Wildlife at the Watering Hole - February 2026 - Mardi Gras edition

Gay animals: the intersection between queer liberation and science

Daphne Willemsen, Neve Kelly, Caitlin Creak and Cody Williams

All science is political. The questions we ask and the assumptions we make are driven by our lived experiences and cultural norms. This Mardi Gras we are looking to the past to see how the research of homosexual behaviour in animals was influenced by the fight for queer liberation. Join us as we talk seagulls, lizards, gorillas, and more and delve into the wild and wonderful world of queer animals. 

Meet our speakers:

Daphne Willemsen (they/them) is a behavioural ecologist who completed a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours at UNSW Sydney and is currently doing a PhD in the Evolution & Ecology Research Centre. They are especially interested in how humans and wildlife live together in urban environments. Daphne spends a lot of time on Gadigal and Bedegal land in Sydney tracking possums, spying on cockatoos, and measuring every tree in Sydney for suitability as wildlife homes. When Daphne is not working, they like hiking, bouldering and learning to juggle.

Neve Kelly (she/her) is a geneticist who has an undergraduate degree with First Class Honours from UNSW Sydney and is currently doing a PhD in the Evolution & Ecology Research Centre. She is interested in how invasive species rapidly evolve to new environments. Her current focus is the common starling, which is listed amongst the top 100 most invasive species in the world! But they seem so lovely, you say? You might rethink that after they take over the world. Neve is passionate about how genetics can help solve everyday problems, like starling invasions and world domination.

Caitlin Creak (she/her) is a behavioural ecologist with a double degree in fine arts photography and biological sciences with First Class Honours, and has almost finished her PhD in the Evolution & Ecology Research Centre at UNSW Sydney. Her graduate research is on the ecology and behaviour of the Sydney funnel-web spider, one of the world’s deadliest spiders but also one of the most interesting. Caitlin lives on Dharug land in Sydney and loves the beach and exploring the natural world around her. She is also an avid science communicator and loves talking about the spectacular lives of spiders.

Cody Williams (he/him) is a marine biologist with a First Class Honours degree in science and Masters from the University of Auckland. Cody is doing a PhD in the Centre of Marine Science & Innovation at UNSW Sydney. He is fixated on seaweed bacteria. Why? Seaweed is critical for the health of the world’s oceans and bacteria helps it grow. It is possible Cody is attempting to save the world. His favourite pub quiz category is "Animal Facts". Did you know jellyfish have retained the same body plan for over 500 million years and were once the apex predators of the sea? Almost as cool as seaweed bacteria.