The perks of peri-urban living
We had unlimited access to paddocks and bushland. Sure, it was weedy, and not exactly pristine. But that’s where we spotted the echidna.
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Pulling back the curtain
At the end of last year, I reached an academic milestone: I got my name on an office door. I was pretty stoked, and posted a short video of myself, grinning like a maniac in front of said victory door. But it occurred to me that the post didn’t capture the reality of my academic journey so far. Sure, I’d just … Continue reading
New job, new lab, new fun
How would you feel about spending your days learning all about threatened species? Or dreaming up creative ways that we can conserve species in cities and towns? Or collating cool pictures of wild animals to use in an experiment unofficially known as ‘wildlife tinder’? If the answer to any of those questions is ‘very excited’, then you’d … Continue reading
Chasing the Dog
Chase the Dog. I’ll admit, it’s a really weird thing to have written in your calendar. But that’s what I’ll be doing this weekend. A 6-7 hour bike ride to raise money and awareness for Beyond Blue. This cause couldn’t be more close to my heart. Mental health issues are a thread woven through both my … Continue reading
Arboreal crossings abroad
Waiting, waiting, waiting. Documentaries tend to show explorers and naturalists chasing wildlife down to get a good glimpse. But more often than not, sitting still is just as good a strategy. And so we sat under the bromeliads and waited. First silence. Then came the twittering, scratching, cooing chorus of the Atlantic forest. We were waiting for … Continue reading
Conservation: What’s it to ya?
“That sounds like a job you want when you’re four years old, not a job you actually have as an adult.” That’s how someone responded when I told them what I do for a living. Of course, I was in no way offended. She was dead right. Conservation biology is exactly what I wanted to … Continue reading
Urban and road ecology at SCB Oceania 2016
The Society for Conservation Biology Oceania section’s conference is in tropical Brisbane this year – the perfect place to escape the winter blues! Over the next few days, conservation scientists will descend on Brisbane’s Convention Centre to share, learn and inspire one another. For those, like myself, who are keen on hearing more about urban … Continue reading
The case of the zombie roadkill
Bullsh*t, I swore gently under my breath. There’s just no way. That’s how one of the most interesting discoveries of my PhD began. A little bit of coarse language and a healthy dose of skepticism. I’d just received an email. Apparently an ecologist, in the course of their daily round of noticing things that normal people don’t notice, … Continue reading
