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Dr Leanda Mason

Vice-Chancellor Research Fellow

Staff Member Details

Leanda is a Vice-Chancellor Research Fellow within Kurongkurl Katitjin.

Background

Dr Leanda Mason (they/them, Minang Nyungar) has research focuses that are broad and intersecting. These research interests include, but are not limited to: conservation ecology, tertiary education, and equity/diversity/inclusion frameworks. They have specialist skills surveying of trapdoor spiders, having conducted extensive research on their ecology and the challenges they face in urban environments due to their short-range endemic traits. Leanda has an extensive teaching and learning background; serving as a unit coordinator and lecturer in various Indigenous studies and environmental science courses, as well as having a Masters in Teaching. They are also an enthusiastic science communicator; frequently engaging in public talks, media interviews, and publications to advocate for conservation of non-charismatic species.

Current Teaching

  • ACS2122 - Aboriginal Perspectives on the Environment

Professional associations

  • 2022 - present Ecological Society of Australia (Chair of Equity and Diversity Working Group)

Awards and recognitions

  • 2023 - Australian Awards for University Teaching: Citation for Outstanding Contributions for Student Learning

Research areas and interests

  • Biocultural diversity
  • Place-based learning and methodologies
  • Indigenous ways of being
  • Conservation and ecology (as relating to trapdoor spiders and other non-charismatic creatures)
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion (and more specifically, in education and environmental practices)

University and national teaching awards

  • 2021 - Curtin Hero recognition
  • 2019 - Curtin Faculty of Science Teaching Award (2019)
  • 2018 - Curtin Research and Engagement Awards; Most Prolific Media Commentator for the Faculty of Science and Engineering
  • 2018 - Curtin Research and Engagement Awards; Most Outstanding Curtin Research News Story
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