Geographers in the News Archives

 

2011 / 2012 Academic Year

Dr. Jason Gilliland - Recent Recipient of Western's Faculty Scholar Award

Congratulations to Jason Gilliland for receiving Western's Faculty Scholar Award.  This award recognizes his significant achievements in teaching and research. The recipients of this award are considered all-around scholars and will hold the title of Faculty Scholar for two years. Congratulations Jason! [WESTERN News]

Congratulations to Greg Levine on his recent book publication!

Greg Levine, who teaches Geography 3415B Geographic Perspectives on Law and Society, has just published a new book, Ombudsman Legislation in Canada: An Annotation and Appraisal. His book provides a detailed and comparative interpretation of Canadian ombudsman legislation across Canada. Congratuations Professor Levine!

Dr Jason Gilliland - Recipient of ESRI Canada's Award of Excellence in GIS

Esri Canada presented an Award of Excellence to Dr. Jason Gilliland, a professor at Western University and a scientist for the Children's Health Research Institute, for his outstanding application of geographic information system (GIS) technology to help improve children's health in Southwestern Ontario. Dr. Gilliland led a multidisciplinary team in a research study of environmental factors affecting children's health in the region. The results have been compiled into “Opportunities for Healthy Living in Southwestern Ontario: A Focus on Children's Environments, First Edition,” a 400+-page atlas that will be used by local planners and public health agencies to improve children's health and well-being. The project was commissioned by the Children's Health Research Institute and funded by the Green Shield Canada Foundation and the Children's Health Foundation. [ Link to Full Article: Western University Professor Recognized for Creating Children's Health Atlas]

Geographer of the Week: Dr. Adam Yates

Dr. Adam Yates, recently joined the Department of Geography at the University of Western Ontario as an Assistant Professor. His research interest focus on three complementary and interactive avenues grounded within the field of water science: description of natural and anthropogenic characteristics of aquatic landscapes; development of techniques for assessment of aquatic ecosystems; and, assessment of the effects of human modification of the environment on aquatic ecosystems.

Dr. Godwin Arku - In the News: Growth of middle class leads to gated communities in Ghana

Gated communities are catching on in Ghana, and the Western-style setup may include a shift for some residents away from traditional extended-family living arrangements.  A rising professional class has fueled the expansion of the communities, according to University of Western Ontario assistant professor of geography Godwin Arku.  [REUTERS]

Dr. Joy Parr Nabs Edelstein Prize

Joy Parr’s timely and prescient perspective on how humans make sense of the world in the face of rapid change has garnered her the Edelstein Prize, awarded to the top scholarly book on the history of technology published over the last three years. This award is handed out by the Society for the History of Technology. Congratulations Joy! [Megaprojects] [WESTERN News]

Dr. Gordon McBean 'The Rocky Road to Durban'

CBC Radio's Quirks & Quarks spoke to Dr. McBean recently about the Climate Change Conference to be held in Durban, South Africa beginning November 28th. Scientists, environmentalists, activists, bureaucrats and politicians from around the world will get together to try to solve the planet's most pressing problem: climate change. [READ MORE] [LISTEN]

CBC News with Dr. Gordon McBean 'Adapt to Extreme Weather or Pay Price'

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report Friday examining the risks posed by extreme weather events, which the panel says are becoming increasingly frequent around the world. We talked to one of the report's co-ordinating lead authors about what general trends he and his colleagues found and how these trends might impact Canada. [READ MORE] [FACULTY WEBSITE]

"Making Clean Air a Matter of Child's Play" with Janet Loebach & Sarah McCans

Janet Loebach and Sarah McCans hope clean air around one schoolyard will be child’s play. “We want to find a way the students can reclaim this area and start using it again,” Loebach says. “We want to try and create a natural play space.” [READ MORE]

Western Geography Graduate Elected Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society

Don Boyes, now a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Geography and Program in Planning was recently elected as a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society. The Society's College of Fellows is compromised of around 200 individuals who act as the voting body of the Society. Fellows are elected for life, and are expected to contribute to the actifvies of the Society or to the objectives and programs of the Society. [WEBSITE]

Ontario Trillium Scholar - Frederick Armah

Congratulations to Geography PhD Candidate, Frederick Armah, for receiving the Ontario Trillium Scholarship. Frederick hails from Winneba in the Central Region of Ghana. He received his undergraduate training in chemistry at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana and  master's degree in environmental studies and sustainability science from Lund University in Sweden. [MORE]

UWO’s Janet Loebach and Sarah McCans successfully compete in “Clean Air Challenge”

On October 19th, the team of Janet Loebach and Sarah McCans, PhD students working with Dr Jason Gilliland in the Department of Geography at UWO, successfully competed in the London Community Foundation’s Clean Air Challenge. Loebach and McCans were awarded $25,000 to further their work on improving children’s environments. Together, with the support of numerous local organizations and other members of UWO’s Human Environments Analysis Laboratory, they are creating a project to green the spaces of local elementary schools, simultaneously promoting use of outdoor spaces, cleaning the air, and encouraging children to become more active. They believe that greening the outdoor spaces at schools will also help reduce children’s exposure to airborne pollutants. The process of greening these spaces will be embedded into the curriculum and students will be active participants in the projects. Congratulations Janet and Sarah!

London Community News with Dr. Jason Gilliland

Dr. Jason Gilliland attended the 10th Cafe Scientifique event where close to 60 people joined together to hear a discussion on childhood obesity. In Canada, one-in-four children are overweight or obese. It is a problem people have been talking about for years while scientists from across the country have been working on the links between obesity and a myriad of health problems. [MORE]

Dr. Gordon McBean to head world science council

Geography Professor Gordon McBean was named president-elect of the International Council for Science (ICSU) at the organization’s 30th General Assembly in Rome, Italy. The event brought together more than 250 leading scientists from around the world to discuss and address how science can contribute to solving some of the most pressing challenges facing society. [Western News] [London Free Press]

"Healthy Cities" with Dr. Jason Gilliland

Dr Jason Gilliland, Director of the Urban Development Program in UWO’s Department of Geography, spoke about how to design “Healthy Cities” in his keynote address to the first City Symposium at the Wolf Performance Hall in London, Ontario on September 13. The City Symposium is a monthly event that brings together “the most inspiring speakers, artists and innovators in the city” to share their ideas with the general public. See feature article “Symposium off to a good start” in the Londoner newspaper (Sept 22). For more information on the event please see www.citysymposium.com

Dr. Gordon McBean has been nominated for President–elect of ICSU

Our own Dr. Gordon McBean, has been nominated for President–elect of the International Council for Science(ICSU). ICSU is a non-governmental organization with a global membership representing 141 countries through its national scientific members and scientific unions. The election is to take place at the General Assembly to be held in Rome, September 2011. [READ MORE] [FACULTY WEBPAGE]

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