Jolene Labbé, Joanna Petrasek MacDonald, Michelle Maillet and Anna Bunce from the Climate Change Adaptation Research Group (www.jamesford.ca) presented their research work on IHACC to the undergraduate class GEOG 200: Geographical Perspectives on World Environmental Problems held at McGill University on October 16th 2014.
Congratulations to Michelle Maillet on completing her M.A. thesis
Longtime Climate Change Adaptation Research Group lab member and McGill University graduate student, Michelle Maillet, has completed her M.A. thesis titled "Is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change an effective (or appropriate) institution for supporting indigenous peoples’ adaptation to climate change?"
Michelle started working with the CCARG in May 2010 as a research assistant, where her role included editing the book "Climate Change Adaptation in Developed Nations: From Theory to Practice". In September 2011, she started her M.A. as a graduate student at McGill under the supervision of Dr. James Ford. She completed her thesis in the summer of 2014. Michelle also held the position of project manager for the IHACC project from January to September 2013. As a research assistant and graduate student, Michelle went to the 16th, 17th and 18th sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as a representative of McGill University and the CCARG. She developed her research topic and question at these sessions.
Additionally, Michelle has contributed greatly to the geography community at McGill, through her activities on the Geography Graduate Society committees and executive, through her participation in a departmental mentoring program, and as an invaluable member of the CCARG. Since finishing her thesis, Michelle has remained as part of the CCARG as an R.A, and has also taken on a position at McGill University as the Department of Geography's Undergraduate Program Advisor as of June 2014. All of us at the CCARG wish her the very best in this role!
Update from the Field: Rebecca Wolf's work in Peru
Rebecca Wolf from U of Guelph recently came back from the Peruvian Amazon where she conducted her 4th year research project on water security in Shawi communities. Specifically, her research focuses on learning about Shawi cosmology and beliefs related to water, as well as understanding what community members perceive to be the causes of diarrhea, a common symptom of waterborne illness. Click here to read her report.
Michelle Maillet presents her Master's thesis to Peruvian partners
On September 9th, IHACC Peru held a one day workshop in advance of the UNFCCC's COP20 in Lima with a partnering organization of the project, AIDESEP (Inter-ethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest http://www.aidesep.org.pe/). Michelle was invited to present her M.A. thesis work to the group via Skype during this workshop, and was assisted by Jahir Anicama Diaz and Cecilia Larrea, who translated the presentation to Spanish and served as intermediaries. To view her presentation slides, please click here
My first trip to Iqaluit: Participating in the result Dissemination Workshop, June 2014
Jenifer Truong from U. of Guelph, recently had the opportunity to travel to Iqaluit, Nunavut to attend the result dissemination workshop to share some of the IHACC results on water and food security. She shares with us her first impressions and an overview of the various themes that were discussed. As someone who has never ventured out any other parts of Canada further than Ontario or Quebec, having the opportunity to go up North to Iqaluit was an incredible experience. We arrived to a bustling Iqaluit Airport. Although we were still in Canada, there were some very subtle differences that I noticed. For example, it was so cool to see signs at the airport in English but still mostly Inuktitut! I got settled into the student housing along with Anna, who had been here for the past couple of weeks doing research for her Masters. The next morning, we woke up early in the morning to go to the NRI to prepare for the IHACC Results Sharing meeting. It was a packed room with over 20 people in attendance attentively listening to the presenters. Dr. James Ford had a presentation about the current and future impacts and vulnerabilities in the Arctic. There are observed changes in sea ice, mammals, and observed health impacts as well, which is why adaption is vital! Sara Statham had a presentation on Iqaluit’s food system under stress in extreme winter, and Anna Bunce shared her current project examining experiences and adaptation strategies for Inuit women to environmental change. There was also a presentation on the opportunities and barriers to the sustainable management of caribou in Southern Baffin Island that Knut presented. Jamal Shirely from NRI shared their results on a monitoring program of microbial water quality in the Apex River. Lastly, Dr. Sherilee Harper had a research results update on AGI in Iqaluit. AGI has been a topic of major health concern due to its substantial under-reporting. It was very intriguing to learn about the Ecohealth approach to research and seeing all the possible determinants that contribute to increased potential to get AGI. The last part of the day included breaking up into discussion groups to gather everyone’s opinions on how to communicate these results to community members and stakeholders. Throughout the day, it was incredible to hear about the research being done up North and all of the ideas and suggestions the participants had! The next couple of days were filled with meetings, exploring, and sightseeing! Before I knew it, it was almost time to go back home! I will always remember how beautiful a place Iqaluit is, how friendly the people are, and how peaceful it was. I am so thankful for the opportunity to travel up to Iqaluit and experience everything that I did!