Jacqueline Lau
Doctoral research
Direct and mediated nature experiences of urban youths
Broadly, I am interested in human-nature relations and how urban youths relate to nature
in their everyday lives. Specifically, my work integrates interdisciplinary perspectives
from human geography, environmental education, conservation and environmental psychology,
and conservation science to explore in particular the affective and emotional dimensions
of nature experience. How do people come to think and feel about nature in the ways that
they do, through what modes of consumption (direct and indirect/mediated), and to what
end? My project employs qualitative and ethnographic methods to generate insights regarding
the means through which a meaningful relationship with nature may be encouraged in
contemporary societies. The hope is that such an understanding will enhance our capacity
to foster a popular conservation ethic, to the benefit of both biodiversity and people.
Commenced July 2011
Supervisors
Dr Russell Hitchings
Dr Gail Davies
Education
2007: MSc Environmental Technology, Imperial College London
2006: BSc Ecology (Hons), Imperial College London
Previous employment
2008-2010: Senior Programme Officer, National Parks Board Singapore
2006: Project Executive, World Wide Fund for Nature - Singapore
2005-2008: Specialised Tourist Guide (Nature), Singapore Tourism Board
2003: Research Assistant, Egon Zehnder International - Singapore