Dr Rifaee Rasheed

Rifaee (Rify) is an Environmental Social Scientist and Associate Research Fellow in the Blue Carbon Lab at Deakin University. Trained in marine biology and natural resource management studies, Rify researches the social and political dimensions associated with environmental change. Her work focuses on understanding the complexities of how different people and groups deal with contemporary environmental challenges, particularly in marine and coastal settings, and finding ways in which people and communities can live in prosperity without sacrificing nature.

Rify has extensive field-based experience in working with island communities of the Maldives, where she has been lead Social Scientist and Knowledge Broker for atoll ecosystem climate change and marine conservation projects, and consortiums involving government and industry partners. Rify’s work supported the development of marine conservation and climate resilience policies in the country, as well training of local citizen scientists. She was also the founder of the first marine conservation-education festival in Maldives – Moodhu Maa-Kan’du Fest, an initiative aimed at translating climate science to resource users, and fostering community engagement in marine conservation actions.

Rify’s current research at the Blue Carbon Lab involves supporting the development of new nature-based solutions to restore coastal and freshwater wetland ecosystems in Australia. Her research includes assessing the drivers and barriers of landholders to protect wetland ecosystems, and understanding their willingness to adopt coastal wetland restoration initiatives.