» Home » March 17, 2022: IRES Student Seminar with Georgia Green and Justin Huynh

March 17, 2022: IRES Student Seminar with Georgia Green and Justin Huynh

IRES Seminar Series

Time: 12:30pm to 1:30pm (Pacific Standard Time)

Location: AERL Theatre, Room 120 (2202 Main Mall)

View Zoom Video.

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Characterizing Diverging Scientific Perspectives of Relevance for Chemicals Management

Abstract:

The risks hormone disrupting substances pose to human health are highly uncertain and it is therefore a research area defined by controversy and expert disagreement. There is reason to believe that these disagreements, to some extent, are rooted in diverging scientific styles of reasoning. Making these areas of expert disagreement clearer can help identify if relevant perspectives are being excluded in chemicals management policy. This study trials a new methodological approach to systematically characterise diverging scientific styles of reasoning in endocrine disruptor literature, combining bibliometrics and grounded theory. The trialled method shows promise and the initial findings suggest that there are distinct ways of reasoning about the validity and purpose of different methods, policy alternatives, endocrine disruptor definition and treatment of uncertainty.

Note: For questions for Georgia’s talk:

A) If you are on zoom, please type your question in the chat.

 B) If you are in AERL Theatre, please:

  1. Bring your phone or laptop
  2. Go to menti.com and enter the code shown on the presentation slides
  3. Type in your question

Georgia Green

MSc Student

Bio:

Georgia Green is a Master of Science student at the Institute for Resources Environment and Sustainability (IRES), co-supervised by Gunilla Öberg and Annegaaike Leopold.

Prior to joining IRES, she obtained an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Imperial College London. After working in science communication, Georgia developed an interest in the science-policy interface. Her current research focuses on different ways of knowing in science, applied to chemicals management.

Predicting the Impact of Minerals for a Low-Carbon Energy Transition

Abstract:

Production of low-carbon technologies such as solar PV, wind turbines, and electric vehicle batteries is more mineral intensive than that of fossil fuel technologies. Given that a large-scale low-carbon energy transition is proposed as a necessary step toward climate change mitigation, mining impacts could be exacerbated by increased demand for certain minerals. There is a contentious relationship between extractive industries and Indigenous communities in Canada, so it is important to consider the impact the low-carbon energy transition could have on Indigenous communities. This research will use remotely sensed imagery to develop a model that can relate various parameters of mineral extraction to the spatial extent of a mine’s impact. These impacts will then be interpreted through the context of Canadian settler-colonialism to consider the externalities of a low-carbon future where settler-colonialism remains.

Justin Huynh

MSc Student

Bio:

Justin Huynh (They/Them) is a MSc student, co-supervised by Dr. Milind Kandlikar and Dr. Nadja Kunz. Their research aims to quantify the potential for mining impacts to be exacerbated by a large-scale transition to low-carbon energy technologies. Justin hopes to integrate an analysis of settler colonialism with GIS and remote sensing methods to support movements for Indigenous sovereignty and shift narratives away from purely technocratic solutions to climate and other ecological crises. Outside of their institutional work, Justin is a community organizer working with the anti-imperialist struggle in the Philippines as well as Vietnamese migrant farm workers in Canada.