To mark 50 years of continuous invertebrate monitoring at North Bungulla Nature Reserve initiated by Prof. Barbara York Main in 1974, we are curating a collection for Pacific Conservation Biology to reflect on long-term ecological knowledge and emergent forms of place-based conservation.
This collection (formerly known as Special Issues) will grow from “Matriarchs of the Wheatbelt”, a weekend community-based event held in Tammin, WA, September 6th – 7th, 2025, celebrating Barbara York Main’s legacy and imagining the next 50 years of care, research, and kinship.
Themes and Scope
While the scope will be restricted to focus on the wheatbelt of Western Australia as a place-based focus, we welcome submissions that engage critically, and creatively with one or more of the following themes:
- Place-based, kincentric, and matriarchal ways of knowing, doing and being
- Intergenerational knowledge sharing
- Storytelling and creative practices
- Long-term ecological studies, short-range endemics, and invertebrate conservation
- Community, co-design, participatory methods, education, and science communication
Submission Types Accepted
- Case studies
- Research and review articles
- Short communications
- Creative works (accompanied by scholarly reflection)
- Collaborative pieces
How to Get Involved Now
If you’re interested in contributing (research, review, collaborative, or creative work), please register your Expression of Interest here: Pat.Hannah@csiro.au
This helps us plan session strands and develop supportive structures for co-authorship, mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Timeline
- 10th September, 2025: Official Call for Submissions opens
- 30th November, 2025: Submission deadline
- 31st January, 2026: Expected publication
Special Issue Editors
Dr Leanda Mason (Edith Cowan University)
Dr Harriet Mills (Perth Zoo)
How to Submit
Submissions must follow the standard Pacific Conservation Biology guidelines: https://www.publish.csiro.au/pc/forauthors
When submitting, select “Matriarchs of the Wheatbelt” from the drop-down menu.
Questions?
More information about the event can be found here.
Please contact Dr Leanda Mason at l.mason@ecu.edu.au for further questions about the special issue.