Bridget Johnson

Throughout my previous academic career and nearly ten years working in the zoo industry, I have had an enthusiasm for understanding the unique role of zoos in engaging the public with biodiversity conservation. The benefits of providing evidence of the positive outcomes zoos can have on people cannot be understated, particularly if zoos want to be taken as credible contributors to global biodiversity targets.

My PhD aims to identify and evidence the role zoos have in contributing to global biodiversity targets, specifically Target 12 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022), which relates to increasing access to and benefits from green and blue space. Nature connection and wellbeing benefits of visits to zoos are beginning to be reported, but they are rarely framed in the context of zoos as green and blue space, and the role of zoos as green and blue space has not been clearly defined. This multidisciplinary project will quantify the physical contribution of zoos to urban green and blue space, alongside the wellbeing and nature connection outcomes of a visit to these spaces. Mechanisms including social prescribing will be considered to increase the accessibility of zoos.

Supervisors:

Dr Samantha Ward

Professor Rowena Hill

Dr Andy Moss

Projects:

PhD in Connecting People to Nature: Are there psychological health and wellbeing benefits to visiting zoos?