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More Sharks in the Water? That's a Good Thing.

Shark expert David Shiffman gives us reason for optimism this Shark Week.

Sahara Conservation Fund ecological monitoring member Habib Ali (next to vehicle) engaging in typical day-to-day monitoring of reintroduced oryx. Photo credit: Tim Wacher, Zoological Society of London.

Continuing Conservation on a Planet on Lockdown

In this multi-part series, the Smithsonian's Conservation Commons takes a look at how capacity building and local community involvement are key to continuing conservation during the current pandemic.

The first #BlackBirdersWeek celebrates Black birders and nature enthusiasts while inspiring more conservation-curious to join their community.

#BlackBirdersWeek: Celebrating and Encouraging Diversity in Conservation

The first #BlackBirdersWeek celebrates Black birders and nature enthusiasts while inspiring more conservation-curious to join their community.

How can the right kind of farming protect our soils and our climate? Find out in Carbon Cowboys. © 2020, carbon nation. Photo by Peter Byck

Saving our Planet Starts in the Soil

Earth Optimism speaker, Peter Byck, discusses his latest documentary 'carbon cowboys.'

© Cristina Mittermeier

Framing Hope Through A Photographer's Lens

Following the 2020 Earth Optimism Digital Summit, photographer Cristina Mittermeier tells us how she is able to portray optimism in her images.

The Smithsonian's Earth Optimism Summit was a 3-day global live-streamed event that took place on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, April 22, 2020, through April 24.

Positivity Has a Voice in Science

A reflection on the 2020 Earth Optimism Digital Summit.

Catch Bill's 90-minute special on Saturday April 25, 2020 on CNN.

Bill Weir's Road to Optimism

CNN's Climate Correspondent Bill Weir talks finding optimism in a contentious climate.

Scientists from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History (including Nick Pyenson, left) and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute collect a fossil dolphin from the Caribbean coast of Panama. The fossil is encased in a white plaster jacket, and recovered as the tide rushed in. © Aaron O'Dea / Smithsonian Institution

Digging Into the Past to Find Optimism for the Future

We know that story of what will happen in the coming decades and centuries... what's different about where we're going has to do with the rate of these changes and the biodiversity at hand.

In the Peruvian Amazon, drones like this one are being used to monitor and prevent future destruction of the rainforest from artisanal gold mining. Photo by Guy Loftus for Conservation X Labs.

Innovating Modern Solutions to Conservation Problems

Smithsonian's Earth Optimism and Conseervation X Labs have collaborated since the first Earth Optimism Summit.

Good news is out there – if you look for it. For instance, just this month scientists announced that we are on our way to recovering oceans by 2050.

Here’s How to Find Optimism in This Moment of Fear and Uncertainty

Earth Optimism Summit will now stream online starting this Earth Day for everyone to tune in and be inspired

Dr. Ellen Stofan is John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. Photo by Jim Preston, Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum

Finding Optimism For The Earth Among The Stars

Q+A with Dr. Ellen Stofan

Purnima Devi Barman is a member of Women in Nature Network (WINN) and is the honorary director of WINN India. Photo by Carla Rhodes.

Building An All-Women Army for Conservation In India

Earth Optimism Speaker Interview with Purnima Devi Barman.

Landscape ecologist Iara Lacher created a model to understand how land use decisions may influence nature’s ability to provide crucial services in the future. Photo credit: Ian McGregor

Using Science and Local Knowledge to Guide the Future of Virginia’s Landscapes

To understand the impact of changes in land use in Northern Virginia, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute developed the Changing Landscapes Initiative, a project that uses a scientifically rigorous yet human-centered approach to address concerns about the future of the region.

Many bird species of conservation concern rely on the really short grass that large grazers, such as bison, leave behind. (Andy Boyce)

Understanding Bisons’ Eating Habits Could Help Bird Conservation

A partnership between the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) and the American Prairie Reserve (APR) aims to understand how different grazing animals and grazing regimes, whether with cows or bison, impact the distribution and abundance of grassland birds in Montana.

Dr. Grant Connette trains participants on best practices in setting up wildlife cameras to ensure that high-quality data is collected.

Smithsonian scientists help put endangered Myanmar species on the map

The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) is developing animal distribution maps as part of the Smithsonian Conservation Commons’ Working Landscapes initiative in Myanmar, helping stakeholders and decision makers make better choices regarding landscape management.

The red siskin or cardenalito is inextricably linked with Venezuela’s identity, yet it is now rare in its natural habitat.

Coffee and Chocolate Could Help Preserve Endangered Birds in Venezuela

The Smithsonian Institution and Piedra de Cachimbo coffee farmers in northern Venezuela are committing to the conservation of 400 hectares of forest for traditional shade-grown organic coffee, seeking Smithsonian Bird Friendly certification of their beans. This will help protect the habitat of the red siskin, an endangered red and black finch.

Previous Teen Earth Optimism events have engaged kids in the conversation around environmental challenges.

Food and Good Spirits at the Smithsonian 2019 Teen Optimism Event

For the third consecutive year, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is organizing a Teen Earth Optimism event, which aims to involve teenagers in conversations about the challenges facing the planet and solutions that are making an impact. This year, the topic will be surrounding sustainable foods, as part of a collaboration with the Conservation Commons.

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