Our People, Centre for Sustainability

Our interdisciplinary teams include researchers from a wide range of specialties within the University of Otago, from other universities and research agencies, in New Zealand and internationally.

The Centre is committed to growing research capability in sustainability by supervising and supporting postgraduate students with aligned interests.

Research staff

Research Associate Professor Caroline Orchiston

Director, Centre for Sustainability

Caroline's passion is for applied research that makes a difference to our society, particularly in building social capital through networks and connections, and working with communities to build resilience.

Email caroline.orchiston@otago.ac.nz

Research Professor Janet Stephenson

Postgraduate Co-ordinator

Janet is passionate about collaborative, interdisciplinary research. Her research interests include indigenous resource management; the interconnections between people and their local environments; and the role of individuals and organisations in the transition to a sustainable future.

Email janet.stephenson@otago.ac.nz

Professor Hugh Campbell

Hugh Campbell thumb Professor of Sociology, Gender Studies and Criminology, School of Social Sciences

Hugh has research interests in the social and economic dynamics of 'greening' food systems, the politics of sustainability under neoliberal governance, achieving sustainability via audits, food waste, transitions in agriculture and food systems in New Zealand, and theories of global food regimes.

Email hugh.campbell@otago.ac.nz

Professor Merata Kawharu

Research Professor, Centre for Sustainability

Merata (Ngāti Whatua, Ngāpuhi), has research interests that have over-arching themes of supporting Māori leadership, community and education. She has focused in areas such as land and water, capability building, climate change resilience, and connections to ancestral marae by young Māori.

Email merata.kawharu@otago.ac.nz

Dr Jen Purdie

Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Sustainability

Jen works at the nexus of climate and energy. Her research interests include climate change impacts on the energy system, and climate forecasting on a range of timescales.

Email jen.purdie@otago.ac.nz

Abbi Virens

Postdoctoral Fellow, Centre for Sustainability

Abbi is a social scientist, originally from Canada. Her interest in natural history directed her doctoral research into an exploration of the foraging landscape within Dunedin. Her research areas include science and technology studies ( STS ), post-humanism and post-colonialism.

Email abbi.virens@otago.ac.nz

Associate Professor Priscilla Wehi

Director, Te Pūnaha Matatini, Centre of Research Excellence

Priscilla a conservation biologist whose research has two main research themes: ecological knowledge; evolutionary ecology, and especially foraging behaviour, including isotope and nutrient analyses of diet, and socioecological relationships, including cultural environmental management.

Dr Negin Imani

Research Fellow

Negin Imani is passionate about interdisciplinary research and collaborations. Her academic background is in Architectural engineering. Her research interests include biomimetic energy-efficient and ecologically sustainable building design with a focus on thermal regulation, and optimal internal comfort for human wellbeing and productivity.

Email negin.imani@otago.ac.nz