Dr Rebecca Wheeler

I am a Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Rural Policy Research (CRPR). My current research interests include:

• Health and well-being in farming communities
• Farmer attitudes, behaviour and decision-making in relation to the environment, including agri-environment schemes, landscape-scale management and adaptation to climate change.
• Public engagement with farming and nature and farmer-nonfarmer relationships
• Participatory research and creative methods

Research supervision:

I am currently supervising the following PhD researchers:

Hannah Mortimer: Feeding beef cattle: Regenerative practices, perceptions and performances of the 'good farmer' in Devon, England.

Skylar Collins: Understanding risk, safety and mental health challenges in UK small-scale fisheries

Biography:

I have a broad background in rural geography and environmental sustainability and completed my PhD, titled 'Experiences of Place and Change in Rural Landscapes: Three English case studies', in May 2015 (Plymouth University). This explored rural residents' experiences of, and attitudes towards, place-based changes - and the implications of these for processes of identity and place attachment - with a particular focus on existing wind farms. Prior to my postgraduate studies, I worked as Climate SouthWest Project Officer for the Environment Agency, where I was involved in regional efforts to raise awareness of the impacts of climate change and encourage adaptation action. I also hold an MSc in Sustainable Environmental Management (Plymouth University) and a BSocSci in Social Anthropology (University of Manchester).

Other information:

Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Member of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS-IBG)

Member of the European Society for Rural Sociology (ESRS)