Research.
Consulting Projects
Energy Efficiency Education Consulting for the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley
The Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley is conducting a multi-phase project to educate Canmore’s residents, business people and energy industry about the benefits of becoming more energy efficient. Consulting on this project includes advising on best practices for environmental education and action-outcome oriented research. Training in research methods for measuring learning and behaviour change outcomes.
Making Roads Safer for Wildlife with Parks Canada
Through national feedback from field unit and regional representatives, addressing human behaviour was identified as a priority in decreasing wildlife road mortality in national parks. Target groups include visitors, locals, through traffic, and in some cases, staff. The following key problem behaviours have been identified:
(1) Speeding.
(2) Stopping to view roadside wildlife unsafely.
(3) Intentional persecution.
The first stage of this research consisted of an academic literature review to better understand best practices as related to the three key problem behaviours. The full systematic literature review consisted of more than 120 articles spanning 45 unique journals, exploring research conducted in more than 15 countries and 5 continents. Included in the literature review were reports, dissertations, and other case studies that have offered insight into the issues. Key findings and recommendations were presented in a series of two workshops to Parks Canada Agency staff. The second workshop emphasized discussion of next steps, identification of potential barriers, and consideration of potential pilot projects to inform best practices when gaps in the literature were present. This document provides a summary of these recommendations based on both the academic literature and the expertise and input of the Parks Canada Agency staff.
Volunteer Work: Living Rooms
As the co-chair for the Sierra Club’s Prairie Chapter, my first initiative is: Living Rooms.
Living Rooms creates a blend of nature, art and every day human life. These are outdoor places that invite residents to pause, stay a while, and enjoy local naturescapes safely together.
With COVID-19 our living rooms have become the only place some of us have been safely allowed to go. With the Living Rooms Initiative our goal is to create living versions of the indoor spaces we have spent so much time in these past months.
