Courtney Addison

Courtney Addison is a Senior Lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington's School of Science in Society, where she bridges Anthropology and Science and Technology Studies (STS) through ethnographic and qualitative research methods. Her work explores the social fabric of science and medicine, examining how people realize social commitments, navigate power relations, and create meaning through scientific practice.

Dr. Addison completed her PhD at the University of Copenhagen and holds Masters and BA degrees in Anthropology from the University of Auckland. Her educational background reflects her interdisciplinary approach that combines anthropological theory with science studies.

• PhD, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
• MA, University of Auckland, New Zealand
• BA (Hons), University of Auckland, New Zealand
• BA, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Her research spans environmental anthropology, medical anthropology, and science studies, with current projects examining 1080 toxin use in conservation, pharmaceutical information pathways, and communications about Covid-19. Addison's work investigates how scientific research shapes environmental decisions, how people interpret health information, and the multispecies relations at stake in conservation efforts.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on the social dimensions of science and technology, with increasing attention to environmental issues in Aotearoa New Zealand. Her work demonstrates how scientific knowledge is co-produced through social relations, with particular emphasis on conservation practices, medical decision-making, and the politics of environmental toxins.

Dr. Addison serves as editor of Science, Technology and Human Values (2022-2025) and has received research funding from the Royal Society of New Zealand and the Health Research Council of New Zealand for her projects on 1080 pest control and pharmaceutical information pathways.

She actively supervises doctoral and masters students working on topics including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME, human-dog-kiwi relations, local hunting cultures, and environmental activism. Her supervision portfolio reflects her commitment to supporting research that bridges social theory with practical environmental and medical concerns. Dr. Addison also serves on the Association of Social Anthropologists of Aotearoa New Zealand committee and regularly conducts peer review for multiple journals and publishers.

Her research is conducted through collaborative projects that examine the intersections of science, society, and environment, particularly through her Marsden Fast Start project on 1080 toxin use and her Health Research Council-funded work on pharmaceutical information pathways.