About
Arjun is a final year PhD candidate in the department of Sociology, Social Policy, and Criminology. He is the Student Officer representing the Faculty of Social Sciences.
Research
Research groups
Research interests
- Consumer Attitudes and Behaviours
- The Illegal Wildlife Trade
- Animal Welfare and Species Justice
- Empathy to Animals
Current research
Arjun's research looks at user-end demand for wild animal products sourced from the illegal wildlife trade. Specifically, consumer demand for luxury fashion products made from exotic skins such as crocodiles, alligators, snakes and lizards.
Undertsanding the attitudes, behaviours, intentions, and traits of a consumer of wild animal made products is vital to implement cultural change and lessen the demand for these products.
Arjun studies techniques of neutralisation, narcissism, empathy, and consumer awareness of biodiversity loss and how these factors influence the purchase intention of a consumer.
Publications
Teaching
Arjun has demonstrated in the departments of Political Science and International Relations, Biology, and Social Statistics and Demography.
With his background in Psychology, Environmental Studies, Geography, Biology, and Public Policy he is comfortable teaching in both Social Sciences and Life Sciences.
Biography
Arjun's BA is from The George Washington University (2013) in Psychology and Environmental Studies. He also holds a MA in Public Policy and a MSc in Conservation Biology & Sustainable Development from the University of Maryland College Park (2017).
Prior to joining the University of Southampton Arjun assisted in establishing the first conservation breeding program and center for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India. He worked closely with the Indian Government as an employee of the Wildlife Institute of India.
While pursuing his undergraduate degree he was a Zoo Keeper Aide at the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Here he worked with several different species of birds specialising on the husbandry and management of large birds such as bustards, emus, cassowaries, rheas, and kiwis.
He has also worked for organisations such as The Jane Gooddall Institue and The Humane Society of the United States.
His passion in life is to do as much as he can for animal welfare and to eventually help create policy that protects animal species the world over.
When he is not researching Arjun enjoys writing, painting, and being in nature.