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Karen has been researching and teaching in the area of tourism since obtaining a Masters degree from James Cook University in 1989. She taught tourism at James Cook University for several years before accompanying her husband on a UN Peace Keeping mission to the Middle East. She also lectured in tourism at Charles Darwin University in the Northern Territory for two years.
Following a posting to Malaysia, Karen and her family moved to Brisbane where she worked as a researcher with Professor Roy Ballantyne at the Queensland University of Technology. During this time, she helped to research and design a tour guiding training package as well as a website to teach operators of tourism attractions how to design effective interpretive signs.
Karen joined the UQ School of Tourism's research team in 2005.
Her recent research projects include exploring conservation learning in zoos and wildlife tourism settings; examining visitors’ perceptions of Visitor Information Centres; identifying the navigational and signage needs of drive tourists; and researching visitors' motives, expectations and experiences in Botanic Gardens.
Karen is currently completing a PhD exploring the impacts of post-visit support on families’ conservation learning at wildlife tourism sites. She is also assisting the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding with designing and evaluating their visitor signs.
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