• Charles Sturt academics to present free webinar exploring social science perspectives on invasive species management for Social Sciences Week

A free webinar on conflict and extremism in invasive species management is just one of many online events being held by Charles Sturt University to mark Social Sciences Week.

Two academics from the Charles Sturt School of Environmental Sciences, Lecturer in human geography Dr Jen Bond and Lecturer in environmental management Dr Alexandra Knight, will host and make presentations during the webinar.

They will explore the increasingly divisive and controversial discussions surrounding invasive species management in Australia and consider the human relationships and processes which underpin and reinforce these discussions.

Using examples of feral horse and deer management in north-east Victoria and southern NSW, the webinar will unpack the multitude of social elements, including the differing narratives, community perceptions and cultural values, which lead to ongoing friction and ineffective management.

Dr Bond and Dr Knight will also provide insight into the contributions the social sciences can make to environmental management throughout the webinar.

The webinar, ‘Conflict & extremism in invasive species management: perspectives from the social sciences’, will be held via Zoom on Tuesday 8 September at 6.30pm. Registrations are available via Eventbrite.

Members of the public with an interest in environmental management and practice, animal sciences, conservation, agriculture and hunting are encouraged to attend.

Dr Knight is an ecologist and social researcher, with a strong background in environmental practice, who has lectured at Charles Sturt for the past 12 years.

Dr Bond is a social scientist whose research conducted in Kenya, India, Vietnam, Laos and north-east Victoria focuses on natural resource conflict management and agricultural development.

Charles Sturt is a proud partner of Social Sciences Week, which runs from Monday 7 to Sunday 13 September.

Information about the other events Charles Sturt is hosting during the week will be made available on the University’s news site.