News

Below are news items from the UBC IRES community.

New Climate Solutions Research – Opportunity Projects

New Climate Solutions Research – Opportunity Projects The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions is pleased to announce the first four research projects to be awarded funding under its new Opportunity Projects Program (OPP). Opportunity projects are partnership-driven, research initiatives that aim to generate high-impact climate mitigation or adaptation solutions. OPP launched in late 2018, resulting in […]

The Future of Renewable Infrastructure is Uncertain Without Good Planning: Op-ed by IRES PhD Students, Vikas Menghwani and Sandeep Pai, and IRES Associate Faculty Member, Hisham Zerriffi

These photovoltaics panels provide this village with energy now, but they could become obsolete when the main grid arrives. (Shutterstock) Vikas Menghwani, University of British Columbia; Hisham Zerriffi, University of British Columbia, and Sandeep Pai, University of British Columbia In 2005, a small hydropower plant was installed in the Sukajaya district of West Java, Indonesia. […]

Congratulations to Megan Peloso (IRES and EDGES Alumna) on her new job!

EDGES alumna Megan Peloso is based in Smithers, BC and works as a Land and Resource Coordinator with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. In her role with the Skeena Regional Initiatives team, Megan applies her background in watershed sustainability and governance to modernized land use planning. Megan graduated in May 2014 […]

National Geographic Young Explorers Award Recipient: Helina Jolly

Congratulation to IRES’ very own Helina Jolly for receiving the prestigious National Geographic Young Explorers award! This award is in support of Helina’s proposed project, “De-mystifying the Adivasi knowledge of forest and wildlife in India,” which will be used to help her conduct her field study on the Kattunayakar communities of the Western Ghats […]

Issue of Human Rights Obligations Relating to the Enjoyment of a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment

David Boyd is an Associate Professor of Law, Policy and Sustainability, as well as a Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Environment for the United Nations. His first report to the UN Human Rights Council is now public and available in the six official UN languages here. Summary In the present report, the […]

Job Posting: Vancouver Summer Program Instructor

The Vancouver Summer Program (VSP) is a four-week academic program for international undergraduate students from cooperating universities. The program provides the opportunity to take two academic courses while learning about Canadian practices and culture.

February 14, 2019: IRES Faculty Seminar with Dr. Nathan Bennett

Nathan Bennett is a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Institute for Oceans and Fisheries at UBC. His research focuses on research projects that interrogate various aspects of the complex relationship between the marine environment and human society.

Leila Harris promoted to Full Professor

Congratulations to Leila Harris who has been promoted to Full Professor!

UBC IRES Welcomes Dr. Claire Kremen!

The UBC Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability (IRES) is delighted to welcome Dr. Claire Kremen who has joined as one of UBC’s first President’s Excellence Chairs. Dr. Claire Kremen has commenced her appointment as the UBC President’s Excellence Chair in Biodiversity Studies. Joining the university as a Professor, Dr. Kremen holds a joint appointment in UBC’s Institute for Resources, […]

January 31, 2019: IRES Faculty Seminar with Dr. Michelle Daigle

Michelle Daigle is Mushkegowuk (Cree), a member of Constance Lake First Nation in Treaty 9 in northern Ontario Canada, and of French ancestry. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Geography at the University of British Columbia, located on the unceded and ancestral territories of the Musqueam nation.

Want citizens to care about climate change? Write them a cheque

In an op-ed published by The Conversation, RES PhD student Abhishek Kar and IRES Faculty Associate Hisham Zerriffi argue that the best way to get people to act on climate change is through their wallets.

Congratulations to the IRES 2018 Graduates!

Congratulations to our RES & RMES November Graduates! We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and can't wait to see what amazing things you'll go on to do. Click to see full list of students.

Adaptation action and research in glaciated mountain systems: Are they enough to meet the challenge of climate change?

Graham McDowell, Rae Cramer, Vinni Ricciardi and colleagues highlight the shortcomings in adaptation action and research in mountain regions and identify measures needed to more fully meet the challenge of climate change.

The uncertain future of U.S. coal communities

IRES PhD student Sandeep Pai and Hisham Zerriffi explore the political power of coal communities in the United States in this op-ed published by The Conversation.

November 15, 2018: IRES Faculty Seminar with Sheryl Lightfoot

Join IRES on Thursday, Nov. 15 for Sheryl Lightfoot's presentation on "Global Indigenous Rights and Politics: A Subtle Revolution."

Global recognition of the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment

In a report to the UN General Assembly, David Boyd notes the time has come to formally recognize the human right to a healthy environment.

The demise of caterpillar fungus in the Himalayan region

IRES PhD student Stephen Chignell and colleagues investigate the Himalayan caterpillar fungus—one of the world’s most expensive medicinal species—in a new publication.

Graduate applications now open! | Resources, Environment and Sustainability

Applications for the Resources, Environment and Sustainability (RES) program are now being accepted. Apply by December 31, 2018 to join one of the top ten global centres for the study of Environment and Sustainability.

November 1, 2018: IRES Faculty Seminar with Dr. Amanda Giang

Join IRES on Thursday, Nov. 1 for Amanda Giang's presentation on "Policy Evaluation Problems: Evaluating the effectiveness of a global mercury treaty"

October 25, 2018: IRES Professional Development Seminar with Dr. Justin Ritchie & Dr. David Shiffman

Join IRES on Thursday, Oct. 25 for a professional development seminar on "Communicating our research through creative media," presented by Dr. Justin Ritchie and Dr. David Shiffman.

October 18, 2018: IRES Faculty Seminar with Robin Harder

Join IRES on Thursday, Oct. 18 for Robin Harder's talk on "Five often overlooked aspects of closing nutrient cycles from human excreta to food and farming systems."

David Boyd’s message for the Environmental Rights Initiative in Brazil

IRES Professor David R. Boyd, Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, delivers a video message for the Environmental Rights Initiative in Brazil.

A National Plastics Pollution Strategy for Canada

Join us on Wednesday, October 17 for a lively panel discussion, hosted by Professor David Boyd, on a national plastics pollution strategy for Canada.

November 8, 2018: Seminar with Nathan Bendriem & Weildler Guerra Curvelo

Join IRES on Nov. 8 for Nathan Bendriem's talk on "Economic Analysis of Genomic Technologies used to Enhance Coho Broodstock" and Weildler Guerra Curvelo's talk on "Wayuu Ontology: a relationship between time, Wayuu people, and the non-human world."

Reflections from Mayor Gregor Robertson, City of Vancouver

Join us for an informal conversation reflecting on Gregor Robertson’s decade as Mayor of Vancouver. This event is hosted by Professor David Boyd (SPPGA and IRES) and is part of SPPGA’s Policy in Practice series.

The More Who Die, the Less We Care: Confronting the Deadly Arithmetic of Compassion, with Paul Slovic

Join us for this talk and Q&A on Friday, September 28th with special guest, Paul Slovic, on how publics respond or not to humanitarian crises.

IRES welcomes Interim Director Navin Ramankutty

Please welcome Navin Ramankutty, Interim Director for IRES until July 2019.

How to conserve half the planet without going hungry

New research by Zia Mehrabi, Erle C. Ellis and Navin Ramankutty explores the "Half-Earth" project and how it would affect our food supplies.

Hannah Wittman promoted to Full Professor

Congratulations to Dr. Hannah Wittman on her promotion to Full Professor, effective July 1, 2018.

David Boyd appointed UN expert on human rights and the environment

This August, IRES Professor David Boyd takes on the role of Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment for the UN Human Rights Council. In this Q+A, he discusses priorities for his three-year mandate, and where Canada fits into the international context.

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