Emily Parke

Emily Parke is a Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She holds a BA from Reed College and a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, with research focusing on intersections between philosophy of science/biology and microbiology, astrobiology, and Aotearoa-specific inquiries. Her work bridges theoretical philosophy with applied ethics in conservation and synthetic biology.

Education:

• B.A., Reed College
• PhD in Philosophy, University of Pennsylvania (2015)

Research interests include microbiome causality, definitions of life, Indigenous knowledge integration with science, and ethical dimensions of ecological restoration. She serves as Associate Editor for Biology & Philosophy and is part of Te Ao Mārama—Centre for Fundamental Inquiry's executive committee.

Teaching spans undergraduate and graduate courses in philosophy of biology, astrobiology, and critical thinking. Notable courses include Philosophy of Biology, Astrobiology, and Dialogues in Biology. Recent publications emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to origins of life research and ethical challenges in conservation initiatives like Predator Free New Zealand.