Faculty
Health geography; rural and remote health and health care; population and social change in resource-dependent communities; spatiality of health care practice
My research interests are in the field of health geography, focusing primarily on formal and informal health service provision in rural and remote locations. I am presently involved in a number of research projects looking at various ways in which processes of health care delivery and place-making interact. These projects include: a longitudinal study of the role of networks and partnerships in bringing about local primary health care transformation and integration; ongoing study of the impacts of distributed medical education programs for recruitment and retention of health professionals in both host and target communities; and an exploratory study of the transformative role of voluntarism and the voluntary sector in aging resource-based communities.
I enjoy sharing my research interests with students at the undergraduate and graduate level. I offer GEOG 308 (Introduction to Medical Geography), which gives students a grounding in the concepts and techniques of health geography. Senior undergraduate and graduate students may also wish to take GEOG 428/628 (Advanced Medical Geography), which requires students to undertake health geography research of their own, either individually or in groups, on mutually agreeable topics.
BA (Spec. single Hons, Swansea University, Geography), MPhil (Reading University, Geography), PhD (University of the Orange Free State, Geology, 1978), DSC (University of Natal, Geography, 2002)
Office: New Lab 8-331Internet: unbc.ca/kevin_hall/
Cold regions; Antarctica; Africa; Tibet; Laboratory simulations; High-frequency data; Zoogeomorphology
Research interests in weathering in cold regions. Studies undertaken in Antarctica, South America, Africa, Tibet and the Arctic. Additional interests in sorted patterned ground and zoogeomorphology. Specialised studies on mechanical weathering processes, especially thermal stress, freeze-thaw, and wetting and drying. Additional studies on biological weathering processes associated with endolithic and chasmolithic organisms. In addition to field studies, computer-controlled laboratory simulations, based on field data, are also undertaken. Special interests in non-destructive ultrasonic testing and the use of micro-transducers with high-frequency data acquisition. Present studies include use of a computer-controlled freezing stage to replicate Antarctic rock temperatures in order to investigate grain-scale thermal conditions through the use of micro-thermocouples set in individual sand grains. Other studies include real time investigations of chemical weathering by means of XRD analysis during thermal and moisture cycling. Investigations of weathering synergies involving chasmo- and endo- lithic organisms and processes are being undertaken.
BA (McGill University), MScPl (University of Toronto), PhD (Duke University, 2007)
- tourism studies, e.g. the tourist gaze, authenticity;
- studies of place and identity, e.g. place-making, destination image creation;
- political ecology of conservation, development and environmental management, e.g. the literature on ‘parks and people’;
- consumption studies: e.g. tourism as a form of consumption, and alternative consumption;
- justice, power, and resistance studies (e.g. regarding marginality and participation in environmental decision-making).
I completed a PhD in the Department of Geography at the University of British Columbia. My dissertation project examined how climate variability influences sediment projection and delivery in the North Pacific region of North America (over event to millennial time scales). This region is well-suited to capture large-scale, ocean-atmospheric variability at inter-annual (e.g., ENSO ) to inter-decadal (e.g., the Pacific Decadal Oscillation-PDO ) frequencies.
I am currently involved in a project with with Dr. John Clague (Simon Fraser University) on documenting the 'Little Ice Age' history of Garibaldi Provincial Park (southern Coast Mountains, BC). My research objectives within the project are aimed at providing an understanding of hydro-climatic variability in southwest British Columbia (SWBC) prior to the instrumental period (pre 1880AD). Natural hazard assessment and prediction, sustainable management of our fisheries, and hydro-electric power generation all require a better understanding of the natural frequencies at which the climate system operates.
I encourage students who wish to investigate topics (undergraduate or graduate) in process geomorphology envronmental reconstruction to contact me.
Internet: unbc.ca/catherine_nolin/
* UNBC Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient, 2007
Transnationalism; international migration; gendered & racialized aspects of political violence; social justice; gender; Central America (Guatemala, in particular); refugee & migrant insecurity; critical development studies
I am interested in exploring the gendered, cultural, and social aspects of population dynamics resulting from immigration and forced migration. Specifically, my research interests focus on the social and cultural geography of Central American political violence and social reconstruction in post-war Guatemala with particular emphasis on the gendered experiences of state-sponsored violence. Additionally, I am interested in transnational migration to Canada, migrant insecurity at the Guatemala-Mexico border, social justice, Indigenous rights, and transnational solidarity.
I am fortunate to be able to closely combine my research and teaching interests. The courses which I regularly offer include: GEOG 209 (Geographies of Migration and Settlement), GEOG 306 (Geography of International Development), and GEOG 426/626 (Geographies of Culture, Rights, and Power). Usually, each Fall semester, I facilitate a graduate-level Advanced Qualitative Research Methodology course (NRES 773).I organized and facilitated the Geography Field Schools to Guatemala in May 2004, August 2006, May 2008, May 2010 & May 2012.
See: http://www.unbc.ca/geography/guatemala_2012/guatemala_2010/index.html
My book, Transnational Ruptures: Gender and Forced Migration (2006), on issues of Guatemalan political violence and forced migration to Canada, was published by Ashgate.
The main focus of my research is the study of the processes and environmental significance of fine grained sediment transfers in water. My research interests involve the movement and storage of fine sediment (< 63 microns) in aquatic systems. I am interested in both the morphology, composition and quality of the sediment and the environmental effects it has on the aquatic system. I work in both river and lake systems and have in the past done some work in marine environments.
Recent research has included: 1) the influence of forest harvesting on sediment yields to British Columbian lakes; 2) the transport and storage of fine sediments in highly productive fish bearing streams; 3) the role of organic matter in the morphology and settling characteristics of freshwater flocs; and 4) phosphorus budgeting in a northern residential eutrophic lake.
The courses which I deliver include Geography 100 - Environments and People, Geography 311 - Concepts in Geomorphology, Geography 405 - Fluvial Geomorphology and Biology 302 - Limnology.
Dr. Wheate's interests cover the application of remote sensing and GIS across the spectrum of NRES (Natural Resource and Environmental Studies) faculty areas. Dr. Wheate's main focus lies in the integration of the geomatic sciences, cartographic output, feature extraction and terrain visualisation; special interests include mountain cartography and glacier mapping using remote sensing.
Water resources, especially of water management and water export; resource geography and resource management; geography of Canada; cultural geography; economic geography; “sense of place”; the geography of food security and food sovereignty
I was, for many years, a civil servant in several provinces in Canada and in Botswana, Africa. I retain a research interest in many areas, especially in water management. A more recent interest, however, lies in the areas of food security and food sovereignty and, especially, the role played by CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) and SHE LETS (Self Help Economy – Local Enterprise Trading Systems) in providing such food security.
However, my principal interests lie in teaching and being the best teacher that I can be. Like Plutarch, I believe that the mind is “not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled." I believe that students must be inspired, their intellects challenged and their horizons expanded. In my classes, I emphasize critical thinking skills. I see the purpose of higher education to be (as the old adage says) “to calm the disturbed and to disturb the calm.” I also strive to induce, in my students, a healthy sense of “caveat lector;” to become what Neil Postman has called “good crap detectors.” This can be done, inter alia, by introducing to students what theologians call “the hermeneutics of suspicion.” I believe that developing a capacity for independent thought in students is essential to their education.
On Administrative Leave starting August 2012
Legal geography of Russian aboriginal land claims; geographies of reindeer herding; cultural geography of Upper Fraser Basin
I am interested in the legal geographies of aboriginal land rights and land claims in the Russian North. My research looks into both the changing spaces that legal reforms permit; and the materialization of those spaces as the new laws are invoked, interpreted and implemented. I have also initiated research on evolving co-management strategies among reindeer herders, especially in areas where protected areas are being created. Closer to home, the changing cultural landscapes of the Upper Fraser River Basin fascinate me, and I hope to pursue more research on issues of ethnicity in these (former) saw-mill communities. I've also enjoyed working with the Tl'azt'en Nation regarding historical and current land use issues.
Chris Jackson,I joined UNBC's Geography Program in August 2001 after teaching as a college physical geography sessional instructor, preceded by several years working outside academia in museum education, science and technology community development, and education. My background also includes assisting with a number of atmospheric research projects and work with UBC as a Lab Demonstrator. I am interested in improving understanding of the natural environment through applied learning and maintain a strong interest in education through work with the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund's Wild BC Education programs.
Iam currently responsible for instruction in second year Earth Science labs in the Geography, Forestry and Environmental Science programs at UNBC: GEOG 210 (Geomorphology), FSTY 205 (Forest Soils), and ENVS 201 (Atmospheric Science).
I am interested in various computer science and GIS subjects, specially the cutting edge technology applied in Geographic Information Systems both theoretical and practical. I have been studying software development in graphic user interface design, web development and also the new development environment for GIS. I am also teaching computer science courses like GUI design, C++, Java, Visual Basic and so on. Currently, I am doing GIS related labs, labs development, new software for GIS and some research projects related to GIS.
GEOG 300 which is particularly useful for those students who like to work in GIS field or want to know something about GIS. This course is also very helpful for those who like to use GIS as tools for performing analysis, modeling real world in natural resources, planning and many other areas.
Internet: unbc.ca/northern_medical_program/staff.html
(Post)colonial geographies, First Nations and Aboriginal peoples; philosophies of place; creativity; spatial and material expressions of power; schooling and children's geographies
Effect of landscape disturbance (e.g. forestry, agriculture, mining, urbanization, wildfire, climate change) on the behaviour, fluxes and fate of water, sediment and chemicals in the environment at a range of time and space scales; development of appropriate information and advice for improved management of land and water resources.
Dr. Parkes came to UNBC in October 2009 from UBC where she was with the Department of Family Practice and College of Health Disciplines. Dr. Parkes comes to northern BC to examine the effect of changing ecosystems of the health and well-being of communities, with a focus on water as a common resource for livelihoods, food security, culture, and economies.
Don is a Research Associate on the Canada Research Chair’s (Dr. Halseth) Rural and Small Town Studies Team.
Areas of interest include; citizen participation, sustainable communities, healthy communities and the economic history of northern British Columbia.
Dr. Eric Mellina,
New Zealand Ministry of Fisheries,
Box 1020, 101-103 The Terrace,
Wellington, New Zealand
BSc, MSc (McGill University), PhD (The University of British Columbia)
Email: mellina@interchange.ubc.ca
Eric is a freshwater ecologist from the University of British Columbia working as a scientist with the NZ Ministry of Fisheries. He started out working on the ecology of aquatic invasive species during his undergraduate years at McGill University in Montreal, investigating factors influencing the abundance and distribution of zebra mussels in various lentic and lotic water bodies, as well as their impacts on phosphorus cycling in lake ecosystems. His PhD and post-doctoral years at UBC were spent assessing of the impacts of riparian forest harvesting practices on stream habitat and on the physiology and behaviour of stream-dwelling rainbow trout in northern BC. Most recently, his role as a Principal Scientist with the NZ Ministry of Fisheries has led to his involvement in different aspects of marine ecology and fisheries management issues, including interactions between commercial fishing operations and protected species (seabirds and marine mammals), the effects of fishing on marine benthic ecosystems, and the effects of land-based activities on coastal ecosystems. He is also responsible for the Aboriginal research portfolio, providing scientific advice and guidance to help the Māori of New Zealand conduct the type of research needed to help maintain their customary traditions and to contribute to fisheries management decisions.
Mr. Peccerelli's most recent accomplishment is the construction of one of the first functioning DNA Labs in Guatemala that focuses on genocide cases. Mr. Peccerelli is also the recipient of the New York Academy of Sciences 2008 Heinz R. Pagels Human Rights Award and the 2012 ALBA/Puffin Award for Human Rights Activism.
Dr. Rex's research interests focus on fish-forestry interactions including riparian zone management, mountain pine beetle infestation effects on hydrology, as well as nutrient retention and cycling in salmon-bearing streams.
Mr. Russell has over 20 years of experience working on development, human rights, environmental justice and disaster relief issues in Latin America - mainly Central America and southern Mexico. Mr. Russell lived for over 10 years in various countries in Central America and in southern Mexico.
Mr. Russell’s work is that of: a human rights lawyer; director of a not-for-profit development, human rights, disaster relief & environmental protection organization (Rights Action); educator; activist.
Mr. Russell has extensive experience educating about issues of teaching popular education courses in Latin America; publishing articles and reports; giving public presentations; planning and teaching delegation-seminar trips to Guatemala, Honduras, Chiapas, Oaxaca & Nicaragua; planning and teaching 20-hour courses on “Latin America, Human Rights & Globalization” to North American ‘semester-abroad’ college students in Costa Rica.
MSc University of Calgary, 2004
PhD University of British Columbia, 2010
Office: Lab 4-256
Phone: 250-960-5429
Research Interests: Regional scale glacier melt modelling, glacier boundary layer processes, glacier mass balance, snow and ice hydrology, alpine climatology. Post-doctoral research, to be conducted jointly with Brian Menounos (UNBC), and R. Dan Moore (UBC; www.geog.ubc.ca/~rdmoore), will examine:
- Near-real time monitoring of snowline retreat for hydrologic model testing, and analysis of historic snow depletion curves and discharge in glaciated and non-glaciated basins
- Modelling the response of stream temperatures to glacier recession
- Dr. Neil Williams (PhD 2005 University of Exeter, UK), 2007-2008
- Dr. Tobias Bolch (PhD 2006 University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany), 2007-2008
- Dr. Deborah Thien (PhD 2005 University of Edinburgh, Scotland), 2006
- Dr. Catherine Nolin (PhD 2000 Queen's University, Canada), 2001
