Conservation researcher in need of volunteers

PhD candidate Helen Ough Dealy, whose day job is with the Department of Conservation in Kerikeri, is looking for volunteers for her research into how a person’s hopefulness might affect future community-led conservation.

Her supervisor, AUT geology professor Mike Petterson, a one-time director/executive leader with the British Geological Survey and the Pacific Community, and has spent his career in the field of earth sciences, said the research was nationally important given the role community conservationists would have in achieving a pest-free New Zealand by 2050.

“Helen is looking for people who would be interested in completing a hopefulness scale, then creating some artwork, followed by an interview of about 45 minutes discussing that artwork,” he said.

“Participants need to be part of a community or community conservation group.”

■ Anyone who wanted to know more was welcome to contact him at Michael.petterson@aut.ac.nz