The editor’s choice is the article by Willebrand and Newey: “Reaching and implementing the best available knowledge in wildlife biology”
In a time when AI is dominating the discourse on how we generate knowledge, Tomas Willebrand and Scott Newey advocate for not forgetting old-school empirical approaches in wildlife ecology, namely fieldwork and the intimate understanding of the study species and study system it provides. In this opinion piece, they take on the prevailing trends in wildlife biology research and challenge the emphasis on publication metrics that prioritise quantity over quality. The paper also underscores the importance of interdisciplinary and long-term studies that transcend the limitations of short-term, narrowly-focused research projects. It encourages the engagement of students and researchers directly with their study environments, fostering genuine ecological understanding and inference. The paper also calls for improved support from funding bodies and effective knowledge transfer to practitioners, arguing for the alignment of research with real-world applications and societal needs.
/Ilse Storch
Editor-in-Chief
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