Talk at Bath Spa University, College of Liberal Arts

Talk at Bath Spa University, College of Liberal Arts

On the 8th of May 2017, I went right from school to speak at Bath Spa University at their College of Liberal Arts, at the end of their Nature and Wellbeing Conference. I talked about Camp Avalon, my Race Equality in Nature Conference and about Black2Nature.

It was really interesting to give a talk to academics who had been talking about the connection of nature with wellbeing but probably from a completely white perspective. Though Dr Samantha Walton who had organised the conference had been talking to us at Black2Nature about the issues and I spoke at a mini-festival called Landscape and Change organised by her in Bristol, so hopefully she had been able to share some of my ideas already.

There were plenty of questions and interest in what I was talking about and I really felt that my talk triggered a real “lightbulb moment” amongst the people listening. There was also time to talk afterwards, which was also really interesting. It was fascinating to talk to Philippa Forsey from Creativity Works in Radstock near Bath, close to where we live. She had met Mum loads of times in her work to do with mental health and had heard Mum mention me (as well as one of her colleagues who had done a series of creative writing sessions with me and my class at primary school) but thought she was just a proud mum and came over to say how amazing she thought I was and it was lovely that she knew mum too.

Stephen Moss was a lecturer within this department but was away in Peru, it was a shame not to meet him again. The event really inspired me to get writing even more, so you never know, you might see a book from me one day! Thanks to Dr Samantha Walton for organising the event and inviting me to speak.

About The Author

Hi, I’m Dr. Mya-Rose Craig. I am a 19-year-old prominent British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, environmentalist, diversity activist as well as an author, speaker and broadcaster. At age 11 I started the popular blog Birdgirl, and at age 17 I became the youngest person to see half of the birds in the world.

Buy My Book

Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood

This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.

Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood

This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.

Find Out More

To find out more about working with me or to buy my book, please use the links below.

Work With MeBuy Book

Speaking at the Bath Spa University Landscape and Change Festival

Speaking at the Bath Spa University Landscape and Change Festival

On 25 February 2017, I was on a panel speaking at the Bath Spa University English Department one day micro-fest Conference, Landscape and Change Festival.

The conference was made up of lots of different academics and artists, such as poets and writers from around the country. This is a link to the Eventbrite listing http://bit.ly/2qhy1yI.

Speakers:
11.30 – 12.45 Panel 1. Activism, Education, Community
Introduction
Madhu Krishnan (academic, University of Bristol)
Jess Tamsin (organiser, Protestival)12.45 – 13.30 Lunch13.30 – 15.00 Panel 2. Nature, Ecology, Engagement
Mya-Rose Craig (Birdgirl, Black2Nature)
Lila Matsumoto (poet and researcher, University of Nottingham)
J.R. Carpenter (artist, writer, researcher, performer)

15.15 – 16.45 Panel 3. History, Memory, Creativity
Olivette Otele (historian, Bath Spa University)
Edson Burton (poet and historian, Bristol) Tony White (author, Piece of Paper Press)

17.00-18.00 Panel 3. Publishing, Small Press
Lily Green (No Bindings press)
Sarah Hayden (poet, University of Southampton)
Camilla Nelson (poet, artist and researcher)

I spoke about Black2Nature, Camp Avalon and my Race Equality in Nature Conference. The audience were great and were really interested in what I had to say.

The event was organised by Dr Samantha Walton in the English Department.

It was the first time I had been to Hamilton House on Stokes Croft, Bristol even though it was close to my Nanu’s house and down the road from where my mum went to school. It was really brilliant to walk around the area, soak up the graffiti and shop in a vintage shop with charity shop prices; great for me with my love of pre-loved clothing!

Afterwards I heard from Samantha that almost everyone wrote on their feedback forms that I was the highlight of the day. With all these amazing speakers, that was fantastic to hear. Thank you to everyone who was at my talk.

About The Author

Hi, I’m Dr. Mya-Rose Craig. I am a 19-year-old prominent British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, environmentalist, diversity activist as well as an author, speaker and broadcaster. At age 11 I started the popular blog Birdgirl, and at age 17 I became the youngest person to see half of the birds in the world.

Buy My Book

Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood

This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.

Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood

This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.

Find Out More

To find out more about working with me or to buy my book, please use the links below.

Work With MeBuy Book

Article in Cultures of Nature and Wellbeing

Article in Cultures of Nature and Wellbeing

This is an article by Samantha Walton at Bath Spa University about my Camp Avalon weekend camps for young naturalists and BAME young people, Race Equality in Nature Conference in June 2016, Black2Nature and the Green and Black project in Bristol all working to getting more Minority Ethnic people out into nature and engaged with the environmental movement, http://bit.ly/2kCgL7E

I am going to be speaking at Bath Spa University about these projects on Monday 8 May 2017 at 4.30 pm if anyone would like to come.

Young birder Birdgirl Mya-Rose Craig with Bill Oddie at Race Equality in Nature Conference
Stephen Moss at Race Equality in Nature Conference

About The Author

Hi, I’m Dr. Mya-Rose Craig. I am a 19-year-old prominent British-Bangladeshi ornithologist, environmentalist, diversity activist as well as an author, speaker and broadcaster. At age 11 I started the popular blog Birdgirl, and at age 17 I became the youngest person to see half of the birds in the world.

Buy My Book

Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood

This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.

Lyrical, poignant and insightful.’ - Margaret Atwood

This is my story; a journey defined by my love for these extraordinary creatures. Because large or small, brown, patterned or jewelled, there is something about birds that makes us, even for just moments at a time, lift our eyes away from our lives and up to the skies.

Find Out More

To find out more about working with me or to buy my book, please use the links below.

Work With MeBuy Book