Did you know that in 2016, there were only 49 days that there wasn’t a shark related story in the Australian news? So if you think you hear about sharks a lot, it is because you do.  I’m Bri, an Environmental Psychology Scientist and fear of shark expert.

My mission is to explore peoples’ relationship with the ocean and marine species, including how biophobia (dislike/fear of the natural world) and biophilia (positive connections to the natural world) impact how people engage with the ocean and ocean conservation.

Interesting projects I’ve worked on recently include understanding children’s fear of sharks, evaluating benefits of ocean retreat experiences, and analysing the impact of how sharks are portrayed in the media.

I am not only dedicated to inspiring emerging women in STEM through my position as Program Director of environmental sciences at University of South Australia, but I’m also dedicated to showcasing how science is a broad field and does not always involve labs or microscopes.