New perspectives on a long-standing environmental challenge
Master of Environmental Studies student Claire Grant (they/them) was inspired to study science to make a difference for their community. Through their studies, they've discovered that while the scientific perspective is crucial, making room for diverse viewpoints can generate more inclusive and sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.
Claire completed their undergraduate studies, a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Biodiversity and Environmental Studies, at the University—enrolling in Environmental Studies despite not knowing much about it.
“I saw Vic offered it and I thought ‘sure I’ll chuck that on as well I guess’, and I enjoyed it so much throughout undergrad that it’s now become the focus of my Master’s.”
While they’d always enjoyed science, excelling at biology in particular, coming to university helped open their eyes to the breadth of areas beyond the natural sciences. Throughout their undergraduate degree they explored Environmental Studies, which combines the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to understand and address environmental issues. When it came time to consider postgraduate options, it was a no-brainer for Claire, who relished the opportunity to “dive super deep” and focus on a topic close to their heart.
“I always knew I wanted to come to university to take my newfound expertise back home and do something with it. I don't see doing a thesis as fulfilling the requirements to get a Master's degree, I see it as doing meaningful research to make change somewhere that I care about.”
Claire hails from the heart of Hawke’s Bay—the small town of Waipawa. “If you’ve driven from Wellington to Napier, you’ve been through it. There's a Foursquare, a fish and chip shop, and a petrol station—and that’s about it,” Claire says.
They’ve had a long-held connection to the region’s Tukituki River. “I very much grew up in, on, and around the river and the communities nearby.”
It’s this same river that’s been at the centre of a contentious environmental debate for over a decade. In 2011, the Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme (RWSS) was proposed to solve the region's drought concerns. The project was to construct a dam in the Tukituki catchment that would create a massive 93 million cubic metre water storage reservoir. However, the proposal quickly became a lightning rod for controversy, pitting economic growth against the environment. After years of heated debate, legal battles, and public scrutiny, the project faced a significant setback in 2017 when the Supreme Court ruled against its implementation. Despite this ruling, some groups have continued to advocate for the scheme's revival, keeping the issue alive in local discourse. There have also been suggestions it could be one of the projects progressed under proposed fast-track legislation.
Claire’s research looks at issues of river management through a queer feminist lens, so they’re exploring alternatives to the dominant narrative around water management, with a particular focus on the RWSS case and the Tukituki River. Their work considers how different communities relate to and use the river and focuses on long-term sustainability rather than just short-term economic gains.
“Something that troubles me about the dam proposal was that it felt predetermined, like it had been decided that was the only option before there was any sufficient exploration of other options or consultation with the public. It was a very command-and-control approach to the river, this Eurocentric, colonial way of understanding the natural world as dominatable. We can control it, and we should control it. But the reality is, there is not one approach that suffices for everyone.”
The key focus of their work is to diversify the conversation—and maybe change the language we use to talk about river management.
“I wondered ‘why are we not thinking about the future of this river any differently?’ That led me to my research into how we can reimagine the future of this river, exploring and welcoming diversity rather than this one-track focus on building a dam, where economics and agriculture are the most important factors.
“I think the most important thing is to have a diversity of people at the table having the conversation about how we relate to things like rivers. And I hope that we can change the language that we use—it’s not about managing, it’s about relating to and caring for.”
While their research focuses on rivers, Claire says there are many different environmental areas that could benefit from a more interdisciplinary approach. They point to climate change as one area where bringing in different perspectives can provide valuable insights.
“We’ve known about climate change for such a long time—people were saying in the ‘60s and ‘70s ‘we can't keep burning fossil fuels because it's going to change the climate.’ We have this huge wealth of science and yet nothing has changed.
“We need to think about it differently, think about why we do things we do, how the systems of society work, and how social justice issues are inherent to environmental issues. Environmental Studies really gives you a way to get your teeth into environmental issues, because it’s interdisciplinary. It doesn’t put nature over there and society over there as two different issues, it brings them together as one. Because you can't have environment without people.”
Keen to pursue your passion for environmental issues and make a lasting impact? Check out our new degree, the Bachelor of Environment and Society.