"Deep learning occurs when students feel connected and engaged - to course content, each other, and the wider society."
Academic Career – Journey and Motivation...
When I think of my academic journey, I often think of a river. Not just a metaphorical river, but an actual river in Aotearoa New Zealand where I worked as a riversurfing guide for many years. This experience not only inspired me to pursue a PhD examining psychological experiences of adventure sports, but it also represents the dynamic, uncertain, challenging, and rewarding nature of the academic path. Just as a river is formed from many tributaries, my journey was informed by a desire to engage in every physical activity I was offered - from rugby to badminton, unicycling to figure skating, and finally a lifelong love of football (soccer). After graduating from university with a degree in Psychology, I moved to Queenstown New Zealand, where I discovered the myriad benefits and joys of nature-based sports. Arguably, these outdoor experiences, and playing football for over 30 years, have had the most significant impact on my academic endeavours and continue to motivate my passion for research on adventure and well-being.
My Research – Passion and Discoveries
My research, teaching and service are deeply entwined and all focus on bridging theory and practice to enhance individual or community wellbeing, in two key areas:
1) Understanding how adventure can enhance psychological wellbeing in tourism, sport/recreation, and education contexts;
2) Developing regenerative tourism models, tools, and measurements that translate this emerging paradigm into destination practices and government policy.
What particularly inspires me about my current research in regenerative tourism is the opportunity to have a significant real-world impact on tourism policy and practices. For example, this line of research has informed current New Zealand tourism policy discussions and documents, and the annual New Zealand Tourism Policy School focus - our leading forum for the Tourism Minister and leading government policy makers to engage with industry, academics, and other stakeholders. It has been incredibly rewarding to see how this research can be translated to inform meaningful, positive change at a national level.
Personal Insights – What Drives Me
My teaching journey began on a river, in a rubber suit. As a river guide, my job entailed quickly training international groups, with disparate skills and knowledge, to safely navigate rapids on a bodyboard. I quickly learned what did (or did not) support learning. These experiences have informed my teaching philosophy across diverse contexts and institutions. My teaching is informed by both practical experiences (e.g., adventure guiding, coaching) and theories of intrinsic motivation and engagement (e.g., Flow Theory, Self-Determination Theory). Increasing changes to teaching delivery, student attendance, and rapid AI advances, have reaffirmed my belief that our greatest value as educators lies in offering students compelling reasons to be present and engage in learning that cannot be replicated digitally. Deep learning occurs when students feel connected and engaged - to course content, each other, and the wider society. Therefore, my teaching approach and practices are grounded in cultivating engagement, connection, collaboration, autonomy/choice, and meaning by offering personally-relevant, interactive learning experiences.
Innsbruck – City and Inspiration
I am looking forward to being in Innsbruck because it gives me an opportunity to: work with long-time colleagues Anika Fruehauf and Martin Kopp; meet new researchers in the Department of Sport Science and learn about their research areas; and explore the amazing natural areas and activities of Tyrol!
Perspectives – Views on Academia
Interdisciplinary collaboration in academic research is critically important because it offers new ways of looking at issues and creats much richer, more relevant research. Being able to see things from other disciplinary perspectives, and cultural perspectives, allows for much richer insights than working in silos. I really enjoy the opportunity to work across disciplines on real world issues to create practical solutions. Any time you want to understand interactions between humans and their environments, interdisciplinary research is critical.
