Dr. Ronald J. Maliao is an Associate Professor of Marine Biology at Aklan State University (Philippines) and a recent summa cum laude PhD graduate in Ecology from the University of Debrecen (Hungary). His research operates at the intersection of Quantitative Ecology and Social-Ecological Systems, with a specific focus on forging a pluralistic conservation praxis. He specializes in braiding Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with formal science to address epistemic injustice and bridge the critical 'knowing-doing gap’ in biodiversity conservation. Currently transitioning into a postdoctoral fellowship, his expanding research program investigates the global integration of Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK), aiming to diagnose the structural and social-psychological impediments—such as pluralistic ignorance—that hinder equitable conservation practice.