Biography

Hi,

My name is Rachael and I'm currently undertaking my PhD at the Fenner School of Environment and Society at the Australian National University, where I also completed my Bachelor of Science with (first-class) Honours. My undergraduate degree was a major in Biology, minors in Evolution/Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation and Management with specialisations in Indigenous Cultural & Natural Resource Management and Environment Honours. 

I have worked in Science Communication for four years now and have a strong passion for it. I run a professional Instagram (@wildliferachael) and blog under the same alias. 

My research is an intersection between climate change (mostly drought in Africa), geographic information systems, community-based management and African elephants. I am looking at how elephants are responding to climate change, what the associated risks are and how to manage them from a community perspective. This is in follow up to my honours research on the same topic, based in Southern Africa. 

I have worked in marketing and communications for the Joint College of Science and have developed a Science Outreach program called "Homemade Science" which allows young children to do science experiments using household objects. 

I am very passionate about mental health advocacy, feminism, indigenous issues, intersectional diversity and most environmental issues and are heavily involved in both. Above all else, I love to teach. I have the ability to communicate to a wide audience, having MC'd several events and working in the context of Questacon. I am now teaching university-level courses and it suits me very well, I thoroughly enjoy this work.  

While my research focusses on elephants (which I am truly passionate about), I am invested in all wildlife and as such, am very well read on mammals especially.

I feel very lucky to be in the position that I am in, and am grateful for the opportunities that have lead me here but understand the work that needs to be put in for women and LGBTQIA* communities in STEM and am very invested in briding these gaps. 

I'm happy to be contacted if any further information is required. 

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