In a world where environmentally conscious attitudes are growing in number, the voices of many respected scientists will continue to be highly sought after in places of research and decision-making throughout the nation.

John Wiens, lead scientist at international organization The Nature Conservancy, will give a free lecture, “From Wilderness to Wal-Mart: The Evolution of Conservation Philosophy and Practice,” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in 1414 Molecular Biology.

Wiens is well-respected both in academia and practical conservation, said Rolf Koford, collaborative assistant professor of natural resource ecology and management.

“[Wiens] kind of spans both of those worlds,” Koford said.

As a member of the Errington Memorial Lecture Committee, Koford played a part in selecting Wiens to come to Iowa State.

He said the fact Wiens had expertise and experience in those two important arenas was “a big factor” in the committee’s selection.

“I really want to look at how the ideas of conservation have developed,” Wiens said.

Wiens said he will look at the ideas of early scientists in the field of natural history, including the late Paul Errington, former ISU faculty member and namesake of the lecture series Wiens will participate in.

He will also tie those early naturalist ideas in with current approaches to conservation, which generally focus on protecting individual species.

Part of his general thesis, he said, will be to determine where we are going in the realm of conservation.

“It’s fine to be protecting areas for nature, but that by itself is not enough,” Wiens said.

For one thing, Wiens said, simply protecting select areas does not in itself “do the job” of conserving biodiversity.

Another issue needing to be addressed with current conservation practices is that protecting nature is often coupled with the notion of “people, keep out,” Wiens said.

“I think conservation increasingly needs to consider the places where people live and work. People are really part of the natural world, in a sense,” Wiens said.

The conservation movement needs to incorporate people in their movement, he said.

Although some people are occasionally a negative influence or even a direct threat to the environment, Wiens said he finds the idea people are generally a threat unhelpful.

“Any farmer or rancher can show you a good example of conservation,” Wiens said.

Specifically, Wiens said, he will be addressing the practical issue of land use, and how this is “complicated” by climate change.

“We need to be learning how to play a game of different rules,” Wiens said of conservation efforts.

Finally, the ideas of “the old-time naturalists,” who appreciated nature’s value for nature’s value, will inform his discussion, Wiens said.

“We tend to put a price tag on everything, and today there are price tags on many things connected to the environment, but there are some things that are, like the ad says, priceless,” Wiens said.

Jim Miller, assistant professor in natural resource ecology and management, had Wiens as an adviser for his doctoral studies at Colorado State.

Miller said Wiens’ perspective is a unique and valuable one, as someone who is both incredibly well-studied and in a highly practical position in the scientific community.

“Anyone interested in conservation issues these days – whatever they might be – I would think that [Wiens] has something of interest to say to them,” Miller said. “He just has such a unique perspective.”