Search Results

Dalhousie University Rachel McLay Research Assistant (WP6) Rachel McLay is a PhD student in the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology at Dalhousie University. As a research associate with the Rural Futures Research Centre and as an HQP with FOCI, she has conducted surveys on political, socio-cultural, and environmental change in Atlantic Canada. Her SSHRC-funded doctoral research is focused on political change in Atlantic Canada. To learn more about Rachel McLay's PhD - PhD student in Sociology Rachel McLay selected as one of Dal’s Open Thinkers - Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology - Dalhousie University

Memorial University Yixi Yang Research Assistant (WP6) Yixi Yang is a Ph.D. candidate at Sociology department, Memorial University. She is a research assistant with FOCI IWP6 Perceptions of Climate Change and Social Futures. Her research interests include public perceptions of climate change, climate change discourse, environmental politics and governance, public participation in environmental governance, and social network analysis.

Memorial University Cindy Marven Community of Practice Engagement Coordinator (IWP2) Cindy holds a MSc (Geography) from the University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, where her research interests centred around marine risk and spatial statistical analysis to support search and rescue planning. Her interest in risk broadened to include risk communication and since 2017, she has coordinated the Coast and Ocean Risk Communication Community of Practice ( CORC CoP ), initiated by MEOPAR (the Marine Environmental Observation Prediction and Response) Network, that focuses on bringing practitioners and researchers together from academia, government, industry, and the private sector to address the challenges of communicating risks of coastal and marine hazards, many of which are exacerbated by climate change.

Memorial University Jennifer Charles Research Assistant (WP7) More to come.

Peter Kikkert Co-investigator (WP3) Dr. Peter Kikkert is the Irving Shipbuilding Chair in Arctic Policy and an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Governance at the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government, St. Francis Xavier University. Dr. Kikkert's research focuses on how to strengthen search and rescue (SAR), emergency management, and disaster response capabilities and bolster community disaster resilience in remote, isolated, northern, and coastal communities. In particular, his work focuses on the roles, responsibilities, and capabilities of the community-based organizations involved in SAR and emergency response (e.g. Coast Guard Auxiliary, volunteer SAR teams, Canadian Rangers), and how to better incorporate these groups into broader SAR and emergency management plans and policies. In pursuing this research program, Dr. Kikkert works extensively with northern communities, community-based organizations, and with the federal, territorial, and municipal agencies involved in public safety, SAR, and emergency management. Dr. Kikkert is involved in Work Package 3 “Search and Rescue in Remote Regions”.

Floris Goerlandt Co-investigator (WP1; WP3) Dr. Goerlandt is an assistant professor in the Industrial Engineering Department at Dalhousie University. He holds the Canada Research Chair in Risk Management and Response Optimization for Marine Industries, through which he develops frameworks, models, and case studies for enhancing safety and minimizing environmental impacts of maritime activities. Before joining Dalhousie University, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Marine Technology unit in Aalto University, Finland. He has worked extensively with maritime authorities, industry, and international organizations, mostly in the Baltic Sea area. Topics included shipping safety management, oil spill preparedness and response risk analysis and management, maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) analysis and modeling, and ship routing in ice. His expertise in risk and safety concepts, theories, and methods, combined with his experience with the maritime industry and policy context is instrumental in achieving the objectives of Work Package 1 “Improving safety and environmental footprints of marine vehicles by design and operation” (WP1). In addition to the above, his knowledge of engineering modeling is also central in achieving the objectives of Work Package 3 “Search and Rescue in remote regions” (WP3).

Marine Institute, Memorial University Yang Ji Master's Student (WP3) Yang Ji is a MSc. candidate in Maritime Studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Beginning his academic sojourn with degrees in psychology and education from the University of Toronto, a personal passion for ships then guided him to a diploma in naval architecture at the Marine Institute. A pivotal third-year project on expeditionary cruise ship design introduced Yang to the intricacies of human factors and maritime evacuation. This experience, coupled with his intrigue about passenger safety beyond mere ship design, channeled him towards his current Master's endeavor. Now, Yang seeks to model the impact of fixed-wing search and rescue (SAR) aircraft on overall rescue duration. Merging his diverse background with this research, he aims to enhance SAR efficacy and offer insights beneficial for strategic maritime planning and acquisitions.

Martin Day Co-investigator (WP2) Dr. Martin Day is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He is trained in social psychology and has interests in understanding people’s attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours. In particular, his research has focused on better understanding how people’s beliefs relate to their behaviours on a variety of societal topics, including the environment, as well as social and economic issues. His research methodology includes conducting surveys of people’s beliefs and attitudes, and creating novel study materials and questionnaires. Dr. Day has expertise on how psychological factors can influence and explain people’s beliefs, and how to accurately assess and evaluate people’s existing knowledge and opinions on applied topics. Dr. Day will serve as co-lead on WP2.2 (Utility of Climate Guidance). His overarching research duties are to provide expertise on how to accurately assess stakeholders’ knowledge, understanding, and attitudes related to climate guidance.

Memorial University Alexis McGill Doctoral Candidate (IWP1) My name is Ali McGill. I’m a PhD candidate in Interdisciplinary Studies at Memorial University working with the research team on IWP 1, Fore sighting Sustainable Coastal Community Infrastructure. My work as it relates to FOCI is to further examine methodological approaches that can be used by FOCI for fore sighting, process mapping, and performance management. My professional background is in healthcare where I have worked as a Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner for over 20 years in Saint John, New Brunswick. My PhD work is focused on the use of the Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM), a Systems Engineering methodology to examine and analyze complex socio-technical processes and systems. I am using the FRAM to examine how the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) process varies under everyday conditions of work in Eastern Health, Newfoundland. I will apply the FRAM to this complex care process to: 1. Produce a functional model of the everyday activities and interdependencies of the CGA process in the community-based system. 2. Develop scenarios from data collected in semi-structured interviews with system stakeholders that depict variability in the CGA process. 3. Determine how variability can create challenges or generate opportunities for delivery of integrated healthcare services to older adults. 4. Provide process improvement recommendations to enhance positive variability and dampen negative variability and nudge the community based CGA process towards a more integrated approach to service delivery. In addition to my empirical research campaign using the FRAM, I have published “The Functional Resonance Analysis Method as a health care research methodology: A scoping review” in the peer reviewed journal, JBI Synthesis. I have also completed two other publications which are currently under review, “Building a Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) Model: Practical Guidance on Qualitative Data Collection and Analysis” and “Establishing Trustworthiness in Health Care Process Modelling: A Practical Guide to Quality Enhancement in Studies Using the Functional Resonance Analysis Method.” I hope to contribute my knowledge of the FRAM and its applicability to transdisciplinary research processes to the greater FOCI team.

Catherine Potvin Co-Investigator (IWP3) I am a Professor in the Biology Department, McGill University, who specialises on climate change mitigation. Since its inception in 2014, I have led Sustainable Canada Dialogues (SCD), a voluntary network that mobilizes over 80 researchers from every province in Canada, including 20 research chairs, 16 directors and seven members of the Royal Society of Canada, from geography to engineering to sociology. SCD scholars share the concern that governments should steer the course of economy and social development towards sustainability in order to mitigate the future consequences of extreme climate change. We have identified points of consensus, priorities and key policy orientations to guide achievable action and empower decision-makers and citizens alike. Since 2014, the scholars have hosted meetings with up to 70 civil society members and 150 policymakers to consult with them on their needs and interests and give feedback on climate policy. We have produced five reports, written seven open letters to decision-makers and 17 editorials, edited one special issue in a magazine and published two journal articles (with another submitted). I gave 18 English and 62 French interviews—10 print, 65 radio and five television—for SCD. From 2018–2019, I sat on the Ministerial working Group on Ecological and Cultural Integrity in National Parks for Parks Canada. From 2005–2011, I was Panama’s main REDD+ negotiator at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. From 2005–2009, I was the advisor to Panama’s Vice-Minister of the Environment for forest-related issues. I am designated by the World Bank as a core member of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility Technical Advisory Panel.

Robert Brown Lead (WP3) Dr. Robert Brown is a research scientist in offshore and maritime safety at the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland. His expertise is human factors and equipment performance in maritime and offshore emergency situations (evacuation, survival and rescue). Dr. Brown works both in laboratory environments and at full scale during field trials at sea and uses results to mathematically model the processes and validate models developed. Prior to joining the Marine Institute, Dr. Brown was an ice engineer at C-CORE where he developed Monte-Carlo-based probabilistic risk models for ice impact with offshore structures and pipelines.

Pam Hall Collaborator (IWP4) To learn more please view www.pamhall.ca and https://encyclopediaoflocalknowledge.com/ .