The Urban Biodiversity Research Coordination Network (UrBioNet) is a National Science Foundation - funded research coordination network focused on urban biodiversity research and practice. UrBioNet was founded in 2014 to not only research urban biodiversity patterns and drivers, but also to create a network to connect scientists, land managers, city officials, planners and landscape architects with diverse experiences and perspectives on biodiversity conservation in cities. The talks in this session bridge ecological research with the socio-political and cultural aspects of biodiversity conservation that are important in creating more sustainable and resilient cities. In the first half of the session, speakers will discuss findings from two research-based UrBioNet workshops on how life-history patterns and socioeconomic factors may influence which species are found in cities. linkages. Results from these workshops have expanded our understanding of the ecological, environmental, and social filters that drive biodiversity in urban landscapes. Using these findings for conservation, however, requires approaches beyond traditional ecological research and incorporating ecological research in practice. The second half of the session will focus on new ideas, perspectives and voices that emerged from the development of the UrBioNet network. Speakerswill present on the role of governance in urban conservation, operationalizing regional approaches to urban biodiversity conservation and planning, and engaging underserved communities.