Professor Tema Milstein

Professor Tema Milstein

Professor

PhD, University of Washington

MA, University of New Mexico

Arts,Design & Architecture
School of Humanities & Languages

Tema Milstein's work is in the field of environmental communication, a social science and humanities transdiscipline that understands communication as a powerful force at a time of human-generated ecological and climatic crises. She is particularly known for cultural approaches to studying how communication shapes ecological understandings, identities, and actions. Her work tends to discourses that otherwise go unnoticed, to connections between discourses and wider destructive or restorative practices, and to paths toward sustainable, just, and regenerative futures. Her research spans the globe, illustrating tensions between overarching and marginalised environmental meaning systems, examining ecotourism and environmental activism, and establishing the study of ecocultural identities. Milstein's Routledge Handbook of Ecocultural Identity (Routledge, 2020, co-editor José Castro-Sotomayor) gathers 40 international interdisciplinary authors to bring the ecological turn to sociocultural understandings of the self. She is a former Fulbright Scholar and is the 2020 recipient of the Faculty of Arts, Design, and Architecture Dean's Research Award for Society Impact. 

As a member of the Environment & Society Group, Milstein serves as convenor of the Master of Environmental Management, a program focused on nourishing tomorrow's change-makers in restoratively rethinking and reshaping the world. She is dedicated to transformative ecopedagogy, and is co-editor of Environmental Communication Pedagogy and Practice (Routledge, 2017), founder of the "inside-out classroom," and served as her former institution's University Presidential Teaching Fellow. Milstein has taught at universities in Australia, the United States, Italy, China, and New Zealand. Before coming to UNSW, she was associate professor of Geography & Environmental Studies and Environmental Communication at the University of New Mexico. In her previous professional life, she was a print and public radio journalist.

At UNSW, she is involved in several projects, including as co-lead for (Daily) Delight~Disrupt, a 2-year ADA Innovation Hub public scholarship project using research to ignite everyday experiences of ecocentric transformation as part of the global Massive Change Network, and as co-lead of UNSW Urban Growers, a cross-university staff and student volunteer effort to create and maintain on-campus experiential learning through growing food and community. She's a founding member of UNSW's Regenerative Response Collective, serves as Advisory Committee member for UNSW's Fowlers Gap Research Station, as Reference Group member for UNSW's Institute for Industrial Decarbonisation, and as member of Beyond Growth, a UNSW staff-formed group.

Internationally, Milstein serves on several journal editorial boards, including flagship journals in the field such as Environmental Communication, the Quarterly Journal of Speech, and Communication Monographs.

Location
364 Morven Brown
  • Books | 2020
    Milstein T; Castro-Sotomayor J, 2020, Afterword: Surviving and thriving: The ecocultural identity invitation, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781351068840-102
  • Book Chapters | 2023
    Milstein T; Mocatta G; Castro-Sotomayor J, 2023, ' MEDIA AND ECOCULTURAL IDENTITY', in The Routledge Handbook of Ecomedia Studies, pp. 231 - 243, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003176497-29
    Book Chapters | 2022
    Milstein T; Mocatta G, 2022, 'Environmental Communication Theory and Practice for Global Transformation', in The Handbook of Global Interventions in Communication Theory, Routledge, pp. 474 - 490, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003043348-35
    Book Chapters | 2022
    Milstein T; Mocatta G, 2022, 'Environmental Communication Theory and Practice for Global Transformation: An Ecocultural Approach', in Handbook of Global Interventions in Communication Theory, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003043348
    Book Chapters | 2022
    Milstein T, 2022, '"Blooming in the doom and gloom: Bringing regenerative pedagogy to the rebellion": From journal of sustainability education (2020)', in The Sustainable Urban Development Reader, pp. 407 - 410, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003288718-91
    Book Chapters | 2022
    Milstein T; Mocatta G, 2022, 'Environmental communication theory and practice for global transformation: An ecocultural approach', in The Handbook of Global Interventions in Communication Theory, pp. 474 - 490, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003043348-35
    Book Chapters | 2021
    Carr J; Milstein T, 2021, 'Manatees and fossil fuel power plants: The paradox of endangered species laws', in Freedman E; Shipley Hiles S; Sachsman D (ed.), Communicating Endangered Species: Extinction, News, and Public Policy, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781003041955-18
    Book Chapters | 2021
    Milstein T; Carr J; Castro Sotomayor J; Thomas M, 2021, 'Rewilding Environmental Communication through Transformative Teaching', in Takahashi B; Metag J; Thaker J; Evans Comfort S (ed.), ICA-Routledge Handbook of International Trends in Environmental Communication, Routledge, London, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780367275204-29
    Book Chapters | 2021
    Milstein T; Weder F, 2021, 'Revolutionaries needed! Environmental Communication as a Transformative Discipline', in Takahashi B; Metag J; Thaker J; Comfort SE (ed.), ICA-Routledge Handbook of International Trends in Environmental Communication, Routledge, London, UK, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780367275204-30
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Abram D; Milstein T; Castro-Sotomayor J, 2020, 'Interbreathing ecocultural identity in the Humilocene', in Milstein T; Castro-Sotomayor J (ed.), Routledge International Handbook of Ecocultural Identity, Routledge, London, UK, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781351068840-1
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Abram D; Milstein T; Castro-Sotomayor J, 2020, 'Interbreathing ecocultural identity in the humilocene', in Routledge Handbook of Ecocultural Identity, pp. 5 - 25, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781351068840-1
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Carr J; Milstein T, 2020, 'Political Identity as Ecocultural Survival Strategy', in Milstein T; Castro-Sotomayor J (ed.), Routledge International Handbook of Ecocultural Identity, Routledge, London, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781351068840-19
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Carr J; Milstein T, 2020, 'Political identity as ecocultural survival strategy', in Routledge Handbook of Ecocultural Identity, pp. 311 - 332, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781351068840-19
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Milstein T; Castro-Sotomayor J, 2020, 'Afterword: Surviving and thriving: The ecocultural identity invitation', in , pp. 475 - 477, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781351068840-102
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Milstein T; Castro-Sotomayor J, 2020, 'Ecocultural Identity: An Introduction', in Milstein T; Castro-Sotomayor J (ed.), Routledge International Handbook of Ecocultural Identity, Routledge, London, UK, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781351068840
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Milstein T; Castro-Sotomayor J, 2020, 'Surviving and thriving: The ecocultural identity invitation', in Milstein T; Castro-Sotomayor J (ed.), Routledge International Handbook of Ecocultural Identity, Routledge, London, UK, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781351068840
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Milstein T, 2020, 'Ecocultural identity boundary patrol and transgression', in Routledge Handbook of Ecocultural Identity, pp. 26 - 52, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781351068840-2
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Milstein T, 2020, 'Ecocultural identity boundary patrol and transgression', in Routledge International Handbook of Ecocultural Identity, Routledge, London, UK, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781351068840-2
    Book Chapters | 2018
    Cerulli T; Milstein T, 2018, '“Fellow hunters” and “humans of the ocean:” Identity and relations across species', in Engaging and Transforming Global Communication Through Cultural Discourse Analysis A Tribute to Donal Carbaugh, Fairleigh Dickinson University, pp. 163 - 184
    Book Chapters | 2018
    Milstein T; Tovar C, 2018, '“Fellow hunters” and “humans of the ocean:” Identity and relations across species', in Engaging and Transforming Global Communication through Cultural Discourse Analysis: A Tribute to Donal Carbaugh, University Press Copublishing Division / Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, Madison, New Jersey, pp. 163 - 184, https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781683930389/Engaging-and-Transforming-Global-Communication-through-Cultural-Discourse-Analysis-A-Tribute-to-Donal-Carbaugh
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Milstein T; Alhinai M; Castro J; Griego S; Hoffmann J; Parks MM; Siebert M; Thomas M, 2017, 'Breathing life into learning: Ecocultural pedagogy and the inside-out classroom', in Environmental Communication Pedagogy and Practice, pp. 45 - 61, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781315562148
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Milstein T; Griego S, 2017, 'Environmental privilege walk: Unpacking the invisible knapsack', in Environmental Communication Pedagogy and Practice, pp. 212 - 216, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781315562148
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Milstein T; Pileggi M; Morgan E, 2017, 'Introducing environmental communication pedagogy and practice', in Environmental Communication Pedagogy and Practice, pp. 1 - 8, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781315562148
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Milstein T, 2017, 'From the Source (featured scholar)', in Littlejohn S; Foss K; Oetzel J (ed.), Theories of Human Communication, Waveland Press, Long Grove, IL
    Book Chapters | 2013
    Milstein T, 2013, 'Banging on the divide: Cultural reflection and refraction at the zoo', in Perspectives on Human-Animal Communication: Internatural Communication, pp. 162 - 181, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9780203082935
    Book Chapters | 2012
    Milstein T, 2012, 'Greening communication', in Greening the Academy: Ecopedagogy Through the Liberal Arts, pp. 161 - 173, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6209-101-6_10
    Book Chapters | 2009
    Hall D; Bernacchi L; Milstein T; Peterson TR, 2009, 'Calling all artists: Moving climate change from my space to my place', in Social Movement to Address Climate Change Local Steps for Global Action, Cambria Press, pp. 53 - 80
    Book Chapters | 2009
    Milstein T; Hall D; Bernacchi L; Peterson TR, 2009, 'Calling all artists: Moving climate change from my space to my place', in Social movement to address climate change: Local steps for global action, Cambria Press, Amherst, NY, pp. 53 - 79
    Book Chapters | 2009
    Milstein T; Norton T; Sprain L, 2009, 'Step It Up! and image politics in the Pacific Northwest', in Social Movement to Address Climate Change Local Steps for Global Action, Cambria Press, pp. 281 - 308
    Book Chapters | 2009
    Milstein T, 2009, 'Environmental communication theories', in Littlejohn S; Foss K (ed.), Encyclopedia of Communication Theory, SAGE, Thousand Oaks, CA, pp. 344 - 349
    Book Chapters | 2009
    Sprain L; Norton T; Milstein T, 2009, 'Step It Up! and image politics in the Pacific Northwest', in Social Movement to Address Climate Change Local Steps for Global Action, Cambria Press, pp. 281 - 308
    Book Chapters | 2007
    Milstein T, 2007, 'Human communication’s effects on relationships with animals', in Bekoff M (ed.), Encyclopedia of Human-Animal Relationships [4 Volumes]: A Global Exploration of Our Connections with Animals, Greenwood Publishing Group, Westport, CT, pp. 1044 - 1054
    Book Chapters | 2004
    Howard P; Milstein T, 2004, 'Spiders, spam, and spyware: New media and the market for political information', in Internet Research Annual Selected Papers from the Association of Internet Researchers Conferences 2000-2002, Peter Lang, pp. 18 - 26
  • Edited Books | 2020
    Milstein T; Castro-Sotomayor J, (ed.), 2020, Routledge Handbook of Ecocultural Identity, Routledge, London, UK, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781351068840
    Edited Books | 2017
    Milstein T; Pileggi M; Morgan E, (eds.), 2017, Environmental communication pedagogy and practice, http://dx.doi.org/10.4324/9781315562148
  • Journal articles | 2024
    Milstein T, 2024, 'Cultivating Care through Culture and Education', Environmental Communication, 18, pp. 216 - 222, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2023.2299752
    Journal articles | 2023
    Hawley E; Mocatta G; Milstein T, 2023, 'The Place of the Teacher: Environmental Communication and Transportive Pedagogy', Environmental Communication, 17, pp. 339 - 352, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2023.2189081
    Journal articles | 2023
    Milstein T; Sherry C; Carr J; Siebert M, 2023, '“Got to get ourselves back to the garden”: Sustainability transformations and the power of positive environmental communication', Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2023.2197140
    Journal articles | 2023
    Milstein T; Thomas MO; Hoffmann J; Carr J, 2023, '“Even I am a Part of Nature”: Unraveling the Human/Nature Binary to Enable Systems Change', Environmental Communication, 17, pp. 421 - 436, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2023.2199946
    Journal articles | 2022
    Leimbach T; Milstein T, 2022, 'Learning to change: Climate action pedagogy', Australian Journal of Adult Learning, 62, pp. 414 - 423, https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1370386.pdf
    Journal articles | 2021
    Carr J; Milstein T, 2021, '“See nothing but beauty”: The shared work of making anthropogenic destruction invisible to the human eye', Geoforum, 122, pp. 183 - 192, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2021.04.013
    Journal articles | 2021
    Milstein T; McGaurr L; Lester L, 2021, 'Make love, not war?: Radical environmental activism’s reconfigurative potential and pitfalls', Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, 4, pp. 296 - 316, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2514848620901443
    Journal articles | 2020
    Milstein T, 2020, 'Blooming in the doom and gloom: Bringing regenerative pedagogy to the rebellion', Journal of Sustainability Education, 23, http://www.susted.com/wordpress/content/blooming-in-the-doom-and-gloom-bringing-regenerative-pedagogy-to-the-rebellion_2020_04/
    Journal articles | 2019
    Alhinai M; Milstein T, 2019, 'From kin to commodity: ecocultural relations in transition in Oman', Local Environment, 24, pp. 1078 - 1096, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2019.1672635
    Journal articles | 2019
    Milstein T; Thomas M; Hoffmann J, 2019, 'Dams and Flows: Immersing in Western Meaning Systems in Search of Ecocultural Reflexivity', Environmental Communication, 13, pp. 104 - 117, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2018.1423626
    Journal articles | 2018
    Carr J; Milstein T, 2018, 'Keep Burning Coal or the Manatee Gets It: Rendering the Carbon Economy Invisible through Endangered Species Protection', Antipode, 50, pp. 82 - 100, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/anti.12355
    Journal articles | 2018
    Castro-Sotomayor J; Hoffmann J; Parks M; Siebert M; Thomas M; Milstein T, 2018, 'Embodying education: Performing environmental meanings, knowledges, and transformations', Journal of Sustainability Education, http://www.susted.com/wordpress/content/embodying-education-performing-environmental-meanings-knowledges-and-transformations_2018_02/
    Journal articles | 2017
    Debelo AR; Legesse A; Milstein T; Oda O, 2017, '“Tree Is Life”: The Rising of Dualism and the Declining of Mutualism among the Gedeo of Southern Ethiopia', Frontiers in Communication, 2, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2017.00007
    Journal articles | 2016
    Milstein T, 2016, 'The Performer Metaphor: Mother Nature Never Gives Us the Same Show Twice', Environmental Communication, 10, pp. 227 - 248, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2015.1018295
    Journal articles | 2015
    Milstein T; Pulos A, 2015, 'Culture Jam Pedagogy and Practice: Relocating Culture by Staying on One's Toes', Communication, Culture and Critique, 8, pp. 395 - 413, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cccr.12090
    Journal articles | 2013
    Milstein T, 2013, 'Animals Erased: Discourse, Ecology, and Reconnection with the Natural World', DISCOURSE & SOCIETY, 24, pp. 504 - 506, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0957926513486580
    Journal articles | 2013
    Milstein T, 2013, 'Communicating 'normalcy' in Israel: Intra/intercultural paradox and interceptions in tourism discourse', Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, 11, pp. 73 - 91, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14766825.2013.797987
    Journal articles | 2012
    Anguiano C; Milstein T; de Larkin I; Chen YW; Sandoval J, 2012, 'Connecting Community Voices: Using a Latino/a Critical Race Theory Lens on Environmental Justice Advocacy', Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, 5, pp. 124 - 143, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17513057.2012.661445
    Journal articles | 2012
    Chen YW; Milstein T; Anguiano C; Sandoval J; Knudsen L, 2012, 'Challenges and benefits of community-based participatory research for environmental justice: A case of collaboratively examining ecocultural struggles', Environmental Communication, 6, pp. 403 - 421, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2012.698291
    Journal articles | 2012
    Milstein T; Dickinson E, 2012, 'Gynocentric Greenwashing: The Discursive Gendering of Nature', Communication, Culture & Critique, 5, pp. 510 - 532, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-9137.2012.01144.x
    Journal articles | 2012
    Milstein T; Kroløkke C, 2012, 'Transcorporeal tourism: Whales, fetuses, and the rupturing and reinscribing of cultural constraints', Environmental Communication, 6, pp. 82 - 100, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2011.642079
    Journal articles | 2012
    Milstein T, 2012, 'Survive, critique, and create: Guiding radical pedagogy and critical public scholarship with the discursive guideposts of ecopedagogy', Green Theory and Praxis Journal, 6, pp. 3 - 16, https://issuu.com/icasonlinepublications/docs/gtp_vol_6_issue_1_december_2012_revised_2
    Journal articles | 2011
    Milstein T; Anguiano C; Sandoval J; Chen YW; Dickinson E, 2011, 'Communicating a "new" environmental vernacular: A sense of relations-in-place', Communication Monographs, 78, pp. 486 - 510, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2011.618139
    Journal articles | 2011
    Milstein T, 2011, 'Nature identification: The power of pointing and naming', Environmental Communication, 5, pp. 3 - 24, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2010.535836
    Journal articles | 2011
    Peterson JC; Milstein T; Chen YW; Nakazawa M, 2011, 'Self-Efficacy in Intercultural Communication: The Development and Validation of a Sojourners' Scale', Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, 4, pp. 290 - 309, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17513057.2011.602476
    Journal articles | 2009
    Milstein T, 2009, '"Somethin' Tells Me It's All Happening at the Zoo": Discourse, Power, and Conservationism', Environmental Communication: a journal of nature and culture, 3, pp. 25 - 48, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17524030802674174
    Journal articles | 2009
    Tema M; Valerie M, 2009, 'Oppositional discourse in Israeli media: Reflections of multiple cultural identities in coverage of the Rabin-Arafat handshake', Howard Journal of Communications, 20, pp. 353 - 369, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10646170903300796
    Journal articles | 2008
    Milstein T, 2008, 'The nature inside our heads: Exploring possibilities for widespread cultural paradigm shifts about nature', Drain: Journal of Contemporary Art and Culture, http://www.drainmag.com/index_sus.htm
    Journal articles | 2008
    Milstein T, 2008, 'When Whales "Speak for Themselves'': Communication as a Mediating force in Wildlife Tourism', Environmental Communication: a journal of nature and culture, 2, pp. 173 - 192, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17524030802141745
    Journal articles | 2005
    Howard PN; Carr JN; Milstein T, 2005, 'Digital technology and the market for political surveillance', Surveillance and Society, 3, pp. 59 - 73, http://dx.doi.org/10.24908/ss.v3i1.3320
    Journal articles | 2005
    Manusov V; Milstein T, 2005, 'Interpreting nonverbal behavior: Representation and transformation frames in Israeli and Palestinian media coverage of the 1993 Rabin-Arafat handshake', Western Journal of Communication, 69, pp. 183 - 201, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10570310500202322
    Journal articles | 2005
    Milstein T, 2005, 'Transformation abroad: Sojourning and the perceived enhancement of self-efficacy', International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 29, pp. 217 - 238, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2005.05.005
    Journal articles | 2004
    Milstein T, 2004, 'Book Review: Howard Williams, The ethics of diet: A catena of authorities deprecatory of the practice of flesh-eating', Ethics, Place and Environment, pp. 216 - 219, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1366879042000332998
  • Conference Presentations | 2023
    Milstein T, 2023, '‘Open’ and ‘closed’ engagement with emotions in strategic and unstrategic environmental communication', presented at International Environmental Communication Association, 19 June 2023
    Conference Papers | 2022
    Milstein T, 2022, 'Defining “Nature”: Binary thinking and the stubborn optimism of dialectics', New Orleans, LA, USA., presented at National Communication Association, New Orleans, LA, USA., 20 November 2022
    Conference Papers | 2022
    Milstein T, 2022, 'Young women environmental activists and modelling ecocentric identities', Armidale, NSW, presented at Institute of Australian Geographers, Armidale, NSW, 15 July 2022
    Conference Papers | 2022
    Milstein T, 2022, '“Got to get ourselves back to the garden”: The power of place-based positive environmental communication', New Orleans, LA, USA, presented at National Communication Association, New Orleans, LA, USA, 20 November 2022
    Other | 2022
    Milstein T, 2022, Festival of Dangerous Ideas,
    Conference Papers | 2021
    Milstein T, 2021, '“Coming home to nature:” Spatial imaginaries and environmental meanings about cities as “nature”', Seattle, WA, USA, presented at National Communication Association, Seattle, WA, USA, 20 November 2021
    Reports | 2021
    Milstein T, 2021, A manatee with “TRUMP” scraped into its back was itself disturbing. But it reflects a deeper environmental problem. The Conversation., https://theconversation.com/a-manatee-with-trump-scraped-into-its-back-was-itself-disturbing-but-it-reflects-a-deeper-environmental-problem-154189
    Reports | 2010
    Milstein T; Anguiano C; Chen Y-W; Sandoval J, 2010, Hispanic environmental meanings and messages: Report to Conservation Voters of New Mexico and The Wilderness Society on research findings of the Connecting Community Voices study
    Reports | 2010
    Milstein T; Anguiano C; Chen YW; Sandoval J, 2010, Hispanic environmental meanings and messages: Report to Conservation Voters of New Mexico and The Wilderness Society on research findings of the Connecting Community Voices study, Albuquerque, New Mexico
    Reports | 2009
    Milstein T, 2009, Framing the message: Ways to communicate ecologically, emotionally, sensorially, and culturally connected nature. Report to US-Canada Salish Sea Association of Marine Naturalists.
    Conference Papers | 2008
    Milstein T, 2008, 'From pointing and naming to speaking for whales: A study of communicative acts as they inform human-nature relations', in Willard B; Green C (ed.), Communication at the intersection of nature and culture: Proceedings of the ninth biennial Conference on Communication and Environment, College of Communication, DePaul University, Chicago, IL. USA, pp. 238 - 252, presented at International Environmental Communication Association Conference on Communication and Environment, Chicago, IL. USA

Recent Examples:

  • UNSW Visiting Teaching Fellowship. 2023.
     
  • Faculty of Arts, Design, & Architecture Research Fellow. 2022.
     
  • Sustainable Development Reform Hub, UNSW. Seed Grant Project: Designing Regenerative Economies: Legal, Policy, and Governance Reform for 'Regen Cities'. 2022
     
  • United States Fish and Wildlife Service
    • Project lead/chief investigator. Developing the university campus as an urban wildlife refuge. August 2018-July 2020.
    • Project lead/chief investigator. Conservation management audio-visual public messaging. August 2018-May 2019.
    • Project lead/chief investigator. Conservation management social media outreach. August 2017-May 2018.
    • Project co-lead/chief investigator. Wildlife and pollinator habitat via campus community garden pedagogy. August 2017-July 2018.
       
  • Mandela Washington Fellowship Academic and Leadership Institute (flagship program of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative). Co-investigator/project lead for environmental communication. 25 young African leaders, six-week institute. US Department of State, US International Research and Exchanges Board, US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. 2017.
     
  • McCune Foundation. Partner investigator/expert consultant. MediaDesk NM capacity building for non-profit sector in sustainability innovation. 2013-2014.
     
  • US Fulbright Scholar/Fulbright New Zealand. Senior Scholar. New Zealand ecotourism communication practices and sustainability. Kaikoura & Auckland, New Zealand. US Congress and partner country. 2012.
     
  • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Co-investigator. Collaborative for Sustainable Foodshed Development. 2010-2013.

 

  • Faculty of Arts, Design, and Architecture Research Fellow. UNSW. 2022.
     
  • Faculty of Arts, Design, and Architecture Dean's Research Award for Society Impact. UNSW. 2020.
     
  • University of Tasmania Visiting Fellow. Hobart, Australia. 2016.
     
  • Journal Article Awards: 
    • National Communication Association. For Outstanding Environmental Scholarship.
      • 2017. Sole author
      • 2009. Sole author
         
  • Book Awards:
    • American Educational Studies Association. Critics Choice Award.
      • 2013. Chapter author
    • National Communication Association. For Outstanding Environmental Scholarship.
      • 2020. Co-editor
      • 2017. Co-editor
      • 2013. Chapter author
      • 2010. Chapter author
         
  • Book Chapter Award: 
    • National Communication Association. For Outstanding Environmental Scholarship.
      • 2022. Co-author
         
  • Top Conference Papers:
    • International Communication Association. Environmental Division:  2017,  2012.
    • National Communication Association. Environmental Division:  2010,  2006.
    • Western States Communication Association. Environmental Division:  2011.
       
  • Teaching Awards:
    • Presidential Teaching Fellow. University of New Mexico. 2015-2017. 
    • Outstanding Teacher of the Year. University of New Mexico. 2011. 

Recent podcasts:

Recent media articles:

My Research Supervision

  • PhD student Gretchen Miller. The Rescue Project, citizen-storytelling, courage, and the more-than-human world.
  • PhD student Madeleine Miller. Critical food politics and regenerative farming agriculture paradigms. 
  • PhD student Catherine Sarah Young. Participatory art and climate science. As Scientia mentor.
  • PhD student Joanne Christine Marras Tate. Covid-era more-than-human discourses and reclamations of space. External (University of Colorado Boulder, US).
  • Master's student Rhiannon Newton. Dance and embodied performance as potentially ecoculturally restorative.

 

My Teaching

I am passionate about teaching. I understand the classroom as a uniquely transformative space wherein people can collectively raise awareness about unseen dimensions of culture and society and gain tools to imagine and practice restorative and regenerative futures. I've taught for more than two decades in higher education and I currently teach:

IEST5005 Environmental Communication

IEST5001 Frameworks for Environmental Management

ARTS1241 Environmental Advocacy and Activism