Dr Jacqui Wilmshurst
Research Student
School of Health, Wellbeing & Social Care
Biography
Professional biography
In my current research I explore human-wildlife relationships in urban Britain via multispecies autoethnography and narrative inquiry.
With a focus on common but controversial species, I tell and analyse stories in their cultural and historical context, and in relation to themes from emerging literature in relevant fields.
We humans, across cultures, are natural storytellers. Telling and analysing personal and relational stories, with the added ingredient of intellectual and methodological rigour, helps to reveal cultural and historical narratives (conscious and otherwise) that shape these relationships - for better or for worse. This can help to guide us towards creating new and better stories, facilitating collaboration, challenging outdated paradigms, and bridging academic disciplines and fields of practice.
As an autoethnographer I bring a range of identities to the stories, and the meaning-making, including licenced wildlife rehabilitator, sanctuary owner, environmental and conservation psychologist, and urban dweller.
Potential areas of impact include the continued evolution of the One Health approach, participatory methods in urban biodiversity conservation, and human wellbeing in urban environments.
I have a previous academic background in the psychology of environmental risk and resilience. This research examined human-natural environment relationships as applied to natural hazards and cultural framings of risk. Other 'ways of knowing' were explored alongside conventional scientific and academic enquiry.
In addition to my work as an academic, I was previously an officer in the British Army (retired as Captain) and a leader in mental health and wellbeing in large complex organisations including the BBC, Meta and TikTok. I am a Chartered Member and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Socety, in the Division of Academics, Researchers and Teachers in Psychology.
I run a small sanctuary Nala's Nook, specialising in the care of permanently captive grey squirrels and corvids, from my home in East Yorkshire.
www.jacquiwilmshurst.com
Research interests
Human-Animal Relationships
Anthrozoology
Multispecies Care Ethics
Animal Ethics
Animal Welfare
Wellbeing and Resilience
Multispecies Methodology
Teaching interests
Care Ethics
Animal Ethics
Environmental & Conservation Psychology
Health & Wellbeing
Urban Wildbeing
