Lauren Eckhert

Roles: Special Guest

Lauren is a conservation scientist, adventure enthusiast, and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada. Lauren’s early research experiences around the globe exposed her to the complexities of interrelated social and ecological systems, and motivated her to delve into conservation science that upholds local and Indigenous knowledge and human rights. Lauren’s recent work at the interface of social and ecological sciences aims to value local and Indigenous knowledge systems alongside empirical scientific studies – seeking community-engaged and Indigenous-led opportunities to more holistically understand the complex relationships between humans and our changing environments. As a doctoral student, Lauren’s broad interests include better understanding and seeking solutions to conservation conflict. Her research examines: Canadian environmental policy, human relationships with wildlife and means of making environmental decisions, and pathways to resolving stakeholder and human-wildlife conflict in British Columbia. Lauren is a Vanier Scholar, Raincoast Conservation Fellow, National Geographic Explorer, dog mom, avid hiker, and peanut butter aficionada.