Our current research
Our research tackles the biggest environmental challenges of our time. From restoring ecosystems to understanding human connections with nature, our faculty and research teams work across disciplines to find real-world solutions. With expertise in ethnoecology, ecological restoration, and political ecology, we collaborate with communities, policymakers, and scientists to support a more just and sustainable future.
Arctic Landscape Ecology Lab
In the , Dr. Trevor Lantz and his team study how the Arctic's environment is changing, from permafrost melting to increased shrubs. By analyzing landscapes and ecosystems, they aim to understand these changes and how to address them.
Coastal Justice Collective
As Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Political Ecology, Dr. Sarah Hunt / Tłaliłila’ogwa works collaboratively with diverse communities, students and knowledges to re-envision justice across the scales of Indigenous bodies, homes and lands/waters.
Curran Research Group
Dr. Deborah Curran’s team dives into the world of water and watershed sustainability, examining how laws and policies can help or hinder our response to environmental changes. They're all about making sure communities can adapt and thrive, using water wisely and respectfully.
Ecogastronomy Research Group
Dr. Volpe’s use quantitative analyses of food and wine production systems to reveal linkages between ecological and social sustainability, “quality”, and the primacy of place … “Ecogastronomy”.
Higgs Research Group
draws on multiple perspectives and methods to inform ecosystem restoration. These include repeat photography to track changes in mountain landscapes (the Mountain Legacy Project); practical and conceptual frameworks to guide interventions under conditions of rapid change; and bringing restoration closer to design professions, fostering connections with architecture and landscape architecture.
Marine Ethnoecology Research Group
Dr. Natalie Ban and the team work towards a better future for coastal and marine systems – including people – through community-led and-engaged research on conservation and fisheries. Working mostly in British Columbia, they use methods from natural and social sciences, and braid together western science, local knowledge and Indigenous knowledges when appropriate and invited by partners.
Mathews Research Group
Collaborating with First Nations, Dr. Darcy Mathews’ team delves into the ancient bond between people and their environment, using archaeology and ethnoecology. They uncover how past societies lived in harmony with nature, offering lessons for sustainable living today.
Ocean History Lab
focus on historical marine ecology, environmental history and marine conservation. They use archival and interview-based methods to quantify and contextualize long-term ecological changes to coastal seas and human perceptions of change, prioritizing work with management implications.
Restoration Futures Lab
Dr. Nancy Shackelford’s focuses on restoration and stewardship of native ecosystems. They combine ecological theory with practical restoration work, aiming to enhance socio-ecological values in degraded ecosystems at local and global scales. Their work bridges ecological and social boundaries to understand the complex drivers of restoration outcomes.
Rowe Research Group
study social movements and political theories to find paths toward social and ecological justice. By exploring strategies for change, they aim to address global challenges like climate change and inequality, pushing for a more just and generous world.
Shaw Research Group
uses political ecology to understand environmental issues, arguing that the real challenges lie in our social and political systems. By rethinking politics and community actions, they seek transformative solutions for pressing environmental problems.
Starzomski Lab
Dr. study biodiversity, how it's changing and why it matters, from protected areas to urban environments. They use tools like iNaturalist to gather data, aiming to protect unique ecosystems and the special species that call them home.
Strategies for a Changing Ocean Lab
Focusing on the balance between society, economy and the environment, aim to find sustainable solutions that respect our planet. They tackle big questions, like how to reduce our impact on the earth while achieving goals for a better future.
The Applied Conservation and Macro Ecology Lab
tackles big ecological questions, studying how wildlife adapts to changes in climate and landscape. Partnering with governments, NGOs and First Nations, their research across Canada informs strategies to protect biodiversity, focusing on wildlife's behaviour, survival and the impact of human activities.