Doctoral Fellow, 2009-10

Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Philosophy, University of Toronto.

Rachel’s research focuses on environmental ethics and its relationship to both theoretical and applied ecology. Specifically, her dissertation critiques the claim that biodiversity has intrinsic value and offers a justification for conservation based not on the value of biodiversity, but on the value of the welfare of people and other animals. Rachel has taught environmental ethics courses here at the University of Toronto.

Rachel co-produced the weekly program Open Air: Natural History Radio from Newfoundland and Labrador, and her radio pieces about the human relationship with nature have also aired on CBC. She has studied seabirds nesting on islands from Nunavut to Maine.

Rachel earned an M.Sc. from Memorial University for her research on seabirds in Labrador and holds a BA from Middlebury College.