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
- Faculty
- Adjunct Faculty
- Senior Lab Instructors
- Instructors
- Postdoctoral Researchers
Department Chair
Nolin, Dr. Catherine
BA Geography (University of Calgary), MA, PhD (Queen's University at Kingston, 2000)
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)
Biography
Dr. Theresa Adesanya is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences. She obtained a PhD in Soil Science from the University of Manitoba.
Ali, Dr. Faran
PhD (Saskatchewan), MSc (IHE, Delft), BSc (UET, Lahore), PEng
Déry, Dr. Stephen
BSc, MSc (Atmospheric Science - York University), PhD (Atmospheric Science - McGill University)
Biography
Dr. Déry's research focuses on hydrometeorological processes and their impacts on the surface energy and water budgets in high latitudes/altitudes within the context of climate change.
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.
Hanlon, Dr. Neil
BAA (Ryerson University), MA, PhD (Queen's University at Kingston, 1998)
Biography
President of the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG), 2020-2022
Hawkins, Dr. Adam
PhD (UNBC), BSc (Western Washington University)
Islam, Dr. Siraj Ul
PhD, Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (UNBC)
Biography
Dr. Islam is a hydroclimatologist, with research interests spanning a broad spectrum of environmental science, including climate dynamics and prediction, snow hydrology, data analysis, and numerical modeling.
Jackson, Dr. Peter
PhD, BSc (honours) (University of British Columbia), FCMOS
Biography
Dr. Jackson is a mesoscale meteorologist whose research mostly concerns the interaction between the atmosphere and complex terrain and how this affects wind, precipitation, climate, and air quality.
Kazemian, Dr. Hossein
Postdoc - Environmental Material Chemistry (UWO, Canada), PhD - Analytical Chemistry (Isfahan Univeristy, Iran)
Biography
I am a dedicated Chemist with extensive experience in the fields of analytical, environmental, and material chemistry.
Over the years, I have had the privilege of leading teams and making significant contributions in both academic and industrial settings.
Meletis, Dr. Zoë
PhD (Duke University, 2007), MScPl (University of Toronto), BA (McGill University)
Biography
Zoë teaches ENVS 309 Gender and Environmental Studies. She is a member of the Geography Program.
Menounos, Dr. Brian
BA, MA (University of Colorado), PhD (University of British Columbia, 2002)
Biography
Brian is a professor of the Geography Program at the University of Northern British Columbia and a Canada Research Chair in Glacier Change. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia in 2003.
Owens, Dr. Philip
PhD (University of Exeter, UK), MSc (UBC), BSc (Coventry Polytechnic, UK)
Pearce, Dr. Tristan
PhD University of Guelph; MA University of Guelph; BA University of Northern British Columbia
Biography
Tristan Pearce is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences at the University of Northern British Columbia, where he is also the Canada Research Chair in the Cumulative Impacts of Environmental Change.
Petticrew, Dr. Ellen
PhD (McGill University, Biology, 1989), MSc (University of British Columbia, Physical Geography), BSc (Queen's University in Kingston, Physical Geography)
Biography
Dr. Petticrew's research interests involve fluxes to and in aquatic systems, at a variety of scales.
Shea, Dr. Joseph
PhD (University of British Columbia - 2010), MSc (University of Calgary - 2004), BSc (McMaster University - 2001)
Tang, Dr. Youmin
Wheate, Dr. Roger
BSc Hons (University of St. Andrews), MA (Queen's University at Kingston), PhD (University of St. Andrews)
Biography
Dr. Wheate's interests cover the application of remote sensing and GIS across the spectrum of NRES (Natural Resource and Environmental Studies) research areas.
Professors Emeriti
Fondahl, Dr. Gail
PhD, MA (University of California - Berkeley), BA (Dartmouth College)
Research and Expertise
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.
Beedle, Dr. Matthew
BSc (Earth Science) Montana State University; MSc (Geography) University of Colorado, PhD (NRES-Geography, 2014)
Biography
Matt is an adjunct professor of geography at UNBC and a professor of geography at Coast Mountain College in Terrace, BC, where he teaches in the Environmental Geoscience program. He completed his Ph.D. from UNBC in 2014.
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.
Fondahl, Dr. Gail
PhD, MA (University of California - Berkeley), BA (Dartmouth College)
Biography
Dr. Gail Fondahl is a recently retired Professor of Geography at UNBC and is now an Adjunct Professor of Geography. Her PhD is from the University of California-Berkeley.
Gantner, Dr. Nikolaus
PhD Environmental Biology and Toxicology (University of Guelph), MSc Zoology (University of Innsbruck)
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.
Morris, Marleen
MSc (HEC and Oxford University), BA (University of British Columbia)
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.
Rutherford, Dr. P. Michael
PhD (University of Alberta), BSc Honours (University of British Columbia), Diploma of Technology (British Columbia of Technology)
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.
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).
Senior Lab Instructors
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).
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.
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).
Postdoctoral Researchers
Bagherifam, Saeed
PhD Environmental Chemistry (University of New England - Armidale, Australia), PhD Environmental Soil Chemistry (Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran), MSc, BSc Agricultural Engineering (Soil Science)
Bisset, Dr. Rosie
PhD, BSc (University of Edinburgh)
Biography
Rosie Bisset is a Postdoctoral Researcher within the Hakai Cryosphere Node working on quantifying the importance of coastal snow in freshwater flux in British Columbia, with Dr. Bill Floyd and Dr. Brian Menounos.
Ghavidel, Nasim
PhD Chemistry and Material Science (Lakehead University, Canada), MSc, BSc Applied Chemistry
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.
Jahanbani, Hoorieh
PhD Organic Chemistry (Tarbiat Modares University, Iran), MSc Organic Chemistry, BSc Pure Chemistry
Kavand, Mohammad
PhD Chemical Engineering (Laval University, Canada), MSc, BSc Chemical Engineering
Lilhare, Dr. Rajtantra
PhD NRES (UNBC - 2020), MTech, Remote Sensing and GIS (Indian Institute of Remote Sensing, India - 2013)
Reiffarth, Dominic
PhD Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (UNBC), BSc, MSc Chemistry
Roohollahi, Hossein
PhD Chemical Engineering (Amirkabir University of Technology - Tehran Polytechnic - Tehran, Iran), MSc, BSc Chemical Engineering
Shah, Aatif Ali
PhD Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering (Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, University of Science and Technology (South Korea), MSc, BSc Chemical Engineering
Walia, Sunil
PhD Material Chemistry (CeNS, affiliated to Manipal Academy of Higher Education, India), BSc, MSc Chemistry