Public Engagement and Participation

My research has placed a strong emphasis on public engagement and participation, producing a range of outputs in collaboration with and/or addressed to wider audiences. This work includes a trade book, numerous popular essays, a range of public events programs, and a number of different digital projects. I continue to be actively involved in a range of public projects that share stories and ideas with wider audiences while also creating spaces for many others to share their stories. Some of the key outputs from this work are listed below.


Books

Sadokierski, Z., T. van Dooren, D. Hochuli, J. Martin, and A. Burrell, A Guide to the Creatures in Your Neighbourhood (Murdoch Books, Sydney, 2022).

This co-authored book aimed to encourage and inspire readers to learn more and tell their own stories about the plants and animals in their local places. More information.

van Dooren, T. A World in a Shell: Snail Stories for a Time of Extinctions, (MIT Press, Cambridge M.A., 2022).

While all of my academic books have aimed to be accessible and to reach a wide audience, I wrote this book to be a genuinely hybrid popular/scholarly text. The book has been successful in this endeavour and was awarded a Gold Nautilus Book award and shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award in the nonfiction category. More information.

Popular Essays

My essays written for a popular readership have appeared in a range of different outlets including The Atlantic, The LA Review of Books, The Conversation, and Overland. They have also been translated into French and German. For a full list, see my Popular Essays page.


Digital Projects

My digital projects have included everything from an audio documentary and a museum trail to community storytelling archives. For a listing of some of the key projects with links to further information, see my Digital Projects page.


Public Events

In addition to co-organising the major events below, I frequently give public talks at museums, festivals, and other events. See my general Seminars and Lectures page.

Living on the Edge: Caring for Australia’s Threatened Places (2023-)

This is a multi-year collaborative project being developed by the National Museum of Australia and the Sydney Environment Institute at the University of Sydney. The project brings together cultural researchers, writers, curators, traditional custodians and artists, as well as policy-makers, scientists and community conservationists, to share knowledge and explore ideas about how best to care for threatened places. Ultimately, we will produce an online exhibition, a series of events, podcasts and broadcasts, creative commissions and education resources. More information.

HumanNature: The Sydney Environmental Humanities Lecture Series (2018 and 2019)

A collaboration between several universities and the Australian Museum to host a series of public lectures. Podcasts from these lectures are available on the museum’s website here.

Interviews, Podcasts, and other Media

In addition to the above outputs/projects, I am a frequent contributor to media stories in various formats. Please see my Interviews and Media page for a full listing.