Instone, Dr Lesley

Instone, Dr Lesley

Conjoint Senior Lecturer, School of Environmental and Life Sciences

University of Newcastle
Research interests / activities:

My research is located at the intersection of cultural studies, environmental studies and geography. I am particularly interested in the key roles that belonging, identity and place play in questions of biodiversity management, environmental regulation and sustainability. Exploring the complex relations between people, animals, land and place requires a multivalent approach, and I draw on a diverse and rich theoretical landscape including non representational theory, postcolonial studies, and performativity. My recent work focuses on critical questions of nature-society delineation and aims to explore the active engagements of bodies, text, land and non-humans that shape Australian landscapes and everyday engagements with them. This approach has led me to work on dingoes, landscapes of detention, fencelines, national parks and northern Australian perspectives. Current research explores socio-cultural dimensions of urban ecological restoration, human-plant relations and urban natures, especially urban parks.

Website/blog: Staff Profile