Dr. Rachael Gross

Biography

Rachael Gross is a geographer and reformed ecologist focusing on decolonial management of African elephants in Southern Africa and their responses to climate change. She works at the intersection of decolonial pedagogy, landscape science, community development, and wildlife conservation, collaborating with Indigenous communities to utilize geospatial technology for land repatriation and wildlife management. Her research aims to develop a global framework for decolonizing national parks and protected areas. Rachael's current inquiry examines people's relationships with nature to inform environmental management strategies and policies for groups historically excluded from these discussions. Currently a postdoctoral research fellow based at the Australian National Centre for Public Awareness of Science, she has an academic background with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management and a PhD focused on interdisciplinary science and natural resource management. Her work is characterized by a commitment to social justice, indigenous cultural heritage, and biodiversity conservation.

Research Interests