Bio
I am an environmental social scientist specializing in the human dimensions of climate change in mountain regions, as well as knowledge assessment and co-creation activities, particularly with Indigenous Peoples. I have led community-engaged projects in the Nepal Himalaya, Peruvian Andes, Rocky Mountains, Greenland, and the Canadian Arctic, and was the founder and leader of the Canadian Mountain Assessment. In addition, I am a two-time Contributing Author with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an Editorial Board member for the journal Mountain Research and Development, and a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. I hold numerous advisory roles related to climate change in cold regions, including on the National Steering Committee of the UN International Year of Glacier Preservation, the Advisory Committee of the Canada in a Changing Climate assessment report, and the Science and Knowledge Advisory Committee of UN Mountain Partnership. I am currently the Director of Science and Knowledge at the Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) Conservation Initiative.
I completed a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Zurich and hold degrees from the University of British Columbia (PhD, Vanier Scholar), the University of Oxford (MSc with Distinction), and McGill University (BA Honours 1st class). I live in Canmore, Alberta, on Treaty 7 territory, in the heart of the Canadian Rockies.
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Education
University of British Columbia - PhD Resources, Environment, and Sustainability (Vanier Scholar) 2015-2020
University of Oxford - MSc Environmental Change and Management (with Distinction) 2011-2012
McGill University - BA Geography (Honours 1st class) 2008-2011
Professional Appointments
Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) Conservation Initiative - Director of Science and Knowledge 2024-Ongoing
University of Calgary - Founder & Project Leader, Canadian Mountain Assessment 2020-2024 University of Zurich - Banting Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Geography 2020-2022
Significant Affiliations
Yellowstone to Yukon (Y2Y) Conservation Initiative (Program Director)
Canadian Mountain Assessment (Founder & Project Leader)
Royal Canadian Geographical Society (Fellow)
UN International Year of Glacier Preservation (National Steering Committee member)
UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Contributing Author)
UN Mountain Partnership, Science and Knowledge Advisory Committee (Member)
UNESCO World Network of Mountain Biodiversity Reserves (Affiliated Researcher)
World Climate Research Program - CliC Impacts of Changes in the Mountain Cryosphere Planning Group (Member)
Canadian Association of Geographers (Member)
Environmental Change Institute - University of Oxford (Alumnus)
American Alpine Club - Climate Task Force (Science Advisor)
Awards and Honours
Canadian Mountain Assessment, 2024 Scholarly & Academic Book of the Year
Nominated by Government of Canada as expert for IPCC AR7 scoping process
Member of College of Reviewers, Canada Research Chairs program
Inaugural Alice Adams and Dr. G. Adams, Jr. Visiting Speaker (Mount Allison University)
UIAA Mountain Protection Award (finalist)
Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society
Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
Sumaila-Volvo Graduate Prize in Environmental Sustainability
International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Doctoral Research Award
University of British Columbia Four Year Doctoral Fellowship
University of British Columbia Public Scholar Award
Institute of Asian Research Graduate Fieldwork Fellowship
University of British Columbia Faculty of Science Graduate Award
Liu Institute for Global Issues Bottom Billion Fieldwork Award
Vermont Arts Council Artist Development Grant
Environmental Change Institute Research Grant (Oxford University)
A.C. Irvine Travel Award (Oxford University)
Moyse Traveling Scholarship (McGill University)
McGill Science Undergraduate Research Award
McGill Honours Research Fellowship
1st Place Excellence in Geographic Photography (McGill University)
1st Place McGill Undergraduate Research Conference
Philip Otis Memorial Scholarship (National Outdoor Leadership School)
Other Interests
Climbing - I have been involved in rock, ice, and alpine climbing for over two decades; have climbed in most major mountain ranges in North America as well as overseas destinations such as the French Alps, Norway, and the UK; and have worked professionally as an ice climbing guide. This background underpins my recent work on issues related to climbing and climate change.
Visual Methods - I believe that compelling images from the frontlines of climate change provide a strong complement to text-based communication approaches. To this end, I have been actively involved in the use of photography-based science communication methods for many years, including through several photography exhibitions, publishing photos in popular and academic outlets (e.g. Nature Climate Change, VICE), and giving a TEDx talk that aimed to ‘de-abstract’ climate change by combining my photography with personal narratives from climate-affected communities. I received formal training in visual methods at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.