Dr Rik Thwaite's interests are eclectic but focus broadly on human aspects of environmental management and conservation. Rik has supervised and undertaken research related to ecotourism, community-based tourism & tourism impacts on communities, including in small mountain communities in Vietnam, Nepal and India, and Indigenous communities in Fiji and East Timor. Rik also has an interest in Australian Indigenous culture and resource management and has engaged in research associated with Indigenous engagement with land management and conservation, & contemporary Indigenous culture.  Rik's research focus includes climate change, particularly rural landholders and their perceptions of, & adaptation responses to, climate change. Rik remains active within the community, engaging in debate over climate change & our responses at local levels, & being a member of numerous committees including being on the board of the Victorian Trust for Nature.

• Human aspects of environmental management and conservation
• Australian indigenous culture and resource management