Yolanda van Heezik

Yolanda van Heezik is a New Zealand academic and a professor of zoology at the University of Otago. She is considered one of New Zealand's first urban ecologists.

In 1988 van Heezik completed a PhD at the University of Otago in animal biology, writing her thesis on penguin ecology. Her research is focused on birds and other wildlife in urban areas, and biodiversity of gardens. She also researches and writes about children's connections with nature.

Personal life She married fellow Otago Zoology Ph.D. graduate Phil Seddon prior to moving to Saudi Arabia. They have a son who was born in 1997.

Selected works

Book Saint Jalme, M., van Heezik, Yolanda, Paillat, P., & Eichaner, X. (2001). Propagation of the houbara bustard van Heezik, Yolanda, & Freeman, Claire (2018). Children, Nature and Cities: Rethinking the Connections.

Journal articles