Parkes, Dr. Margot

Dr. Margot Parkes
MBChB, PhD (University of Otago, New Zealand), MAS (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) Professor Cross-Appointed - Northern Medical Program / UBC Canada Research Chair in Health, Ecosystems and Society
Email: Phone:
250-960-6813
Website: Office:
10-3510
Campus:
  • Prince George

Biography

Born in Aoteaora/New Zealand, I have been fortunate to live, learn, and work across Oceania, Europe and the Americas. In 2009, I came to UNBC as Canada Research Chair in Health, Ecosystems and Society and since then, I have mostly lived on unceded Lheidli T’enneh territory, in northern BC. I serve as professor in the UNBC School of Health Sciences, cross-appointed in the Northern Medical Program, alongside ongoing journeys as daughter, sister, partner, friend and relation. I prioritize working and learning with others – across regions, cultural contexts, disciplines and sectors – to foster better understanding of land, water and living systems (ecosystems) as foundational for health, equity and well-being; and to strengthen collaborations that reflect these connections. My research focuses on integrative, partnered and Indigenous-informed approaches, especially those that connect social and ecological influences on health within watersheds, and in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. My work draws on my background in clinical medicine, public health, human ecology, ecohealth, as well as life-experience: seeking to understand and challenge the harmful, colonizing, degenerative, and unjust patterns of cumulative impacts on environments, communities and health, and to prioritize actions and approaches that amplify co-benefits for people, place and planet. Working with others, I progress this work as co-lead of the Environment, Community, Health Observatory (ECHO) Network, focused on the cumulative health, equity and ecological challenges of resource extraction and climate change; as founding co-lead of the Canadian Community of Practice in Ecosystem Approaches to Health; as co-chair of EDGE (Ecological Determinants Group on Education) in Canada; as a member of the Global Working Group on Waiora Planetary Health for the International Union of Health Promotion and Education; as honorary professor at the University of Otago, Aotearoa/NZ; as a member of the Editorial Advisory Group for The Lancet Planetary Health, and as co-lead of UNBC’s Health Research Institute.

Research and Expertise

Dr. Parkes comes to northern BC to examine the effect of changing ecosystems on the health and well-being of communities, with a focus on water as a common resource for livelihoods, food security, culture and economies. Her work will bring together organizations, communities and researchers involved in health and water governance in the northern Fraser River Basin, which includes Prince George, Burns Lake, Fort St. James, Fraser Lake, McBride, Valemount, and Vanderhoof.

Currently accepting graduate students
Supervises in:
  • MA Interdisciplinary Studies
  • MSc Health Sciences
  • MSc Interdisciplinary Studies
  • MNRES Natural Resources Management
  • PhD Health Sciences
  • PhD NRES