Rate My Professor Karri Hartley

Dr. Karri Hartley (they/them) is the Kaitiaki Pukapuka / Subject Librarian for the Sciences Division at the University of Otago Library, located in the Science Library, Science III Building, 730 Cumberland Street, Dunedin. In this role, Hartley supports academic staff and students across a range of disciplines including Botany, Zoology, Marine Science, Ecology, Science Communication, Computer and Data Science, Environmental Science, Plant Biotechnology, Wildlife Management, and related fields. They provide expert assistance with research needs, such as navigating library resources, finding scholarly journals and databases, locating theses and conference papers, referencing, and utilizing grey literature. Hartley develops and maintains comprehensive LibGuides for these subjects, offering tailored guidance on information sources, postgraduate resources, writing support, and specialized topics like ecology databases and marine science journals. Additionally, Hartley contributes to library workshops, including sessions on thesis information, referencing (LIBR103), and navigating the library (LIBR101), as well as events like The Thesis Guide via Zoom.

Hartley's academic background is in botany, with studies focused on the plants and environmental history of the subantarctic islands. They hold a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Otago, with previous affiliation from February 2019 to October 2023. Research interests include sub-Antarctic plants, human history and botanical thought in those regions, pasture plant introductions, and climate change implications for ecosystems. Key publications comprise 'Shepherds to the subantarctic: The history and legacy of pasture plant introductions on Campbell Island / Motu Ihupuku, 1895–1931' (2022, co-authored with James Beattie and Janice M. Lord), 'Plants and people in the subantarctic: Weaving the narrative of human endeavour and botanical thought' (2023), 'A tale of two species: Pringlea antiscorbutica and Azorella polaris, sub-Antarctic scurvy remedies' (2024), and 'Climate Change: lessons from Copenhagen and Cancun, and implications for Australia, its regional ecosystems and wildlife' (2011). Hartley also has professional experience in IT, computing, and the e-waste and recycling sector, and helps run the University's Seed Libraries, providing free seeds for growing food.