Dr. Vanessa Burns is a Lecturer at the University of Sheffield's School of Sociological Studies, Politics and International Relations, specializing in environmental governance and knowledge production. She holds a DPhil in Geography from the University of Oxford, an MA from the University of New South Wales, and a BA from the University of Technology Sydney. Her research examines how ontologies of nature shape environmental knowledge and governance frameworks, with particular focus on decolonizing environmental law and indigenous land management in postcolonial regions. Her research explores: Politics of environmental change and adaptation justice Decolonial approaches to environmental governance Pacific geographies and ocean governance Indigenous knowledge systems and climate resilience Recent publications focus on sustainable agriculture, plant genomics, and starch biosynthesis in wheat, reflecting interdisciplinary approaches to food security and climate adaptation. Her work employs molecular techniques alongside policy analysis to address environmental challenges. Awards & Fellowships: Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (2021-2024) Australian Research Council Funding University Medal Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society She leads the project 'Adaptation and Indigenous Labour' examining climate change adaptation in Pacific sugarcane industries, collaborating with policy stakeholders to develop decolonial frameworks for environmental governance.
