Belinda Christie

Yup. Except, I don&s;t think Sheldon would be very impressed! I&s;m not a lab-coat wearing, test tube wielding kind of scientist - but who doesn&s;t like a good lab coat?! I&s;m a sustainability social science researcher. I research people - and how to create a mindful planet one practice at a time. So what do you actually do? I teach, I write, I do academic research. And I spend a lot of time hiking! I am an Academic with the School of Life and Environmental Sciences at Deakin University, and an Adjunct Research Fellow with the Centre for Urban Transitions, Swinburne University of Technology, both in Naarm (Melbourne) Australia. My current research project explores mindfulness-based outdoor education, nature connection, decolonisation practices, and the emerging field of &s;spiritual ecology&s;. Most recently my research investigated the social implications around food waste and composting in the urban environment as a way to mitigate climate change and as a nature connection practice (think, composting and worm farming in apartment buildings, hotels, city offices!). And oh yes, I&s;m the Founder of a little outdoor education organisation [previously called Wilderness Yoga ], outdoor guide, and meditation and yoga teacher. too. But there&s;s a lot changing on that front very shortly... Well, lets just say we are completely overhauling our programs to focus on social and environmental justice. Yeah - that&s;ll do for now. What kinds of people have you worked with? After 15 years in the environment industry, my research, teaching, and practice has covered a wide range of our global environmental problems; from sustainability science and climate change education, to indigenous flora and land management, and conservation ecology. For 10 years I have lectured at Deakin University and Swinburne University of Technology in environmental sustainability, social environmental justice, sustainable cities and building design, environmental impact assessment, research methods, and climate change adaptation. My PhD investigated ...