Events

April 16, 2026: IRES Student Symposium with Samantha Blackwell, Anaïs Pronovost-Morgan, Renata Rovelo and Valerie Zimmermann (Last seminar in Term 2)

Join us for our student symposium, given by four IRES grad students! Talk titles: 1. “Birding is like a gateway drug”: The role of bird observation in urban human-nature relationships 2. Exploring Non-Indigenous City Employees' Emotions and Responsibilities in the Implementation of Vancouver's UNDRIP Strategy 3. Listening to the River: Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Relationships with Water 4. Assessing the Impacts of Organic Farming Practices on Farm Economics and Climate Resilience in British Columbia

April 9, 2026: IRES Faculty Seminar with Dr. Kaitlyn Gaynor

This talk explores how human disturbance shapes risks and resources for wild animals, and how responses of animals can have implications for ecological dynamics and human societies. This can help inform more effective biodiversity conservation and human-wildlife coexistence on an increasingly crowded planet.

April 2, 2026: IRES Professional Development Seminar with Rich Francis

This session offers a broad overview of the history and implementation of the US federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund, that governs the cleanup of historical hazardous material waste sites.

March 26, 2026: IRES Faculty Seminar with Dr. Andrew Jorgenson

How does militarization drive climate change? Our next seminar explores how military power fuels global carbon emissions—from national growth patterns to U.S. defense spending and outsourced pollution.

March 19, 2026: IRES Faculty Seminar with Dr. David McMillon

This talk will discuss a framework for systemic discrimination that has applications ranging from reparations and the racial wealth gap, health disparities, and environmental racism.

March 12, 2026: IRES Faculty Seminar with Dr. Emily Yeh

Join Dr. Emily Yeh for her seminar on the political economy of geothermal development in Indonesia

March 5, 2026: IRES Professional Development Seminar with Helen Brown

The session will adapt to the questions and interests of the group but might include an intro to services and resources available at UBC Library and tips for managing the research process.

February 26, 2026: IRES Faculty Seminar with Dr. Sally Pusede

Join Dr. Sally Pusede for her talk on coal dust pollution and environmental justice.

February 19, 2026: No Seminar This Week

There is no IRES Seminar on February 19 due to the Midterm Break (Feb 16 - 20, 2026).

February 12, 2026: IRES Student Seminar with Chloë Chang and Aloy Kouzak Campos da Paz

Join us for our upcoming seminar, given by two IRES grad students! Topics: Can profit maps trigger win-win management solutions for the environment and farmers? and Socio-Economic Wellbeing in B.C.'s Energy Transition

February 5, 2026: IRES Faculty Seminar with Dr. Karthik Akkiraju

By integrating perspectives from positive psychology and public policy, this talk explores an approach to reimagine how societies can secure a high quality of life for everyone, beyond the limits of efficiency or consumption-driven paradigms.

January 29, 2026: IRES Faculty Seminar with Dr. Aisling Rayne

This talk explores the multiple meanings and effects of new nonhuman neighbours, and how to support more inclusive and transparent environmental decision-making

January 22, 2026: IRES Professional Development Seminar with Rebecca Dirnfeld

This session offers a practical overview of interviewing tips and techniques, emphasizing how strategic career planning during graduate school can set the foundation for interview success.

January 15, 2026: IRES Student Seminar with Neha Sharma-Mascarenhas and Jessica Mukiri (First seminar in Term 2)

Join us for the first seminar of term two, given by our IRES PhD students! Topics: Electronics at the End-of-Life: Repair Ecosystems, Consumer Decisions, and Policy Barriers and Consumption of Alt-Proteins to Mitigate Food Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Canada