CAM DTP Fully Funded PhD

British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA); Greater London; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) seeks a PhD researcher to explore how zoo education programmes and spaces foster public connection to nature and drive behaviour change.

The project will apply social science frameworks to audit conservation education interventions across multiple BIAZA zoos, examining equity of access for children, families and under-represented adult communities.

Responsibilities

• Audit conservation education interventions at multiple BIAZA zoos.
• Explore how socioeconomic deprivation impacts equitable access to nature-based learning.
• Co-design and refine educational frameworks alongside BIAZA partners to ensure zoo spaces deliver inclusive, equitable, impactful conservation engagement.

Job description

BIAZA
Surrey Closing date for applications is: 21st Oct 2026
Contact: Cerian Tatchley ([e-mail]) Sector: Research Type: Paid Contract type: Full-time
This PhD will evaluate how UK zoo education programmes and zoo spaces foster public connection to nature and drive behaviour change. Working with British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), the student will apply social science frameworks to audit conservation education interventions at multiple BIAZA zoos. By intersecting visitor outcomes with ESRC poverty databases, the project will map how socioeconomic deprivation impacts equitable access to nature-based learning. The PhD researcher will play a pivotal role in shaping the project's empirical focus by selecting target audiences, ranging from children and families to under-represented adult communities, and determining the key geographic regions they wish to investigate. Through tailored social science methodologies, the researcher will explore how varied local contexts and structural barriers influence public engagement. Ultimately, the candidate will co-design and refine educational frameworks alongside BIAZA partners to ensure zoo spaces deliver inclusive, equitable, impactful conservation engagement.