Global-Scale Research

Light streaming through monsoon clouds, Kathmandu, Nepal

Light streaming through monsoon clouds, Kathmandu, Nepal

I have been involved in advancing knowledge co-creation activities with Indigenous Peoples in major assessment initiatives, the first global-scale assessments of adaptation to climate change in mountains and the Arctic, and efforts to track and evaluate climate change vulnerability research at the global-scale.

Knowledge Co-Creation with Indigenous Peoples in Large-Scale Assessments - Role: Lead Researcher/Contributing Researcher       

Major knowledge assessment initiatives such as the IPCC play a key role in raising awareness of salient issues, characterizing the state of knowledge, and informing research and policy action. However to date meaningful knowledge co-creation with Indigenous Peoples in large-scale assessment initiatives has been extremely limited, constraining efforts to develop a full account of topics of concern. Drawing on my experience working with Indigenous communities as well as with major scientific assessment programs, I have sought to 1) raise awareness about the instrumental, legal and moral, and relational importance of including Indigenous Peoples in assessment activities and 2) to co-develop methodologies for advancing applied reconciliation efforts in a large-scale assessment activities. While much of this work has been based in Canada, it is relevant to and seeks to inform similar knowledge co-creation efforts globally.

Systematic Reviews of Climate Change Adaptation in High Mountains and the Arctic - Role: Lead Researcher/Contributing Researcher

Conducted as several independent projects, these studies used formal systematic review methods to assess the current state of knowledge about the human adaptation to climate change across the planet’s 1) mountain and 2) Arctic regions. This work supports efforts to track on-the-ground adaptation processes and outcomes, and helps to inform research/policy agendas for addressing key knowledge and action gaps. Several studies also make unique analytical and conceptual contributions to work on the human dimensions of climate change.

Related publications:

Tracking and Evaluating Climate Change Vulnerability Research - Role: Lead Researcher/Contributing Researcher       

These projects quantified trends in community-level climate change vulnerability research since 1990, developed and applied a critical evaluation framework to identify successes and shortcomings within the existing vulnerability research, and identified salient opportunities for improving the scholarly and real-world relevance of climate change vulnerability research.

Related publications: