Caitlyn Forster

Caitlyn Forster is an Associate Lecturer at the University of Sydney in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences. She coordinates the Biology of Insects unit and focuses on pollinator behavior, inequalities in citizen science, and taxonomic bias in conservation and education. She holds an MPhil (2018) and PhD (2023) from the University of Sydney, exploring ant behavior and behavioral economics in pollinators.

Her research spans three core themes: (1) pollinator foraging decisions, (2) addressing taxonomic bias in conservation and education, and (3) improving citizen science participation. Recent work includes studies on bumblebee foraging in social contexts, the impact of megafires on pollinators, and leveraging competition to reduce taxonomic biases in citizen science initiatives.

Publications highlight her interdisciplinary approach, combining behavioral ecology with conservation communication. Her 2025 papers in Insectes Sociaux and Current Opinion in Insect Science underscore her contributions to understanding pollinator dynamics under environmental pressures.

As a member of the Sydney Environment Institute and Sydney Institute of Agriculture, she collaborates on projects bridging ecology and education. No scientific awards are listed, though her work has been featured in media discussions about ecological methods and citizen science.