Alana Wheat

Biography

Alana holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and a Master of Arts in Geographical and Environmental Research from Keele University. In 2019, she embarked on a Sustainability Internship journey, concluding as Keele's Sustainability Engagement Officer in 2022 – September 2024. Alana is now on a PhD studentship with the Nature in your Neighbourhood project in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

A passionate advocate for youth activism, nature, and wildlife, Alana played a pivotal role in elevating Keele University to Hedgehog Friendly Campus Platinum status in 2022 and achieving Carbon Literacy Educators Award Bronze for Keele in 2024. She serves as a trustee for Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and the Staffordshire Council of Voluntary Youth Services. Alana is actively supporting initiatives such as the Youth Environmental Service, Young Voices for Nature, Generation Nature, and the Uprising Environmental Leadership Programme.

Research and scholarship

Project title: “Nature In Your Neighbourhood – Community led, evidence-based greenspace recovery”

Supervision: Professor Zoe Robinson, Angie Turner, Dr Adam Moolna

Find out more about the Nature In Your Neighbourhood project: Here and here.

Alana has been a research assistant on the following projects:

E:Mission - a Teaching Innovation Projects Scheme developing a multiplayer text-based game to increase awareness of lifestyle choices' impact on our planet. Part of an interdisciplinary team and collaboration with Iowa State University.

Restorying Riverscapes - exploring the history of the textile industry on the riverscape of the Churnet at Leek, Staffordshire and supporting citizen science to tell a different story about the textile industries environmental impact on the Churnet. Partnered with Fashion Revolution.

Animal Geographies & Citizen Science - a scoping literature review on animals, citizen science and education, whilst also supporting the Pet Theft Reform campaign.

News:
Comment - Green activism a great way to 'change world'
Comment - 'Make a pledge for your own sustainability goal'
Comment - 'We all have a big part to play in helping wildlife' 
Volunteers plant 300 trees on Keele campus to help combat climate change

Teaching

Alana is an Associate Fellow (AFHEA) and a Carbon Literacy Facilitator.

Further information

For further information see the Sustainability at Keele webpages.

If you are interested in getting involved in Sustainability at Keele or being part of the Keele Green Festival, please do contact Alana.