Please contact us with any questions regarding the Department of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences at UNBC. We look forward to hearing from you.
Department Chair
Halseth, Dr. Greg
PhD, MA (Queen's University at Kingston, 1993); BA (University of British Columbia)
Biography
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 founder and Co-Director of the UNBC Community Development Institute.
Departmental Coordinator
Nolin, Dr. Catherine
PhD, MA (Queen's University at Kingston); BA Geography (University of Calgary)
Biography
I am a social geographer with two broad areas of research interest that connect in many ways and often overlap: Guatemala/Violence/Development/Justice and Migration/Transnationalism/Refugee Studies.
Faculty
Adesanya, Dr. Theresa
PhD, MSc (University of Manitoba)
Research and expertise
Bevington, Alexandre
PAg, MSc (University of Ottawa)
Research and expertise
Déry, Dr. Stephen
BSc, MSc (Atmospheric Science - York University), PhD (Atmospheric Science - McGill University)
Research and expertise
Hanlon, Dr. Neil
BAA (Ryerson University), MA, PhD (Queen's University at Kingston, 1998)
Hawkins, Dr. Adam
PhD (UNBC), BSc (Western Washington University)
Research and expertise
Islam, Dr. Siraj Ul
PhD, Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (UNBC)
Research and expertise
Jackson, Dr. Peter
PhD, BSc Honours (University of British Columbia); FCMOS
Kazemian, Dr. Hossein
Postdoctoral Fellow (University of Western Ontario); PhD, MSc, BSc (Isfahan University, Iran)
Research and expertise
Meletis, Dr. Zoë
PhD (Duke University, 2007), MScPl (University of Toronto), BA (McGill University)
Menounos, Dr. Brian
BA, MA (University of Colorado), PhD (University of British Columbia, 2002)
Research and expertise
Owens, Dr. Philip
PhD (University of Exeter, UK), MSc (UBC), BSc (Coventry Polytechnic, UK)
Research and expertise
Pearce, Dr. Tristan
PhD, MA (University of Guelph); BA (University of Northern British Columbia)
Research and expertise
Petticrew, Dr. Ellen
PhD (McGill University, Biology, 1989), MSc (University of British Columbia, Physical Geography), BSc (Queen's University in Kingston, Physical Geography)
Shea, Dr. Joseph
PhD (University of British Columbia - 2010), MSc (University of Calgary - 2004), BSc (McMaster University - 2001)
Research and expertise
Tang, Dr. Youmin
Wheate, Dr. Roger
PhD, BSc Honours (University of St. Andrews), MA (Queen's University at Kingston)
Research and expertise
Senior Lab Instructors
Ali, Dr. Faran
PhD (Saskatchewan); PEng (EGBC); MSc (IHE Delft); BSc (UET Lahore)
Bai, Ping
Jackson, Chris
BSc (University of British Columbia), BEd (University of Western Ontario, 1995)
Biography
Chris is responsible for instruction in second year Earth Science labs in the Geography, Forestry and Environmental Science programs at UNBC: GEOG 210 (Introduction to Earth Science), FSTY 205 (Forest Soils), and ENVS 201 (Atmospheric Science).
Research Scientists
Portes, Dr. Raquel
Postdoc (University of Zurich, Switzerland); PhD, MS, BS (Federal University of Viçosa, Brazil)
Biography
I am a physical geographer and soil scientist, with research projects focusing on the quantification of soil-landscape relationships in natural and anthropogenic environments, examining how they respond to climate and land-use changes.
Professors Emeriti/Emeritae
Fondahl, Dr. Gail
PhD, MA (University of California - Berkeley); BA (Dartmouth College)
Research and expertise
Rutherford, Dr. P. Michael
PhD (University of Alberta), BSc Honours (University of British Columbia), Diploma of Technology (British Columbia of Technology)
Research and expertise
Instructors
Ahadi, Dr. Nassiba
PhD (UBC), MA (University of Tehran), BEngg (Sharif University of Technology)
Biography
I am a social geographer. I studied the suburbanization of immigration. I am interested in studying urban and social geography with an emphasis on migration processes and their impacts on the urban and ethnic communities and neighbourhood structures of Canadian cities. I worked with Dr.
Holterman, Dr. Devin
PhD, MES (York University)
Biography
Dr. Devin Holterman leads a collaborative research project with the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) and the University of Northern British Columbia that looks to develop an evidence-based social science research program for Y2Y.
Murphy, Laura
MNRES University of Northern British Columbia
Biography
Laura is the Research Manager for Rural and Small Town Studies at UNBC.
Pedersen, Dr. Alexandra
PhD (Queen's University), MA (UNBC), BA Honours (University of Guelph)
Biography
Hello! It's nice to meet you! My name is Alex, and I am a human geographer by training and passion with a background in international development studies. I am a proud alumni of UNBC (MA, International Studies, 2011) and completed my doctorate at Queen's University (Geography, 2018).
Adjunct Faculty
Aravindakshan, Dr. Nikhil
Postdoctorate (University of Calgary), PhD (University of Regina), MSc (Hyderabad Central University, India)
Biography
Nikhil P. Aravindakshan received his PhD in Computational Chemistry while working with Prof. Allan East at the University of Regina. His research is on molecular dynamics simulations using HPC clusters, specifically studies on the transport properties of Ionic Liquids (IL) and molten salts.
Floyd, Dr. Bill
BSc University of Northern British Columbia; MSc. Oregon State University; PhD University of BC
Biography
Research Hydrologist, BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Leader of Coastal Hydrology & Climate Change Research Lab, and adjunct professor in Geography at Vancouver Island University.
Jjumba, Dr. Anthony
PhD, MSc - Geography (SFU), BSc, Surveying (Makerere University)
Markey, Dr. Sean
BA, Political Science (UBC); MES, Environmental Studies (York University); PhD, Economic Geography (Simon Fraser University); MCIP (Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners) and RPP (Registered Professional Planner)
Biography
Professor and Graduate Program Chair in the School of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University.
Miller, Brendan
MSc (University of Alberta), PGeo
Biography
Brendan Miller is a Research Soil Scientist with the British Columbia Ministry of Forests in Prince George.
Morris, Marleen
MSc (HEC and Oxford University), BA (University of British Columbia)
Raine, Dr. Jason
MSc, PhD (University of Guelph)
Biography
Dr. Raine is an Adjunct Professor in Environmental Science and Operations Manager of the Quesnel River Research Centre in Likely, B.C.
Reiners, Dr. Peter
PhD, MS (University of Washington)
Biography
Pete is a geoscientist with interests across Earth, environmental, and planetary science. His work includes geochemical, isotopic, and geochronologic approaches to understanding subsurface fluid-rock systems, thermochronology, tectonics, geomorphology, and petrology.
Rex, Dr. John
BSc (Hons.) Memorial University of Newfoundland, MSc & PhD Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, UNBC
Biography
Team Lead, Research and Stewardship, Omineca Region at BC Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operation
Russell, Grahame
BA, Development and Latin American Studies (University of Guelph, 1983); LLB (University of Ottawa - Faculty of Law, 1988)
Biography
Mr. Russell has over 25 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.
Selbie, Dr. Daniel
PhD Biology (Queen's University)
Biography
Dr. Selbie is a researcher with Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) Science Branch, and Head of the Lakes Research Program at the Cultus Lake Salmon Research Laboratory (CLSRL) at Cultus Lake, B.C.
Sharma, Dr. Aseem Raj
PhD (University of Northern British Columbia)
Biography
I am a Research Climatologist with the B.C. Ministry of Forests, specializing in hydro-climatology. My work centres on understanding extreme climate events and climate change, particularly how large-scale climate variability influences surface conditions.
Stewart, Dr. Ronald
PhD, MSc - Atmospheric Physics (University of Toronto), MSc Hons, Physics (University of Manitoba)
Biography
Dr. Stewart is a Professor in the Department of Environment and Geography at the University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, MB).
Postdoctoral Researchers
Kassaun, Dr. Banchamlak
PhD (Lakehead University)
Biography
Banchamlak Bemerw Kassaun is a PhD graduate in Environmental Biotechnology from Lakehead University, specializing in biopolymer synthesis, lignin modification, and the sustainable transformation of natural materials into advanced composites for applications like coatings and 3D printing.
Kieta, Dr. Kristen
PhD Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (UNBC); MSc (UNBC); BSc (University of St. Thomas, MN)
Biography
Dr. Kristen Kieta is an environmental scientist focused on the impact of landscape disturbances on aquatic ecosystems. Her main research questions aim to determine how various disturbances like wildfire, industrial forestry and agriculture impact water and sediment quality and quantity.
Lilhare, Dr. Rajtantra
PhD NRES (UNBC - 2020), MTech, Remote Sensing and GIS (Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, India - 2013)
Oyeyiola, Aderonke
PhD Analytical and Environmental Chemistry (University of Lagos, Nigeria); MSc, BSc (University of Ibadan, Nigeria)
Roohollahi, Hossein
PhD Chemical Engineering (Amirkabir University of Technology - Tehran Polytechnic - Tehran, Iran), MSc, BSc Chemical Engineering