Sebastian Selge
Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Science
Dipl. Psych.
Personal Details
Email: s.selge@macaulay.ac.uk
Address: The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, AB15 8QH, UK.
Tel: 0049-(0)234-3222678
Research Interests
Theory of social representations
Biological invasions
Public biodiversity discourses
Human-nature relationships
Current Research
Public and scientific views on invasive non-native species
In the project we investigate through qualitative and quantitative social scientific methods how lay-people as well as experts conceptualise biological invasions in general and invasive non-native species in particular. As invasion biologists recognise the considerable role of invasive non-native species in global biodiversity loss, a lack of public buy-in into species control measures remains one of their worries. Attitudes towards invasive non-native species and their management are influenced by personal values as well as perceptions of certain species characteristics. Interestingly, relevant values and species characteristics seem to be the same for lay-people and experts. However, differences in the perception and importance of these occur rather between individuals rather than groups.
Supervisors: Dr Anke Fischer (The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute), Dr René van der Wal (UoA)
Research Grants
University of Aberdeen and RERAD (Rural and Environment Research and Analysis Directorate) Programme 3
Publications
Selge, S. & Fischer, A. (2011). How people familiarise themselves with complex ecological concepts – anchoring of social representations of invasive non-native species. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology, in press.
