This research explores how podcasts can further conservation education. It finds that there is a dramatic growth in podcast popularity, with Google Trends data revealing steadily increasing interest over the past decade. By 2019, 32% of Americans aged 12 and older listened to podcasts monthly, with 74% of listeners saying they tune in "to learn new things."
The Deer University podcast, launched in 2017, demonstrates the potential impact of conservation podcasting. With 40 episodes averaging 5,407 downloads each, the podcast successfully delivered science-based deer biology and management information while promoting broader conservation practices like biodiversity enhancement and ecosystem services.
Podcasts can reach audiences at scales impossible with traditional face-to-face education methods. The medium allows for rapid response to current issues like disease outbreaks or policy changes while maintaining scientific accuracy and avoiding commercial bias.
The study identifies multiple applications for conservation podcasts:
1. Enhancing online classroom learning
2. Supporting public outreach programs
3. Providing professional development for practitioners
4. Creating networks of related content that amplify reach through collaboration
Practical Applications
For Educators: Podcasts can supplement traditional teaching methods by providing 5-15 minute episodes on specific topics, interviewing field experts, and offering students opportunities to create their own content. The format works particularly well for flipped classroom approaches and distance learning.
For Extension and Outreach: Conservation organizations can use podcasts to quickly disseminate timely information about natural disasters, policy changes, or emerging research findings to stakeholders who might not attend traditional workshops or field days.
For Building Networks: The study highlights the success of creating podcast networks (like the Natural Resources University network) that link related shows, allowing them to leverage each other's audiences and double download rates compared to standalone episodes.
Implementation Guidance:
1. The researchers emphasize that podcast development is relatively simple and inexpensive, requiring only basic audio editing software (often free), a quality microphone (under $200), and a hosting platform. The key is creating conversational, accessible content rather than formal presentations.
2. Successful conservation podcasts focus on translating research-based information into language that laypeople can understand and apply. They should address current issues often misunderstood by the public while maintaining scientific accuracy.
3. Social media promotion is essential for building audience, and the study recommends creating networks with other conservation podcasts to accelerate growth and reach relevant audiences more effectively. The research concludes that podcasting represents an underutilized but powerful tool for conservation education that can safely deliver science-based information to global audiences while building the communication skills needed to address complex environmental challenges.
The Bottom Line
This study by Strickland et al. (2021) explores how podcasting can revolutionize conservation education by making science-based information accessible to global audiences. Using the "Deer University" podcast as a case study, researchers demonstrate that podcasts offer a flexible, cost-effective way to deliver conservation content that reaches far beyond traditional classroom and field-based education. The Deer University podcast achieved over 265,000 downloads across all US states and 25 countries, proving that well-designed audio content can effectively bridge the gap between scientific research and public understanding. The study provides practical guidance for developing conservation podcasts and highlights how this medium can complement traditional education methods while reaching new audiences who might not engage with conventional conservation programming.