San Diego Zoo Global Announces Education Partnership with the International Zoo Educators Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 18, 2019
CONTACT:  SAN DIEGO ZOO GLOBAL
PUBLIC RELATIONS
619-685-3291

Collaboration will Add New, Innovative Educational Content to San Diego Zoo Global Academy

San Diego Zoo Global has taken a major step to dramatically increase the availability of educational resources available online to conservation and animal care professionals around the world. This week, the organization announced that it has entered into an exciting partnership with the International Zoo Educators Association (IZE). This new collaboration is expected to provide users of the San Diego Zoo Global Academy's online learning platform with access to many new and innovative online courses and other content.from IZE subject matter experts.

IZE's professional membership of educators and interpretive specialists will have the opportunity to create custom courses through the Academy's "Create A Course" option—a feature that provides tools to efficiently create do-it-yourself training modules. These member-created modules will be evaluated by Academy staff, with the goal of converting them to Academy modules that can be made available to all subscribers. Academy staff said the new options will increase the online learning platform's course offerings—and its ability to make learning available anytime, from anywhere, and reduce any barriers that can restrict access—furthering San Diego Zoo Global's mission of saving species worldwide.

"We are thrilled about this inventive new content partnership with the International Zoo Educators Association," said Jon Prange, director of the San Diego Zoo Global Academy. "Made of up almost 500 members around the world, IZE's vision is to 'conserve global biodiversity through effective zoo and aquarium programs.' Through San Diego Zoo Global Academy, IZE will now have a new way to spread its message and information—and Academy participants will be the beneficiaries."

Access to San Diego Zoo Global Academy is easy, and it is available to zoological and aquarium professionals and other mission-related institutions.. For more information, visit sdzglobalacademy.org. IZE members can gain access to the Academy and the Create A Course option by visiting the IZE website at izea.net and completing a sign-up form. Once confirmed, the Academy will provide log-in instructions and other important materials.

As an international nonprofit organization, San Diego Zoo Global works to fight extinction through conservation efforts for plants and animals worldwide. With a history of leadership in species recovery and animal care, San Diego Zoo Global works with partners in science-based field programs on six continents, and maintains sanctuaries and public education facilities in many places. Inspiring a passion for nature is critical to saving species, and San Diego Zoo Global's outreach efforts share the wonder of wildlife with millions of people every year. Current major conservation initiatives include fighting wildlife trafficking and the impacts of climate change on wildlife species; broad-spectrum species and habitat protection efforts in Kenya, in Peru and on islands worldwide; preventing extinction in our own backyard; and expanding efforts to bank critical genetic resources and apply them to the conservation of critically endangered species. To learn more, visit sandiegozooglobal.org or connect with us on Facebook.