ,
The George Wright Society Conference 2013
Passageways & Partnerships: Using best practices in interpretation in the Corridor ,
Canal Alliance Congress 2013
Context, charisma, and conservation: The influence of wildlife tourism on tourists' pro-conservation behaviors ,
Pathways to Success: Human Dimensions of Wildlife 2012
Measuring zoo visitors' behaviors ,
Royal Melbourne Zoo 2012
Proving Tilden: Uncovering empirical support for interpretation's best practices ,
International Symposium on Society and Resource Management 2011
Understanding motivations for illegal transport and release of wild boar adjacent to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park ,
The George Wright Society Conference 2011
A sign comparison study of visitor behaviors and resource impacts at Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park ,
International Symposium on Society and Resource Management 2010
Quantifying the role of flagship species viewing in visitor satisfaction and awareness: Implications for applying Experience Based Management at Denali National Park ,
International Symposium on Society and Resource Management 2010
An exploratory investigation of visitor behaviors and resource impacts at Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park ,
Southeastern Recreation Research Symposium 2010
Examining the effect of generational cohort on civic engagement and social capital ,
College of Health, Education, and Human Development Research Forum 2010
Ecotourism and wildlife impacts: Loving nature to death at the ends of the earth. ,
Annual College of Health, Education, and Human Development Research Forum 2009
Human dimensions of wild boar management in Appalachia and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park ,
Annual College of Health, Education, and Human Development Research Forum 2009
Is it all about the Grizzly? Relationships between wildlife viewing and the visitor experience at Denali National Park ,
Annual College of Health, Education, and Human Development Research Forum 2009
An investigation of the validity of the bat species Myotis sodalis ,
Annual Bat Research Conference 1991
Research
principal investigator on
co-principal investigator on
investigator on
Service
professional service activities
Woodland Park Zoo - Advisory Board
Advisory board for developing behavior change in zoo visitors 2024
Empathy Consortium
Committee member for international zoo consortium 2022
Frontiers in Sustainable Tourism
Associate Editor 2022
Journal of Leisure Research
Associate editor for Journal of Leisure Research 2018 - 2022
Senior Associate Editor - Journal Leisure Research
senior associate editor 2021
The Empathy Project
The purpose of this project is to advance the ability of AZA institutions in the MACP region to foster empathy for animals through the planning and pilot phase of a training, mentoring and sub-granting program; refinement and dissemination of related assessment instruments; and related audience research regarding empathy for animals at AZA institutions. 2018 - 2021
AZA SAFE - Tree Kangaroo Awareness Committee
Comittee member 2020
AZA SAFE - Tree Kangaroo Conservation Commerce Committee
Committee member 2020
Sustainability
Guest editor for special edition focusing on wildlife tourism and pro-conservation behaviors 2020
Connection to Nature
Purpose: To advance the research and practice of connecting people to nature by enabling researchers and practitioners to better understand, identify, and use appropriate assessment, evaluation, and research-related measures of connectedness to nature. 2018 - 2020
Science Meeting for Visitor Use Management Research
Purpose: The purpose of this event is to gather approximately 25 members of the U.S. science and research community engaged in visitor use management research to discuss unresolved issues, current approaches, and innovations. Facilitated discussions and collaborative sessions will aim to generate creative and novel solutions to long-standing issues while leveraging existing and new data sources. Although other events and conferences related to visitor use management research exist, the field lacks a dedicated meeting for a small group of researchers to engage in substantive and meaningful discussions without distractions. Outcome: Proposals, tool development, webinars, presentations, new collaborations, and articles focused on new approaches and unresolved issues in visitor use management research. 2018 - 2019
Journal of Interpretation Research
Associate Editor 2019
Society and Natural Resources
manuscript review 2018
Background
education and training