Dr. Islamiat Abidemi Raji is an ecologist and educator with a passion for biodiversity conservation and the relationship between people and the environment. Her career vision is to contribute to the advancement of global ecological research, foster community engagement in conservation, and champion diversity, equity, and inclusion. She holds a PhD in Ecological Sciences earned from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Presently, Dr. Abidemi serves as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Biology Department at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. In her role, she coordinates urban bird surveys with countries around the world. Collaborating closely with local experts and communities, Dr. Abidemi and her research team employ an innovative community science approach to conduct urban bird surveys, aiming to provide a comprehensive global perspective on the impact of urbanisation on bird diversity.
I want to investigate the impact of urbanisation on biodiversity from a global perspective. I want this because, understanding how urbanisation affects biodiversity is crucial for the sustainability of healthy human and wildlife communities. However, most urban ecology studies are conducted in economically advantaged neighbourhood and are biased towards green spaces, ignoring some of the most rapidly expanding and biodiverse core urban areas across the globe. I can do this because I have a strong background in conservation biology and ecological sciences, with a great passion for fostering community participation and inclusiveness in conservation efforts.