UNBC an Environmental Leader 

April 19, 2007

The University of Northern British Columbia is poised to strengthen itsposition as one of Canada’s strongest environmental universities.Sunday is Earth Day, a prime opportunity to highlight the University’songoing research and teaching activity related to the environment.

A Sample of Environmental Research

• Working in the Aleza Lake Research Forest east of Prince George,Ecosystem Science and Management professor Art Fredeen has examined theforest’s role as a carbon sink or source and the implications forclimate change.
• Professor Kathy Lewis is using tree-ring analysis to precisely date themortality of pine beetle-infected trees to accurately assess theirshelf life.
• Environmental Planning professors Annie Booth and Eric Rapaport areleading a research program on sustainable landscaping options that arebeing implemented around Prince George in the wake of the pine beetle.
• Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management professor Pam Wright has beenthe Founding Chair of a BC Protected Areas Research Forum, which hasexplored issues of wildlife, tourism, and biodiversity management inBC’s vast protected areas.
• From research sites in the Skeena, Horsefly, Torpy, Nechako, and PeaceRiver systems, Biology professor Mark Shrimpton is evaluating how fishrespond to human-caused disturbances.
• Geography professor Brian Menounos is the leader of a western Canadianresearch network examining the effects of climate change on glaciersand their capacity to provide freshwater and power generation.

Among Canadian universities, UNBC has one of the highest percentages ofstudents in environmental programming. Among the degree programs areEnvironmental Planning, Natural Resources Management, Wildlife andFisheries, Biology, Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management,Environmental Science and Engineering, and Forestry.

Contact:
Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622