Beverley Rae Clarkson is a

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

botanist Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek wo ...

ecologist Ecology () is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere level. Ecology overlaps wi ...

and

wetland A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The ...

researcher and conservationist. She is best known for her research into and her conservation work with New Zealand wetlands. In 2021, the city of

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilt ...

awarded her the Hamilton-Kirikiroa Medal. In the same year Clarkson was awarded the New Zealand conservation award, the

Loder Cup The Loder Cup is a New Zealand conservation award. It was donated by Gerald Loder, 1st Baron Wakehurst in 1926 to "encourage and honour New Zealanders who work to investigate, promote, retain and cherish our indigenous flora". The Minister of Co ...

Early life and education

Clarkson's interest in botany was sparked and supported by her parents with both her mother and father teaching her about botany, taking her on trips into the bush to study and collect plants. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in 1974 from the

University of Waikato The University of Waikato ( mi, Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato), is a Public university, public research university in Hamilton, New Zealand, Hamilton, New Zealand established in 1964. An additional campus is located in Tauranga. The university perfo ...

. She then attended the Christchurch College of Education, earning a Diploma in Education in 1977. She subsequently returned to the University of Waikato, obtaining a Masters of Science in 1980 and a PhD in 2005. Her doctoral thesis was titled ''Restiad bog development and nutrient dynamics of the dominant species''.

Botany and conservation work

Clarkson works for

Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research is a New Zealand Crown Research Institute whose focus of research is the environment, biodiversity, and sustainability. History Manaaki Whenua was originally part of the Department of Scientific and Industr ...

as a senior researcher in plant ecology. While working with Manaaki Whenua she established the New Zealand National Wetland Database which facilitates research into New Zealand wetlands. Clarkson is also an honorary lecturer at the University of Waikato. Clarkson is a member and has served on the committee of the New Zealand Botanical Society. She is also a member of the Waikato Conservation Board, the International Mire Conservation Group and the International Society of Wetland Scientists. She is a member and a founding trustee of the National Wetland Trust.

Conservation activism

Clarkson is a nationally renowned and vocal advocate for the conservation of New Zealand's wetlands. With the National Wetland Trust, she educates and raises public awareness about New Zealand wetlands through field days, restoration projects, meetings and conferences, as well as providing policy advice to both local and central government. She counts as one of her main achievements the inclusion of her research on wetlands into the 2020 document outlining the Labour Government’s Essential Freshwater Reforms.

Botanical writing

She is a prolific researcher and writer of scientific journal articles and has compiled the handbook on the restoration of New Zealand wetlands. She also edited the New Zealand Botanical Society newsletter. She collects botanical specimens, some of which are held at

Te Papa The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is New Zealand's national museum and is located in Wellington. ''Te Papa Tongarewa'' translates literally to "container of treasures" or in full "container of treasured things and people that spring fr ...

Awards

In 2020, Clarkson received the Kudos Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2021 Clarkson was awarded the Hamilton-Kirikiroa Medal by the city of Hamilton. This award recognised her work as an internationally renowned scientist, ecologist and conservationist. Also in 2021 Clarkson was awarded the Loder Cup, a national conservation award. This award was presented to Clarkson in April 2022.

Family

Clarkson is married to botanist and academic Bruce D. Clarkson.

Selected works

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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clarkson, Beverley 20th-century New Zealand women scientists Living people Academic staff of the University of Waikato Year of birth missing (living people) New Zealand women botanists University of Waikato alumni 20th-century New Zealand botanists 21st-century New Zealand botanists