Dr Dana Thomsen
PhD Griff., GradCert(Higher Ed) Griff., MSc(Hons) Cant., BSc Auck.
Position: Lecturer in Engagement for Sustainability, Coordinator of Sustainability Programs, Faculty of Science, Health and Education
Office: Level 1, Accelerator (Innovation Centre)
Tel: +61 7 5456 5047
Fax: +61 7 5456 5008
Email: dthomsen@usc.edu.au
Teaching areas
- Foundations of Sustainability
Research areas
- Engagement for sustainability
- Social learning
- Community-based research
- Participatory natural resource management
- Agents of change
Profile
Dr Dana Thomsen is a Lecturer in Sustainability Engagement and Coordinator of Sustainability Programs in the Faculty of Science, Health and Education at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Dana is also a member of the Regional Sustainability Research Group.
Dr Thomsen has also worked as a senior social scientist for the Queensland Government for several years on projects including adaptive management, interdisciplinary science, entrepreneurial education, future science, and the social dimensions of urban water supply.
Dr Thomsen's PhD research focused upon the potential of community-based research as a participatory approach to informing natural resource management by integrating the ideals of adaptive management and public participation in the form of citizen science. It examined how citizen scientists can work with expert scientists and natural resource managers in improving research and management outcomes for catchment areas within Australia. Dr Thomsen's research has contributed to the social research portfolios of two national research centres, Coastal Cooperative Research Centre and Catchment Hydrology Cooperative Research Centre.
Dr Thomsen has taught in the areas of environmental decision-making, teaching and learning for sustainability, and integrated catchment management.
Current research
Sustainability Insights: An exploration of the motivations underpinning significant innovators in sustainability on the Sunshine Coast
The aim of this project study is to understand the motivations underpinning sustainable behaviours of selected individuals (recognised as innovators in sustainability) on the Sunshine Coast and to analyse the barriers and opportunities to implementing sustainability initiatives on the Sunshine Coast. The study is supported by an Internal Seed Grant from the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Publications
Electronic copies of various academic papers from Dr Dana Thomsen are available on the USC Coast Research Database website.
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