Research/Areas of Interest
Human dimensions of environmental change; socio-ecological system governance; equitable sustainability transformations; community resilience; coastal and marine systems
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
- Master of Science, University of Auckland, New Zealand
- Bachelor of Arts, Oberlin College, United States
Biography
Kate's work focuses on navigating equitable transformations to sustainability using a range of collaborative and participatory methods. Recent projects include developing serious games to address air quality challenges in the Salt Lake Valley and using scenario planning techniques to improve cumulative effects management in Aotearoa New Zealand's coastal and marine areas. Kate has also worked with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) to develop scenarios that inform global and regional biodiversity and ecosystem service assessments. Through the co-production of knowledge and practice, these projects aim to improve social and ecological outcomes and enhance the resilience of communities by supporting individuals and institutions to grapple with environmental change across interests and scales.
Prior to joining UEP, Kate has worked as a social scientist for the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) in Aotearoa New Zealand, an urban planner in Salt Lake City, and a Research Assistant Professor in Geography at the University of Utah. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of Auckland and a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Oberlin College.
Prior to joining UEP, Kate has worked as a social scientist for the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) in Aotearoa New Zealand, an urban planner in Salt Lake City, and a Research Assistant Professor in Geography at the University of Utah. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of Auckland and a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Oberlin College.