An advocate for change: Dr Sarah's inspirational twenty-year career

“Science is all around us and it’s about finding your bit – what you can contribute - and really following that interest,” says Dr Sarah, our Zoo’s head of conservation advocacy and engagement.

Today is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science or #IDWGIS and we’re sharing the stories of six incredible women (just a fraction of the talented wāhine we’re lucky to have at the Zoo!) to discuss their journey into science in all its forms, and their advice for women and young girls interested in pursuing careers in science. 

“What do we picture when we think of a scientist - is it a person in a white coat?”, asks Sarah. In fact, she explains, so many roles have their basis in the sciences. In a Zoo environment we use science and scientific thought in everything from how the animals are cared for; how habitats are designed; how we communicate science through marketing, how we study human behaviour to catalyse wellbeing, learning, advocacy and social changes in people right through to how the water quality at the Zoo is maintained … the list goes on!

Throughout her impressive twenty-year career, Sarah has been at the forefront of exploring the science behind the social and human dimensions of zoos and conservation. A key element of this is looking at the connections between people and animals, and how this can be a catalyst for behavioural and social change. Working and collaborating alongside her contemporaries in zoos and conservation organisations globally is a crucial component of this mahi, and just last year Sarah was named one of Blooloop’s top 10 influencers in the zoo and aquarium community! Though like so many of us, when she first started out, she wasn’t sure where her career would lead her.   

Growing up in a small seaside town in the North of England, at thirteen years of age Sarah’s first job was caring for cats and dogs at a local boarding cattery/kennels, which she continued throughout high school. At university, this natural affinity for animals propelled her towards completing a zoology degree – but when she finished, there weren’t many career pathways that seemed readily available to her.  

Another huge passion of Sarah’s is music, and on leaving university she ran an alternative rock club in her hometown for several years, until it was closed in 2002. When browsing her local paper for her next work opportunity, she found an advertisement for a seasonal education assistant at Blackpool Zoo. This was a pivotal moment and would change the course of her career and life!

Another huge passion of Sarah’s is music, and on leaving university she ran an alternative rock club in her hometown for several years, until it was closed in 2002. When browsing her local paper for her next work opportunity, she found an advertisement for a seasonal education assistant at Blackpool Zoo. This was a pivotal moment and would change the course of her career and life!

This first role was very diverse - communicating with visitors through delivering education sessions, giving talks at animal habitats, performing in conservation-focused theatre and public programmes,   guiding visitors through walk-through primate habitats and running the outreach programme to local schools and communities. It was then Sarah realised that she really wanted to understand more about the people visiting zoos and what they were taking away from these experiences. Enrolling in night school, she spent the next two years gaining her Masters in teaching, where her focus truly shifted from the natural sciences to the social sciences.

“In those early years of the 2000s, it was the start of more news stories, more public interest in how biodiversity was declining, and that the Ozone layer was getting thinner, as a result of human influence,” explains Sarah. “And that’s when I started to hear a lot more conversations in the zoo community asking – how can zoos help change people’s behaviours towards wildlife and the environment, and how would we do that? So, really that sent me on a twenty-year exploration of the important impact that zoos can have in this social space.” More than a decade later this journey led Sarah to complete a part time PhD through Lancaster University, while working as the Head of Discovery and Learning at the Zoological Society of London, in conservation social science with a thesis that focused on exploring the many dimensions of the social aspects of zoos and conservation.

Another extremely important subject for Sarah is how zoos – and all organisations – can become more diverse, equitable, inclusive spaces. “When we think about zoos, they were traditionally conservative places – and not necessarily very diverse. How do we make sure that all of the people in our staff, volunteers and communities feel like they belong, that can contribute, and feel included, asks Sarah. “Now I’m in the position I am, and reflecting and building on what I’ve experienced and learnt during my career as a women and as a person with an alternative aesthetic, I’m able to help to challenge assumptions, support others to feel empowered to meet their potential and be an agent for positive change.”

“Current environmental challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change are huge and complex, and so how we tackle them absolutely need diverse perspectives, worldviews, and voices to be heard. How can we collaborate and share and develop new ways of thinking to bring about change? Here in Aotearoa, I feel we need keep acknowledging the importance and relevancy of indigenous thought and progress how we strengthen our relationship with Te Ao Māori, weaving that into how we think, feel and act towards the natural world – and each other."

Sarah believes the Zoo plays a key role in highlighting what is science-based opportunities are available to young people – from our Tuatara Club volunteering programme for 15-17 year olds, our paid internship programme for young adults hoping to get on pursue a career working with animals, to our many science focused conservation learning programmes working with schools/kura across Tāmaki Makaurau.

Her advice for girls and women interested in a career in science? “Firstly - Keep pursuing your dreams and talk to your teachers and community leaders about your interest in science. They are brilliant to support and keep growing your curiosity. There’s also a lot of information about science career pathways online and take some time to see what’s out there," explains Sarah.

"If it’s the natural world and conservation science you’re interested in, in Aotearoa, I feel as a country we’re intrinsically connected to nature in everything we do, so there’s lots of opportunities to get involved, volunteer, to plant trees, to take part in community action, to do more in your local reserve. Trying out and experiencing as much as possible will hopefully help you decide where you’d like to focus and what your future contributions to science could be.”