The Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) is a subdivision and research institute of the School of Anthropology and Conservation at the University of Kent, started in 1989 and named in honour of the famous British naturalist Gerald Durrell. It is the first institute in the United Kingdom to award undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and diplomas in the fields of Conservation, Eco-tourism, and Biodiversity Management. The institute awards diplomas to graduates of the International Training Centre for captive breeding and zoo specialists at the Durrell Wildlife Park, founded by Gerald Durrell.
The Durrell Institute's graduate degree programme began in 1991 with a class of seven international students. Adopting a unique teaching model, specialized instructors from various institutions contributed short, intensive courses in biological conservation and management issues. The founder of DICE, Professor Ian Swingland, was awarded the OBE in 2007 for his services to conservation and sustainability.
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