For over a decade, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | Ҷֱ (UC) has researched the effectiveness of biodiversity offsetting and compensation schemes, influencing national environmental policy and serving as an expert witness in Environment and High Court cases.
Now, she’s bringing that expertise into the classroom,and has redesigned her second-year Practical Environmental Science and Management course assessments to mirror the complex task of writing Environment Court evidence – a skill she describes as "one pinnacle of environmental science".
“Rather than simply teaching theory, this course puts students in the role of environmental consultants evaluating ecological evidence against planning requirements – a fundamental skill for those hoping to influence environmental decisions,” says Professor Brower. “Writing evidence is a real challenge for many students, because it draws on multiple disciplines including ecology, policy, law, and communication which is very different to what most scientists are used to. I developed this assignment and set of workshops to teach students what I wish I had known when I first entered the field.”
Students work with a fictional scenario about a development project's potential impact on threatened species. The assignment is structured across four staged workshops, where students evaluate ecological evidence against the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity (NPSIB), under the Resource Management Act (RMA).
Professor Brower says that while analysing the evidence, the students learn to spot "hooks" – key points that connect scientific evidence to legislative requirements that decision-makers use to grant or refuse consent.
“If students want to make a difference in the world, they need to understand these hooks and be able to find them in planning instruments and legislation. We're not just teaching facts – we're giving students the experiences and skills to think critically about that information and apply it in real-life scenarios.
“Their job is to write Environment Court evidence as a planner comparing the ecology evidence to the standards set by legislation.”
Professor Brower says that even skilled scientists need to understand how to link evidence to legal requirements, or their work risks being ineffective. The course, she added, equips students with the critical thinking and practical skills to apply science in real-world decision-making.
Bachelor of Environmental Science (Hons) student and course teaching assistant Matilda King completed the course in 2023 and says it has provided a valuable foundation for a career in endangered species conservation.
“The course provided a really good understanding of environmental policy and plans, and how these feed into environmental science and the decisions made. I enjoyed putting the content into action for the assignment, which also covered content not covered in any other courses, such as wildlife management plans, RMA, farm planning, teamwork and research skills.”
The course also includes a field trip to Kaitorete Spit, where students undertake field sampling – a highlight for King.
“Going on the fieldtrip to Kaitorete Spit provided a unique opportunity to explore new places and new ecosystems and learn through different perspectives. It also inspired my love for the unique environment out there which has informed my honours project this year, investigating interactions between mice, grass skinks and predator control at Kaitorete Spit.
“I think it is super important as environmental scientists to learn and recognise the role that policy and resource management plays in our careers to ensure we protect and conserve our environment correctly.”
Innovation in environmental research and teaching has always been a strong focus for Professor Brower. In 2022 she won Te Apārangi Royal Society Charles Fleming Award for Environmental Achievement, for the protection of the New Ҷֱ environment. In the same year she also won the UC Innovation Medal for her work on the Crown Pastoral Land Reform Bill, making her one of the few environmental scientists who has helped protect 5% of Aotearoa New Ҷֱ's landmass.
