Lizzie Speechley

Lizzie Speechley is an Adjunct Research Fellow at The University of Western Australia's School of Biological Sciences, actively engaged in research and casual teaching. Her work bridges theoretical animal cognition studies with practical wildlife conservation applications, particularly focused on Australian ecosystems.

Education:

• PhD in Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia (2024)
• Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching, The University of Western Australia (2022)
• BSc (Honours) in Zoology, The University of Western Australia (2018)

Dr. Speechley's research program uniquely integrates cognitive science with conservation biology. Her work on the Social Intelligence Hypothesis examines how social environments, particularly aggressive interactions, influence cognitive performance in Western Australian magpies. Simultaneously, she applies cognitive approaches to solve critical conservation challenges, especially regarding feral cat management where traditional control methods have failed. She investigates neophobia in feral cats and develops strategies using associative learning cues and conditioned taste aversion to protect endangered native species.

Her recent publications demonstrate a sophisticated synthesis of meta-analytical approaches, empirical field studies, and practical conservation applications. The research consistently reveals complex relationships between social dynamics and cognitive abilities across different species and contexts.

Scientific Recognition:

• Ada Jackson Irwin Street Commemoration Award in Zoology (2019)
• Aubrey Nicholls Honours Prize in Zoology (2019)
• Finalist in 3MT competition (2019)
• Higher Education Academy Fellowship
• Stuart Leslie Conference Travel Award

Dr. Speechley actively contributes to science education through her teaching practice and as an Arludo Ambassador since 2022, developing game-based approaches to teach science to primary and high school students. Her research has been supported by Birdlife Australia and the Ecological Society of Australia, and she regularly engages with community groups through presentations and collaborative projects.