Amanda Wallis

Amanda Wallis is a doctoral candidate in the school of psychology at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, and a visiting Fulbright researcher at the Natural Hazards Center. She is the recipient of the 2018 Fulbright NZ-EQC Award in Natural Disaster Research, and also studies as a student researcher on a New Zealand National Science Challenge: Resilience to Nature’s Challenges Kia manawaroa – Ngā Ākina o Te Ao Tūroa (The Resilience Challenge). Her doctoral research examines the psychological drivers behind disaster preparedness, and the specific role of place attachment in increasing preparedness (with a focus on mitigating and helping actions). Her other research interests include earthquake anxiety, barriers to preparedness and behaviour change, social norms, and social networks. Wallis is also funded by QuakeCoRE (NZ Centre for Earthquake Resilience) and is conducting research on the efficacy of ShakeOut earthquake drills in association with researchers from Geological and Nuclear Science (GNS Science, New Zealand). In 2017, Wallis received her Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science (Honours) degrees in psychology from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.