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Dalhousie University Gillian Kerr Postdoctoral Fellow (WP6) Dr. Gillian Kerr joined the Dalhousie team in August 2020. She will be coordinating the work of the Rural Futures Research Centre and training and supervising students. She will also be working with the FOCI Work Package 6 team on collecting and disseminating research on the climate change perceptions across Atlantic Canada. She is also adjunct faculty at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC where she teaches environmental and ecological economics for decision-making. She recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at McGill University in the RESNET research group on ecosystem service research and application across Canada. Her doctoral thesis, “Market-Based Approaches for Environmental Governance: Exploring the Implementation Gap in Alberta” explored governance issues that have impeded that application of MBIs for environmental objectives in Alberta. Her research interests include ecosystem services theory and application for sustainable communities, and the application of ecological economics to enhance sustainable futures. She has recently moved to Halifax from Edmonton, Alberta.

Shameem Islam Co-investigator (WP1) Dr. Shameem Islam has over nineteen years of experience in the fields of marine, offshore and arctic engineering with technical expertise in both physical and numerical modelling, particularly for harsh environmental conditions. Dr. Islam has carried out various ocean and naval architectural engineering-related research and development projects throughout his career, focusing mainly on numerical modelling of ships and propulsion hydrodynamics and acoustics. Dr. Islam’s current research interest includes ice-waves-structure interactions modelling and marine propulsion and noise measurements and modelling. Dr. Islam’s research work has been disseminated through more than ninety publications and presentations at various international journals and conferences, including several editions of the SNAME Transactions, RINA Transactions, ISP, OE, JNAME, JSR, JSDP, and OMAE Journals. Dr. Islam is a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), the International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers (ISOPE) and the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland (PEGNL). In addition, Dr. Islam is a member of the Government of Canada interdepartmental working group of Ocean Noise and represents Transport Canada in the international Cooperative Ship Research (CRS) initiatives. Dr. Islam has completed his Doctoral research at the Memorial University of Newfoundland in 2008. Dr. Islam is co-investigator in Work Package 1: “Improving safety and environmental footprints of marine vehicles by design and operation.”

Joel Finnis Lead (WP2, IWP2) Dr. Joel Finnis is an associate professor with the Department of Geography at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Originally trained in the Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences, his interests have gradually expanded from climate dynamics and machine learning applications to include research at the intersection of the natural and social sciences. Recent efforts include development of novel hazard climatologies; analyses of marine forecast application, communication, and implementation; and critical reviews of climate perception research. His work is currently used to inform climate adaption efforts in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and is central to a provincial adaptation training program (Building Climate Resilience). With Drs. Ron Pelot (Dalhousie) and Amber Silver (SUNY-Albany), Dr. Finnis coleads the Coast and Ocean Risk Communication Community of Practice (CORC-CoP), a network of scholars, practitioners, and stakeholders motivated by a common interest in reducing the impact of hazards on coastal communities and industries. The current proposal will build in these recent activities, incorporating Finnis’ expertise in coastal and ocean hazard mitigation, climate change adaptation, and science communication into a broader analysis of coastal sustainability and long-term planning. Dr. Finnis is the lead of FOCI research Work Package 2 (WP2) and Integration Work Package 2 (IWP2). He is spearheading research activities connected to WP2.1 (Forecasting for diverse needs) and co-leading WP2.2 (Utility of Climate Guidance Products) and WP2.3 (Trees as Natural Infrastructure for Coastal Adaptation), with Daraio and C. Brown respectively.

Grenfell Campus, Memorial University Priscilla Antwi Master's Student (WP5) Priscilla Antwi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and Resource Development with Sociology from the University of Ghana and currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Environmental Policy at the Memorial University, Grenfell Campus. Understudying lecturers, as a Teaching assistant, at the Department of Geography and Resource Development at the University of Ghana and working as a Research Assistant for Non-Governmental Organizations such as Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) and Participatory Development Associates (PDA) in Ghana heightened my already existing passion for advanced research and teaching. This experience, coupled with industry knowledge and other experiences improved my research skills and expanded my data analysis toolkit. Working with FOCI’s WP5 – ‘Building collaborative interdisciplinary research infrastructure in Atlantic Canada’s lobster fisheries’, my research is centered on women's empowerment in lobster fisheries, climate change adaptation, and coastal vulnerabilities, all aimed at ensuring the sustainability of the Atlantic Canada lobster fisheries.

Cameron Forbes Co-investigator (IWP4) Through painting, drawing, and collaborative projects, Cameron Forbes’ visual arts practice considers social space. Forbes’ current project, Active Site, observes and supports interventions in Western Newfoundland’s built environment through facilitating collective actions by visual artists, faculty, students, and community members. She has exhibited across the country, with recent shows at the McClure Gallery (Montreal), aceartinc. (Winnipeg), and the University of Saskatchewan’s Kenderdine Gallery (Saskatoon). From 2008-2011, Forbes was the executive director of Winnipeg’s Art City. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from NSCAD University (Halifax) and a Master of Fine Arts from Concordia University (Montreal). Forbes is an assistant professor in Visual Arts at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University. Of settler descent, she was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Treaty 4 Territory. She now lives in Corner Brook/Elmastukwek, Newfoundland and Labrador, with her partner and three children.

Tuomas Ylä-Anttila Co-investigator (WP6) Dr. Tuomas Ylä-Anttila is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science, University of Helsinki. He is the Chair of the Board of the 14-country Comparing Climate Change Policy Networks (COMPON) research effort and PI of four ongoing research projects on policy networks and discourse networks in climate change politics. Through these research projects he has developed a strong substantial expertise in the role of policy networks and discourse networks in climate change policy making, as well as methodological expertise in social network analysis. The projects have yielded several peer-reviewed articles in top international journals, including the British Journal of Sociology, Public Administration, Policy Studies Journal and Global Environmental Change. Dr. Ylä-Anttila is a co-investigator in Work Package 6, Perceptions of Climate Change and Social Futures.

Dalhousie University / Western University Gwyneth Cin Yung Yueng Research Assistant (WP6) More to come.

Memorial University Laura Funke Research Assistant (WP6) More to come.

Memorial University Evan Lane Master's Student (WP3) To learn more about Evan Lane - The Maritime Risk and Safety Group (MARS)

Memorial University Contessa Small Research Assistant (WP8) Contessa Small (Ph.D.) is a folklorist, cultural heritage consultant, and researcher specializing in Newfoundland folklore, narrative, and occupational folklife. She is a Research Assistant with the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI) and the SafetyNet Centre for Occupational Health and Safety Research, Memorial University. Her current research explores return-to-work challenges for injured/ill maritime workers in British Columbia and Atlantic Canada—supporting OFI’s research project Future Ocean and Coastal Infrastructures (FOCI) Work Package 8 ( Comparative Studies of Return to Work after Work Injury or Illness: Challenges for Marine Workers in BC and Atlantic Canada ), and a national research project partnership headquartered at the University of Ottawa called Policy and Practice in Return-to-Work After a Work Injury . Contessa has worked as a print and radio journalist (CBC Radio), university instructor, museum curator, and municipal heritage and arts coordinator creating and implementing projects and programming which foster engagement with, and raise awareness of, traditional culture and community arts. Her commitment to creating awareness about women’s occupational roles and traditional culture won her the Woman of the Year Award (Corner Brook Status of Women Council) and the Carillon Trophy for 1st Place for Best Feature Story (Better Newspapers Competition, Canadian Community Newspapers Association). She is also a creative writer, and a musician and singer with Newfoundland folk songs being her favourite genre to sing. Contessa is a Fellow of the School of Graduate Studies (Memorial), and a recipient of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Fellowship , the Graduate Students’ Union Award for Excellence in Research (Memorial) and folklore awards including the David Buchan Graduate Research Award in Folklore , the Maurice J. Burke Memorial Scholarship , the Mary A. Griffiths Memorial Bursary for Folklore Field Research , and the W.W. Newell Prize (American Folklore Society).

Memorial University Om Prakash Yadav Master's Student (WP1) Mr. Om Prakash Yadav, trained in dentistry and specialized in public health dentistry (both from India). Mr. Yadav recently finished his second master's in community health at MUN. He is the recipient of the Shree Mulay Community Health Graduate Award, the Mitacs Research Training Award, and the Fellow of the School of Graduate Studies award at MUN. Additionally, he received the "Medal of Merit" award at the UNESCO/UNITWIN Network Web Seminar 2020 for his remarkable presentation on the distribution and mapping of persistent organic pollutants in a variety of environmental matrices throughout Europe. He assisted Drs. Atanu Sarkar and Desai Shan with two research projects as a research assistant during his master's program. He collected and analyzed approximately 100,000 data points for research examining spatial and temporal patterns in the distribution of various environmental contaminants across Europe. Additionally, he collaborated with Dr. Shan on a large study project that examined rising issues in Canadian marine governance. Mr. Yadav defended his master's thesis, "Risk perceptions of occupational noise exposure and its effects on the health of fish harvesters in Newfoundland and Labrador: A mixed-methods research."

Jamie Skidmore Co-investigator (IWP4) Dr. Jamie Skidmore is a Full Professor in the Department of English at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, where he teaches practical classes in theatre and film production, including courses on directing, producing, design, and technical theatre. He is also the coordinator of the Diploma in Stage and Screen Technique. He is an award-winning theatre artist, who has been working in theatre for over thirty years as a director, designer, playwright, producer, technician, and more. He has worked professionally in B.C., Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador; as well as in Vermont, USA. He is a co-founder of the Isle aux Morts Theatre Festival, and a founding member of the St. John’s Shorts Play Festival. His work as a playwright includes Song of the Mermaid, which toured the island of Newfoundland, and Our Ancient Family , which toured Labrador in partnership with the NunatuKavut Community Council. He has trained in puppet design, construction, and manipulation with the New England Puppet Intensive and Puppets in Prague. He has trained as a mask designer with the Sartori family, the foremost mask makers in the world. His puppet show creations include A Fish Tale: A Lantern Puppet Play , which he wrote and designed giant lantern puppets for the production; and The Brass Button Man , a shadow puppet play, which he lead and co-created. He has also run puppet building workshops, teaching youth and young adults how to build lantern puppets and shadow puppets.