Janet Watson

Environmental Science

Janet Watson

B.App.Sci., Grad.Dip.Ed.

Lecturer in Environmental Science
Port Macquarie
Building 802

Janet has been lecturing in Environmental Science at Charles Sturt University since 2016. With a background in science and horticulture, Janet worked with the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and volunteered with the Australian Plants Society until moving to NSW. Returning to the workforce after maternity leave, she retrained in teaching (secondary science, marine studies, and agriculture) at the University of New England. As an environmental educator, she has spent much of her recent career teaching at Charles Sturt University and with the North Coast Education Team for National Parks and Wildlife Service. Janet has been a volunteer with local environmental groups for over 20 years, and currently sits on the committees of the Port Macquarie Landcare Group and the Friends of Kooloonbung Creek Nature Park

Janet has a passion for teaching and in particular environmental education. Her current teaching areas at Charles Sturt University include spatial science/geography subjects in Environmental Science and scientific communication/methodology in Paramedicine. She is also a tutor with First Nations Student Connect. Janet is NESA accredited for Biology, Chemistry, and Earth and Environmental Science. Past teaching areas at Charles Sturt University have included Outdoor Recreation and Ecotourism, and Pathways literacy and numeracy. Janet has been conducting guided interpretive tours to school students, public and special interest groups in botanic gardens and national parks since 1995. Over this time, she has embraced digital technologies and active learning strategies to engage the next generation of learners and citizen scientists.

Janet is yet to have any research published but has interests in the biodiversity of flora and fauna in the Port Macquarie region. Through affiliations with Charles Sturt University, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Landcare and Koala Conservation Australia she is involved with the conservation of threated species through awareness and education strategies; particularly post 2019/20 bushfires and with the escalating effects of climate change.