Dr. Emma Garnett is a sustainability researcher at the University of Oxford, where she investigates approaches to reduce meat consumption and promote sustainable diets. Her research focuses on understanding and overcoming the economic, social, and political barriers to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and conserving natural ecosystems.
Currently working in the Health Behaviours Team at Oxford's Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Dr. Garnett examines various interventions to reduce meat consumption across different contexts. Her previous role as Research Fellow in Sustainable Consumption at the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership (2020-2022) involved working on sustainability in supermarket supply chains through a project funded by Sainsbury's.
Dr. Garnett completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge (2016-2020), where she researched effective interventions to reduce the environmental impact of diets and change consumer behavior. Her doctoral work spanned natural and social sciences, public health, and behavioral psychology, with a particular focus on encouraging plant-based food choices.
Her research has been published in prestigious journals including PNAS, Nature Food, and the Journal of Environmental Psychology, with notable papers examining strategies to increase vegetarian sales in cafeterias and reduce meat consumption. These publications have contributed valuable insights to the field of sustainable consumption.
Dr. Garnett's academic background includes a European Master in Applied Ecology from Kiel University (with distinction) and a BA in Zoology/Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge (First Class). She has also gained practical experience through positions at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and The Nature Conservancy.
Beyond her research, Dr. Garnett maintains an active interest in marine conservation, serving as a volunteer marine researcher at Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre since 2010, where she monitors dolphin and seal populations.