I am a PhD student in Human-Animal Studies at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. I am in my third year of study where I am exploring how the brushtail possum is framed as a ‘pest’ in New Zealand, using a two-pronged approach: 1) identifying dominant possum-as-‘pest’ narratives and 2) revealing  ‘alternative’ narratives through interviews and questionnaires. My research aim is to consider solutions, rooted in compassionate conservation, that could alleviate suffering and cruelty against the possum and evolve New Zealand’s conservation education messaging to include compassion & empathy.

I started a research activism blog, Framing Speciesism, which seeks to raise awareness about my research.