Rate My Professor Sylvia Nissen

Sylvia Nissen is a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Policy in the Department of Environmental Management at Lincoln University, New Zealand. A political scientist and human geographer, she specializes in civic engagement, environmental politics, and disaster studies. Her research examines how people participate in times of crisis and environmental change, including sudden-onset disasters and slower-moving crises like climate change. Over the past decade, Nissen has investigated various forms of political participation, such as activism, grassroots organizing, and youth politics. Her recent work focuses on public engagement with conservation, biosecurity, genetic technologies, and climate emergency declarations. She holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of Canterbury (2017), an MEnvSc (Research and Coursework) from Monash University (2013), and a BA (Hons) from the University of Canterbury (2011). Prior to her current role, which began in 2018, she served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Canterbury (2017–2018).

Nissen's career includes significant contributions to academic service and teaching excellence. She received the Lincoln University Teaching Award for Early Career in 2019. She serves as a member of the Lincoln University Sustainability Taskforce (2021–present) and the Lincoln University Research Committee (2019–present), as well as contributing to the Faculty of Environment, Society and Design. Her key publications include 'Retrofitting an emergency approach to the climate crisis: A study of two climate emergency declarations in Aotearoa New Zealand' (2021), 'A crisis volunteer ‘sleeper cell’: An emergent, extending and expanding disaster response organisation' (2021), '“A shovel or a shopping cart”: lessons from ten years of disaster response by a student-led volunteer group' (2021, cited 25+ times), 'Student debt and wellbeing: a research agenda' (2019, cited 86 times), and 'Children and young people's climate crisis activism' (2021, cited 69 times). She has co-authored works on student-led volunteering post-Canterbury earthquakes, panic activism in climate movements (2025), and civic legacies of disasters for youth. With over 655 citations on Google Scholar, her research influences discussions on environmental governance, political participation, and crisis response in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally. Nissen co-leads Bioprotection Futures, analyzing New Zealand's biosecurity system for stronger outcomes.