As a conservation psychologist and architect, my work focuses on developing new knowledge about the role of social out-of-home experiences in the understanding of self in relation to the environment and how to nurture positive contributions to democratic decision-making in society. I have been actively involved in the development of museums, zoos and aquariums, studied conservationists emotional experience of environmental degradation, conservation management as an instrument for promoting skills in democratic management of natural resources, and studied American beliefs and values surrounding pressing environmental issues. Recently, my research has helped to advance knowledge about how collective environmental identities, volunteerism, and environmental activism are nurtured in groups. My identity research has helped to develop mediation strategies for addressing theological conflicts with conservation exhibits, and contributed to exhibition strategies that minimized tensions surrounding conflicting worldviews about evolution and the results of recent animal cognition research.
Bruni, C., Fraser, J., & Schultz, P. W. (2008). The Value of Zoo Experiences for Connecting People with Nature. Visitor Studies 11(2).139-150.
Clayton, S., Fraser, J. & Saunders, C. D. (2008). Zoo experiences, conversations, connections and concern for animals. Zoo Biology (published in advance online) 1-21. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/110493966/issue
Fraser, J. (2007). Living in Fear: Leaving the Person out of Personal Stories. Curator, the Museum Journal 50(4),375-377.
Fraser, J. (2006). Group Identity, Protest and Evolution Exhibits in America, Museums and Social Issues 1(1),85-100.
Fraser, J., Bicknell, J., Sickler, J., & Taylor, A. (2009). What Information Do Zoo & Aquarium Visitors Want on Animal Identification Labels? Journal of Interpretation 14(2),7-19.
Fraser, J., Clayton, S., Sickler, J., & Taylor, A. (2009). Belonging at the zoo: Retired volunteers, conservation activism and collective identity. Aging and Society 29(1) (In press).
Fraser, J., Condon, K., & Gruber, S. (2008). Belonging at the zoo: Retired volunteers, conservation activism and collective identity. Tourism Review International 11(3), 279-293.
Fraser, J., Heimlich, J. E., & Yocco, V. (2010). Report Number 20100226: American beliefs associated with increasing children's opportunities for experiences in nature. Edgewater, MD: Institute for Learning Innovation.
Fraser, J., Reiss, D., Boyle, P., Lemcke, K., Sickler, J., Elliot, E., Newman, B., & Gruber, S. (2006). Dolphins in popular literature and media. Society and Animals 14(4),321-349.
Fraser, J. & Sickler, S. (2009). Measuring the Cultural Impact of Zoos and Aquariums. International Zoo Yearbook 42(1). (in press)
Fraser, J., & Sickler, S. (2008). Conservation Psychology: Who Cares About the Biodiversity Crisis? In Fearn, E. (ed) State of the Wild, 2008, Washington DC: Island Press. pp. 206-212.
Fraser, J., Taylor, A., Johnson, E. & Sickler, J. (2008). The relative credibility of zoo-affiliated spokespeople for delivering conservation messages. Curator, the Museum Journal 51(4), 407-418.
Fraser, J. & Wharton D. (2007). The Future of Zoos, Curator, the Museum Journal 50(1), 41-54.
Fraser, J., Wilkie, D., Wallace, R., Copplillo, P., McNab, R., Zahler, P., Painter, L., & Buechsel, I. (2008). The Emergence of Conservation NGOs as Catalysts for Local Democracy, In Manfredo, M., Decker, D., Vaske, J. & Brown, P. (eds) Wildlife and Society: The Science of Human Dimensions, Washington DC: Island Press. pp 44-56.
Mertens, D., Fraser, J. & Heimlich, J. E. (2008). Gender, identity, and the transformative paradigm. Museums & Social Issues 3(1), 81-92.
