Dr Rebecca Wheeler

Becca is a social scientist specialising in the health and sustainability of rural people and places, especially in a farming context. In particular, she seeks to understand the social and cultural factors that underlie farmer behaviour, decision-making and well-being, exploring connections between these and wider changes affecting rural landscapes and communities.

Becca currently leads a 3-year ESRC-funded research project focusing on the Health and Wellbeing of Women in Farming, and is involved in a number of other projects exploring physical and mental health and safety in farming environments. She is passionate about understanding and improving wellbeing for all those living and working in the agricultural sector through this work. Other recent research topics have included farmer decision-making around agri-environmental management; climate change impacts and adaptation in UK agriculture; sustainable intensification; and loneliness and mental health in the agricultural community.

Becca draws on a range of disciplines in her research, including rural sociology, human geography, and psychology, frequently working with multidisciplinary partners from both within and outside academia. Delivering impact is an important element of her work and several of her research projects have informed policy and guidance for land managers on environmental land management. Furthermore, Becca's recent work on health and well-being (including a survey for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institute and research on loneliness conducted in partnership with the Farming Community Network) is directly influencing the work of farm support charities and has been regularly cited in policy documents and development.