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.
Dr. Greg Halseth, Professor (Geography)
Canada Research Chair in Rural and Small Town Studies
BA (University of British Columbia), MA, PhD (Queen's University at Kingston, 1993)
Rural
and small town social geography; community change/community definition;
conflict between rural and cottage property owners; community economic
development; residential redevelopment in Canadian suburbs; social
geography consequences of economic restructuring in resource towns
Greg Halseth is a Professor in the Geography Program at the University of Northern British Columbia, where he is also the Canada Research Chair in Rural and Small Town Studies and the Acting Director of UNBC’s Community Development Institute. His research examines regional development processes, rural and small town community development, and community strategies for coping with social and economic change, all with a focus upon the northern B.C.’s resource-based towns. The research links place-based and new regionalism theories with the practice of local development in a northern resource hinterland.
He has served on the governing council of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, as a member of the Advisory Committee on Rural Issues for the Federal Secretary of State for Rural Development, the Community Advisory Committee for the BC Ministry of Forests Mountain Pine Beetle Task Force, and is also member of several community and economic development advisory committees as well as a research advisor to a number of non-profit associations interested in rural Canada.
His most recent books include “Building Community in an Instant Town” which talks about Mackenzie and Tumbler Ridge, and “Building for Success” which talks about rural and small town community development and community economic development. His forthcoming books include “A Northern Place: Economic Renewal in Northern British Columbia” as well as an edited volume on the “Next Rural Economies” which includes contributions from 12 OECD countries.
Dr. Neil Hanlon, Associate Professor (Geography) & Geography Program Chair (on leave)
BAA (Ryerson University), MA, PhD (Queen's University at Kingston, 1998)
Health geography; rural and remote health and health care; population
change in resource communities; spatiality of health care practice
I do research in health geography, focusing primarily on the
experiences of formal and informal health service provision in rural
and remote locations. I am involved in a number of funded research
projects looking at the regionalization of health care in northern BC,
household and community-level responses to population aging in
resource-based settings, the spatiality of public health nursing
practice and the dynamics of distance for service provision and
utilization.
I enjoy sharing my interests in the spatial patterning of health and
health care 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. I also offer GEOG 101 (Human Geography) which allows students to explore a wide variety of
socio-cultural issues from a spatial perspective.
Dr. Zoë A. Meletis, Assistant Professor (Geography)
BA (McGill
University), MScPl (University of Toronto), PhD (Duke University, 2007)
Human-environment relations; community & environment; development
& change; place; perceptions of environment & development; tourism
& ecotourism; environmental justice; political ecology; conservation;
coastal development; amenity migration & rural gentrification; consumption;
solid waste management. Regional foci: Latin America (particularly Costa Rica) & the Caribbean, and North
America (particularly coastal Eastern North Carolina).
My work to date
focuses on the following themes: tourism and ecotourism development; local
perceptions of environment and place; consumption (the politics of; the impacts
of; alternative forms of); international development and conservation; and
justice issues related to inadequate planning and environmental
management. It is informed by theory
from a variety of disciplines but draws heavily from geography, related to:
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).
TEACHING
AT UNBCIn Winter 2010, I am teaching:
GEOG303/ORTM433 Recreational Geography
(Tourism, Recreation, & Geography)
ENVS309 Women and Environmental Studies
Dr. Brian Menounos, Associate Professor (Geography)
BA, MA (University of Colorado), PhD (University of British Columbia, 2002)
My research interests include paleoenvironmental
reconstruction, process geomorphology and mountain hydrology.
I
completed a Ph.D 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.
Dr. Catherine Nolin, Associate Professor (Geography)
BA (University of Calgary), MA, PhD (Queen's University at Kingston, 2000)
On sabbatical, 1 January 2010 - 1 January 2011
* 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 206 (Social Geography), GEOG 306 (Geography of International Development), GEOG 309 (Geographies of Migration and
Settlement), and GEOG 426 (Geographies of Culture, Rights, and Power). I often facilitate a
graduate-level Advanced Qualitative Research Methodology course (NRES 798).I organized and facilitated the Geography Field School to Guatemala in May 2004, August 2006, & May 2008.
BSc
(Queen's University in Kingston, Physical Geography), MSc (University
of British Columbia, Physical Geography), PhD (McGill University,
Biology, 1989)
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. Jim Randall, Professor (Geography & Planning)
BA, MA (York University, PhD (University of Washington, Seattle, 1987)
community development; economic and urban geography;
international development; quality-of-life; community-university research;
resource-dependent communities
I have recently returned to teaching fulltime
in Geography, Planning and International Studies after serving for a number of
years in university administrative positions. My research interests combine my professional
roots in economic and urban geography with my recent experiences in
administration as well as fostering community-university research
partnerships. Many of my more recent
research outcomes are as a result of working closely with an excellent group of
researchers drawn from multiple disciplines and organizations, both inside and
outside academia. This includes studies
on the approaches to quality-of-life (QOL) and neighbourhood-specific QOL in
Saskatoon. I am currently
researching the role of community as represented in Canadian university
Collective Agreements. I am also the Canadian Director for an HRSDC Student
mobility contract, partnering with five other universities in
Canada, the
USA
and
Mexico
to encourage student exchanges and develop an integrated curriculum on rural
sustainability.
In 2009-10 I look forward to teaching courses
on international development (GEOG 303-3 crosslisted with INTS 304-3), the
economic geography of northern
British
Columbia (GEOG 322-2) and geography of the world
economy (GEOG 422-3).
Dr. Roger Wheate, Associate Professor/GIS Coordinator
BSc Hons (University of St. Andrews), MA (Queen's University at Kingston), PhD (University of St. Andrews)
Cartography; GIS; remote sensing; map design and use; mapping from satellite image data
Dr.
Wheate's interests cover the application of remote sensing and GIS
across the spectrum of NRES (Natural Resource and Environmental
Studies) faculty areas. His 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.
Jim Windsor, Lecturer (Geography)
BES (University of Waterloo, Hons. Geography), MNRM (University of Manitoba), MPA (Queen's University at Kingston), Certificate in Land Economics (Dalhousie University), Certificate in Intercultural Studies (UBC), PhD (University of Victoria, ABD)
* UNBC Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient, 2008
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.
Dr. Gail Fondahl, Professor (Geography)
UNBC Vice-President, Research (as of Sept
1, 2008)
Legal geography of Russian aboriginal land claims; geographies of reindeer
herding; cultural geography of Upper Fraser Basin
I'm 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.
Lab Instructors
Chris Jackson, Senior Lab Instructor
BSc (University of British Columbia), BEd (University of Western Ontario, 1995)
I joined UNBC's Geography Program in August 2001 after teaching as a
college physical geography sessional, 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.
I'm 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 cuttin g 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.
(Post)colonial geographies, First
Nations and Aboriginal peoples; philosophies of place; creativity; spatial and
material expressions of power; schooling and children's
geographies
Dr. Phil Owens, Associate Professor (Environmental Sciences, UNBC) & FRBC Research Chair in Landscape Ecology
BSc (Coventry Polytechnic, UK), MSc (University of British Columbia), PhD (Physical Geography, University of Exeter, UK, 1994)
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.
Margot Parkes, Assistant Professor (Health Sciences Programs, UNBC)
Canada Research Chair in Health, Ecosystems, and Society
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.
Adjunct Faculty
Dr. Sarah Boon, Assistant Professor
Department of Geography, University of Lethbridge, AB
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.
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
Previous Postdoctoral Fellows:
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
contact Dr. Wright at: 
Chris Jackson, Senior Lab Instructor
