Paramount Importance

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Rochelle Steven, Lecturer in Environmental and Conservation Science at Murdoch University, one of Australia’s leading conservation scientists working at the intersection of avian ecology, biodiversity, citizen science, and human–wildlife interactions. Before joining Murdoch, Rochelle held a series of highly respected roles across Australia’s conservation sector, including Species Conservation Project Coordinator at WWF-Australia, where she worked on threatened species management and community-led conservation, as well as a postdoctoral research role with the University of Queensland’s Threatened Species Recovery Hub, focused on citizen science and species recovery.With a PhD in bird conservation and a career spanning academia, conservation policy, and public engagement, Rochelle brings extraordinary insight into the science of birds, ecotourism, and the human behaviours shaping our natural world.From the decline of migratory shorebirds and the power of citizen science, to t