Karen Nairn | |
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 Nairn in 2008 | |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | University of Canterbury , University of Waikato |
| Theses | |
| Academic advisors | Adrienne Alton-Lee, Robert Garth Cant |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | University of Otago |
Karen Marie Nairn is a New Zealand academic,and is a full professor of education at the University of Otago,specialising in youth-centred research.
Nairn was a high school geography teacher interested in environmental issues,before entering academia. [1] Nairn completed a Master of Arts in geography at the University of Canterbury in 1994,and then went on to do a PhD titled Disciplining identities:gender,geography and the culture of fieldtrips at the University of Waikato. [2] [3] Nairn then joined the faculty of the University of Otago,rising to associate professor in 2014 and full professor in 2022. [4] [5]
Nairn's research focus is young people and social movements. Nairn was the lead researcher on a 2017 Marsden grant about young people's engagement in social movements,with collaborators Joanna Kidman,Judith Sligo,and Anita Lacey. [6] This work led to the publication of the book Fierce Hope:Youth Activism in Aotearoa in 2022,which covers youth-led groups working in areas such as indigenous land rights,sexual violence and social inequality. [7] This was the second Marsden grant Nairn has received,having published Children of Rogernomics:A Neoliberal Generation Leaves School in 2012 from an earlier Marsden-funded research project on the impact of neoliberal reform in New Zealand. [5] Nairn has also research the impact of a Year 12 (last year of high school) leadership programme for young women. [5]
Nairn spoke about youth activism and Ihumātao alongside Qiane Matata-Sipu at the 2023 Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival. [8]
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