Projects & Initiatives
Current Projects
Theme: RETHINKING Wildlife Management
Cultivating Coexistence: reevaluating the management of European moles
This Leverhulme Trust funded project aims to improve understanding of current practices in mole management, and evaluate how these may be made more humane and sustainable.
Funded by the UKRI Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and part of the Changing the Environment Programme, RENEW is a collaboration between the University of Exeter and the National Trust, and has been co-designed and developed with over 30 partners from a diverse range of sectors. I lead the ‘ExCases Solutions Generator‘ with Prof. Matthew Heard.
THEME: Species on the Move
Fish Futures: Reimagining freshwater ecosystem management in Aotearoa New Zealand
I am an international partner on this project, led by the Cawthron Institute, which aims to bring together indigenous and pakeha voices with freshwater science and management to improve decision-making around the management of freshwater fish. I contribute subject expertise in relation to studying people’s relations with introduced and native species, and expertise in qualitative and mixed social research methods.
THEME: SPECIES ON THE MOVE
People and Conservation Translocations (PaCT) Network
I established the People and Conservation Translocations (PaCT) network in 2023, which brings together academics, policymakers, and conservation practitioners to examine social questions and challenges around wildlife translocations (e.g. reintroductions, reinforcements).
Previous Projects
THEME: Companion Animal Ecology
Cats, Cat Owners and Wildlife (2017-2020)
I led the social research components and day-to-day delivery of an interdisciplinary project that worked with cat owners to explore the effectiveness and suitability of techniques for reducing domestic cat predation on vulnerable wildlife. I employed interviews, Q method, working groups and surveys to understand how cat owners think about and manage their pets’ hunting behaviour. I integrated this with ecological research on cat ecology and management techniques to further our understanding of the human-cat-wildlife triad, and to produce guidance for cat owners and interested organisations.
THEME: Species on the move
Ecological Politics and Practices in Introduced Species Management (2013-2017)
My PhD research applied social scientific methodologies to understand and inform the management of monk parakeets in southeast England; Eurasian beavers in Devon; and grey squirrels throughout the UK. This research aimed to improve our understanding of the development, complexities and outcomes of social conflicts surrounding animal management and to explore diverse and emergent human-wildlife relationships. I identified multiple ways in which people respond and relate to introduced wildlife and explored how these differences can produce both socio-political tensions and accords. My findings also led to the development of recommendations and tools to improve the effectiveness, sustainability and democratic credentials of wildlife management.