Urban ecology is often thought of as a human-nature relationship occurring in the urban setting: Mostly in city parks, botanic gardens and nature reserves, surrounded by a built environment. In this seminar, Dr Peerson will discuss other ways of viewing urban ecology. By considering diverse concepts, multiple evidence-based and transdisciplinary approaches to enhance biodiversity at home, in the neighbourhood and community. Given transdisciplinary interests in urban ecology: i) why are sociological perspectives important?; and, ii) how can sociology contribute to urban ecology research, practices and policy?

Author bio

Dr Anita Peerson is a health professional and social scientist interested in public health, food systems, health literacy, climate change, agriculture, environment, conservation and biodiversity with extensive experience in policy research, community-stakeholder engagement, and collaborative practice. Her lived experiences of residency and work in urban, rural, coastal, and remote communities, as well as travel overseas, provide unique insights into time, place, context, and scale. Prompting many reflections at the ‘science-practice-policy interface’. 

Her current projects include: exploring pathways to sustainable food systems and governance; creating a naturalistic garden; and menopause and culture. At the School of Sociology, ANU, she is collaborating with multidisciplinary colleagues to develop the Environment, Nature and Society node and design of a new urban ecology course.

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