Professor Priscilla Wehi, pictured with a wētāpunga/giant wētā, says she is honoured to be made a Fellow of the British Ecological Society.
Otago ecologist Professor Priscilla (Cilla) Wehi says it is an honour to be made a Fellow of the British Ecological Society (BES), which she joined in because she wanted to meet “open and curious folks who were passionate about nature”.
“There is also a real emphasis on how research can meet policy to make a difference for nature, which feels very important in these turbulent times,” Cilla says.
She served as an Associate Editor for one of BES’ flagship journals, People and Nature from 2018-2024.
In its announcement BES says these new Fellows are recognised for their “outstanding contributions to ecology through research, teaching, leadership, policy and the practical application of ecological science.”
In her mahi, Cilla explores how conservation, language and culture intersect using tools from historical ecology, chemistry, social science, and other disciplines, and weaves together interdisciplinary teams to develop novel approaches. She is also passionate about the behaviour and ecology of endemic New Zealand wētā (Orthoptera).
Cilla is Director of Te Pūnaha Matatini , the home of complex systems research in Aotearoa, and a Professor at Otago’s Centre for Sustainability Research .
Read more about the 23 ecologists elected Fellows on the British Ecological Society website: Announcing the second round of BES Fellows
-Kōrero by Antonia Wallace, Humanities Communications Adviser
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