D E PA R T M E N T O F G E O G R A P H Y
RESEARCH REPORT
13/14
M ES SAGE FROM
THE GEOGRAPHY RESEARCH GROUP
F R O M L E F T: C H A R L E S M AT H E R , A N D R E A Q U I G L E Y A N D T R E V O R B E L L
This is the second year that the Geography Research
on these and other projects in the clusters. Visit www.
Group has produced a report that highlights some
mun.ca/geog for updates. As was the case in last year’s
of the exciting research and emerging talent in the
report, this is but a sample of the outstanding research
Geography Department of Memorial University. The
being conducted in the department. Future reports will
first report has been very useful in introducing the
continue to showcase the depth and breadth of our
research dimension of our department to colleagues
research here in the province and beyond.
and administrators across campus. It has also served us well in showing what geographers can do for the
In the Talent section, we feature graduate students
benefit of Newfoundland and Labrador and society in
from the Too Big To Ignore global partnership for
general. When our visiting scholars from around the
small-scale fisheries and from individual projects
globe take home a copy, they take with them a sample
that span the discipline and the globe. Our new
of our department’s collaborative and supportive
section this year is Research Notables, in which we
approach to research.
highlight two projects that distinguish themselves on a national stage.
This year’s report is again structured around the research clusters in the department. The profiled projects
The Geography Research Group continues to develop
illustrate the depth of research being undertaken in
research capacity in the department and to publicize
each cluster and the scope for interactions between
our considerable success whenever possible. We
clusters. Our new Geography Research website,
acknowledge the Scholarship in the Arts initiative for
currently under construction, will provide further details
supporting the publication of this report.
M ESS ESSAG A G E FROM
T H E A S S O C I AT E V P R E S E A R C H P R O T E M P O R E
CARRIE DYCK
It is a pleasure for me to introduce the second
sustainability of individual- versus community-based
annual Research Report of Memorial University’s
fish quota systems. Keeling’s research documents and
Department of Geography, which is every bit as
explores the effect of resource extraction in northern,
exciting to read as last year’s inaugural report. The
particularly Aboriginal, communities. And Simms’
international impact of the Department’s research
work demonstrates the power of applying geographic
in part derives from its admirable emphasis on the
information to understanding the causes and possible
‘human dimension’ of social attitudes, processes,
ways of mitigating human illnesses. To address the
and behaviors in scientific research. This focus is
above issues and more, researchers in the Department
apparent in Finnis’ work on increasing the value of
of Geography singularly excel at interdisciplinary
climate projection communications for non-specialists
and international collaboration with climatologists,
and industry. As well, Brown’s research on treeline
sociologists, environmentalists, historians, medical
range expansion indirectly comments on the effects
researchers, and communities. Altogether, this report
of human activities on the earth’s ecosystems (the
is an engaging and powerful read, and I hope you will
‘anthropocene’). Mather’s work compares the relative
enjoy it as much as I did.
03 RESEARCH CLUSTERS 04 FORECASTING FOR MARINE SAFETY 06 SPECIES ON THE MOVE? 08 ANCHORING RESOURCE R I G H T S I N C O A S TA L COMMUNITIES 10 RESOURCES, POLLUTION, AND THE NORTH 1 2 H E A LT H A N D M E D I C A L GEOGRAPHY 1 4 TA L E N T 1 6 R E S E A R C H N O TA B L E S
G L O B A L I Z AT I O N , ECONOMY & RESOURCES
G E O G R A P H Y D E PA RT M E N T
RESEARCH CLUSTERS In late 2009, the Geography Department hosted a meeting with the vice-president (research) (VPR) and the dean of Arts. The purpose of the meeting was to allow the VPR to outline strategic initiatives coming out of his office for research at Memorial. We decided to use this opportunity to present our re-
S U S TA I N A B L E COMMUNITIES & REGIONS
search, highlight our recent achievements, and raise some of the challenges we faced in reaching our goals. In preparing for this process we identified four research clusters, which have allowed us to present our varied research projects in a more coherent fashion. This is in contrast to previous efforts to present our research, which have relied on disciplinary distinctions (e.g. cultural, economic, physical geography). The four clusters are: Globalization, economy and resources; Sustainable communities and regions; Climate and environmental change; and Society, knowledge and values. We subsequently identified a fifth cluster in the area of Health and well-being. This cluster links closely with several specific research projects currently underway in the de-
C L I M AT E & E N V I R O N M E N TA L CHANGE
partment. Our goal is to strengthen this cluster through a new appointment in the not-too-distant future. Geography research clusters contribute to and are aligned with the strategic research themes of Memorial University.
S O C I E T Y, KNOWLEDGE & VA L U E S
H E A LT H & WELLBEING
D E PA R T M E N T O F G E O G R A P H Y R E S E A R C H R E P O R T 1 3 / 1 4
HOW DO WE BUILD TRUST IN MARINE FORECASTING? S O C I E T Y, KNOWLEDGE & VA L U E S
D E PA R T M E N T O F G E O G R A P H Y R E S E A R C H R E P O R T 1 3 / 1 4
FORECASTING FOR MARINE SAFETY
JOEL FINNIS
The reliability of weather forecasts has improved
funded under the Marine Environment Observation
immensely since the 1950s, gaining one to two days
Prediction and Response (MEOPAR) Network. With
of skillful prediction every decade. We can now make
Dr. Barbara Neis (Dept. of Sociology) and Dr. Ron
predictions at lead times of 3 to 5 days with the
Pelot (Dalhousie), Joel is working on a pair of projects
same accuracy as the 24 hour forecasts of the 1980s.
aimed at improving the quality of marine forecasts,
When incorporated into short-term planning, these
communicating risks associated with marine hazards,
forecasts have the potential to greatly reduce the
and comparing forecast use across industry sectors.
impacts of hazardous weather. But are these benefits being fully realized?
“We’re interested in the ways different groups approach forecasts; what they value, what they
“We like to think so – but there is still a huge distance
need, and how this aligns with the strengths
between the enthusiasm I hear from forecasters
and communication strategies of the forecasters
and the digs at forecasting I hear from the public. I
themselves. We know some industry sectors are more
know some users are aware of improved forecast
pro-active in their pursuit of weather data than others;
accuracy, but this awareness is far from uniform” says
for example, offshore oil has much stronger ties to the
climatologist Joel Finnis. “It raises questions around
forecasting community than the fishing industry. Is this
the best way to communicate the value of forecasts,
simply a reflection of different needs and resources?
and what factors promote or limit their application.”
Or can successes in one industry help us increase use
These questions are the subject of new research
in others?”
G L O B A L LY DISTRIBUTED EXPERIMENTS ALLOW US TO ASK LARGE-SCALE BIOGEOGRAPHICAL QUESTIONS C L I M AT E & E N V I R O N M E N TA L CHANGE
SPECIES ON THE MOVE? Predicting the distribution of species under global
follows that non-climatic factors, like soil conditions or
change is one of the greatest scientific challenges
species interactions, can sometimes override climate
we currently face. Species are already shifting their
effects, leading to unexpected species responses.”
distributions to match changes in climate, but not always at the rate we would expect. There are many
Teasing apart those climatic and non-climatic factors is
examples of species responding more slowly than
a challenge, and requires detailed field experiments,
expected, or seemingly not responding at all. The
which is where the idea of G-TREE began. Carissa
causes of these time lags, and their implication for
explains, “Globally distributed experiments, like
species distributions in the future, are the focus of
G-TREE, allow us to ask large-scale biogeographical
The Global Treeline Range Expansion Experiment
questions through the collaboration of a network
(G-TREE), an international research effort led by
of
Carissa Brown.
sites are now located across Canada, the United
international
researchers.”
G-TREE
research
States, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Venezuela, “We know that many non-climatic factors influence
Australia, and New Zealand, with many more sites
an individual plant’s ability to establish, grow, and
planned for the coming field season. This initiative is
succeed in a given location,” Carissa explains. “The
providing empirical data on where, and under what
presence of predators, soil characteristics, seed
circumstances, treeline expansion can occur globally,
dispersal ability, and topography of a site can all
and the role of non-climatic factors in slowing down
affect an individual’s ability to establish and grow. It
species responses to climate change.
CARISSA BROWN
D E PA R T M E N T O F G E O G R A P H Y R E S E A R C H R E P O R T 1 3 / 1 4
I N N O VAT I V E RESOURCE A L L O C AT I O N REGIMES CAN S U S TA I N REMOTE C O A S TA L COMMUNITIES S U S TA I N A B L E COMMUNITIES & REGIONS
The majority of Canada’s fish resources are
organisations. Allocating quotas in this way
Without them, it is difficult to see how these
allocated to individuals or to enterprises.
has the potential to anchor resources in
communities
In this way, Canada’s approach to resource
communities; and because these resources
economically and socially.” Mather believes that the lessons from Newfoundland and
could
sustain
themselves,
allocation follows the conventional wisdom
are used collectively, there is potential for
in fisheries resource management: allocating
better outcomes in terms of environmental
Labrador have wider significance: “In the
resources
sustainability.
United States the new policy on fish resource
to
individuals,
the
argument
allocation has shifted to ‘catch shares’ and the
goes, leads to economic efficiency and co-
policy allows community fishing associations to
conventional wisdom is under pressure with
researchers Paul Foley and Barbara Neis,
manage and control quotas. But not everyone
evidence that allocating fish resources to
has been researching and writing about
is convinced that catch shares should be
individuals does not always lead to economic
the historical origins and the ongoing use
allocated to communities. The Newfoundland
efficiency or environmental sustainability.
of several different community quotas in
and Labrador cases are important for the US’s
When individual fish quotas are transferable
Canada’s northern shrimp industry. Their
catch share policy because they show how
from one person to another, there is also
work has focused on three case studies in
innovative resource allocation regimes can
the risk that quotas will shift away from fish
Newfoundland and Labrador – the Labrador
sustain remote coastal communities.”
dependent coastal communities.
Shrimp
environmental
sustainability.
But
this
Charles
Mather,
Company,
together
St.
with
Anthony
Basin
Resources Incorporated and Fogo Island. As
The research, which is ongoing, is supported
quotas
he argues, “These quotas have been crucial
by the NSERC funded Canadian Fisheries
involves the allocation of fish resources
to the sustainability of coastal communities on
Research Network (CFRN), the Harris Centre
to communities and to community-based
the island of Newfoundland and in Labrador.
and through a SSHRC Insight Grant.
An
alternative
to
individual
ANCHORING RESOURCE RIGHTS IN NEWFOUNDLAND A N D L A B R A D O R ’ S C O A S TA L C O M M U N I T I E S
C H A R L E S M AT H E R
D E PA R T M E N T O F G E O G R A P H Y R E S E A R C H R E P O R T 1 3 / 1 4
PEOPLE OFTEN FORGET T H AT THESE ARE FINITE RESOURCES G L O B A L I Z AT I O N ECONOMY & RESOURCES
RESOURCES, POLLUTION, AND THE NORTH
ARN KEELING
With all the rhetoric around Canada’s North as a
Keeling and his research partners have worked
new resource frontier, it is easy to forget that the
with northern Aboriginal communities to document
country’s northern latitudes have been the scene
their experience of past developments through oral
of industrial resource-extractive activities for at
history and archival research. They also help apply
least a century. These past developments not only
these lessons to current-day debates over new
transformed northern environments and societies,
resource developments—and efforts to clean up the
they left historical legacies that continue to affect
environmental problems left by past developments.
the North. Working with researchers and students
Research into the environmental legacies of mineral
from Memorial and across the country, Arn Keeling
development has led to a new collaborative project
is exploring the lessons of the North’s industrial
based at Memorial, “Northern Exposures: Science,
past to inform today’s resource developments.
indigenous peoples, and northern contaminants,”
“In the rush to promote mining and hydrocarbon
funded through a SSHRC Insight Grant. This project
development in the North, people often forget
will investigate the historical geography of pollution
that these are finite resources, and subject to
from industrial development and military activities,
distant and often volatile market pressures,” he
and the efforts of Aboriginal communities, scientific
explains. “In the past, northern communities have
researchers, and governments to respond to the
been devastated when such industries close.”
issue of toxics in the northern environment.
D E PA R T M E N T O F G E O G R A P H Y R E S E A R C H R E P O R T 1 3 / 1 4
THE CONTINUAL EMERGENCE OF OLD AND NEW DISEASES EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR AN I N T E R D I S C I P L I N A RY APPROACH H E A LT H & WELLBEING
H E A LT H A N D M E D I C A L G E O G R A P H Y Geography, epidemiology and medicine have a long
changes on self-assessed and administrative health
history – a history that we can trace back to John
indicators.
Snow’s famous maps of cholera deaths in nineteenth
new insights into chronic disease and migration
Other
research
outcomes
include
century London. By mapping cholera deaths, Snow
patterns, the geographical variation of lipid profiles,
was able to show that cholera infections were spread
as well as a Halton, Ontario study on BMI and the
through poor quality water sources. Contemporary
built environment. Simms’ research also has an
health geographers continue to use maps, but
international component: he played an important
the focus is on pressing health issues related
role in the mapping of residences and water sources
to the impact of ageing, an increasingly mobile
in Bhopal, India, a city affected by a devastating
population, inequalities caused by the distribution
pollution outbreak. Future projects and proposals
of wealth and health care, and the outbreak of old
include research on the influence of demographic and
and new diseases. In this complex and dynamic
socioeconomic determinants on the location of health
environment, the appropriate response involves an
care centres and services, environmental health,
interdisciplinary approach that focuses on [1] the
water quality, the spatial and temporal diffusion of
geographical variations of health, [2] links between
tuberculosis and building a healthy food environment
disease, location, environment and socio-economic
in NL. Simms’ ongoing collaboration has also resulted
conditions, [3] location and impact of health care
in the development of graduate course material (two
services and types, and [4] climate change and its
graduate courses in medical geography) and the
impact on health (Source: Hayes, et. al., 1992).
soon to be finalized Master’s program in Medical Geography, a programme that will be managed by
Over the last 10 years Alvin Simms has been
Geography and Community Health and Humanities.
collaborating with research associates at Memorial University in Community Health and Humanities,
Source: Hayes, M.V, Foster, L and H.D. Foster
Primary Healthcare Research Unit, and Family
(Editors)
Medicine. The results of this collaboration have led to
Geographic Perspectives, Western Geographical
Community,
Environment
and
Health:
innovative analyses of the impact of socioeconomic
Series, University of Victoria, BC, Volume 27, 1992.
A LV I N S I M M S D E PA R T M E N T O F G E O G R A P H Y R E S E A R C H R E P O R T 1 3 / 1 4
TA L E N T F R O M L E F T: C H L O E P O I T E V I N , M I R E L L A D E O L I V E I R A L E I S A N D V I C T O R I A R O G E R S
T OO BI G TO I GN OR E ( TB TI) TI )
M I R EL L A DE O L I V E I RA L E I S
is a research network and knowledge mobi-
My research examines the challenges and
lization partnership based out of Memorial’s
opportunities to the implementation of Ma-
Department of Geography, led by Ratana
rine Protected Areas (MPAs) through the lens
Chuenpagdee. Three of Ratana’s masters
of the interactive governance framework.
students are partaking in varied and excit-
My study focuses on the case of the newly
ing research, locally and internationally, to
designated Marine National Park of Currais
contribute to the mission of the project: to
Islands in Southern Brazil, where it applies a
elevate the profile of small-scale fisheries.
methodology involving a survey and a mapping exercise conducted with small-scale
C HLOE POITEVIN
fishers as key resource users. Findings from
My MA thesis, Fish as Food: Examining a
this study aim at offering suggestions for the
Place for Fish in Newfoundland’s Alternative
management plan towards implementation
E M IL I L I E N O VAC VACE VA CE EK
Food Networks, contributes to a better un-
of this MPA, and elsewhere.
I work with Fisheries and Oceans Canada
derstanding of local markets for locally and
on a project that combines tracked fish
sustainably caught fish in Newfoundland.
VI C T TO OR R I A ROG RO G E RS
movements, high resolution multibeam
Alternative food networks have been devel-
My research focuses on the social complexi-
sonar, underwater video and sediment
oped to challenge the conventional global-
ty of multiple-use coastal areas—specifically
samples to model Atlantic Wolfish habitat
ized food system by emphasizing localized
among tourism, fisheries, and conservation
and population distribution. The Atlantic
and alternate ways of producing, distribut-
operations. This study emphasizes the im-
Wolffish is listed as a species of “special
ing, consuming, and thinking about food.
portance of existing capacity found within
concern” by Canada’s Species at Risk Act.
This study examines the opportunities and
social systems that is often overlooked when
Experts estimate that over 60% of adult
challenges in developing alternative food
it comes to management plans. Through the
fish were lost by the early 1990s and the
networks in Newfoundland fisheries, and
analysis of relationships and related factors,
reduced population remains extremely
strengthening food security. I’m looking at
I explore the potential for synergies among
vulnerable to threats like fisheries by-catch,
seafood traceability in Port aux Basques, the
stakeholders that are conducive to steward-
habitat degradation and climate change.
promotion omotion of locally caught and sustainable
ship and governance of coastal resources.
My research will provide maps and predic-
fish by retailers in St St. John’s, and stewardship
Koh Chang, an island in the Gulf of Thailand,
tive tools for identifying Atlantic Wolffish
and conservation edu education in Petty Harbour.
was selected as a case study.
habitat for conservation planning.
D E PA R T M E N T O F G E O G R A P H Y R E S E A R C H R E P O R T 1 3 / 1 4
CH RI S T O OP P H E R BA I RD RD My research project, Swimming Inventories Lost and Catching the Released: Experiences of Salmon Anglers Catching Escaped Farmed Salmonids, deals with one of the most controversial issues facing the province today, salmon aquaculture. At any given time in Newfoundland, millions of farmed salmonids, such as Atlantics and steelhead, are held in pens in close proximity to wild populations of salmon. Occasionally, during a storm or major tidal event, the farmed salmonids escape and make the precarious journey into the rivers of Newfoundland. It is there that they are caught by both aboriginal and non-aboriginal salmon anglers. I wish to understand how these domesticated escapees are impacting the experience of salmon angling for Newfoundlanders.
G RA C CE E A KE S E The key international regulation governing the trade of electronic waste (e-waste), the Basel Convention, is premised on prohibiting trade flows from “developed” to “developing” countries. However, recent research has shown that the global e-waste trade is dominated by trade between developing countries (South-South trade). My research, which examines the e-waste trade between China and Ghana, challenges this ‘blindspot’ of the Basel Convention and explores whether a system of SouthSouth e-waste trade premised on ‘ethical trade’ is an alternative way to trade e-waste sustainably and equitably.
ROB E RT DEERING DEERIN G My research involves developing a better understanding of submarine mass failures in the fjords of Baffin Island. These events have the destructive power to damage or destroy seabed infrastructure, as well as the potential to generate tsunami waves that can inundate communities. Through seabed mapping and coring we will gain knowledge about the seabed settings and causes of these events in the region. Greater knowledge of these events will allow for better informed hazard assessments, safer and more sustainable northern communities, and better practices for planning and design in the coastal regions of the Canadian Arctic.
V ICT VI CTORIA ORIA BAILEY My current research explores how differing conceptions of quality in seafood markets influence production along the Global Value Chain for Newfoundland and Labrador’s inshore Northern Shrimp industry. The project extends an already detailed discussion of industrialization and globalization in food production into wild seafood products. I have physically followed the shrimp from fishing boats off Newfoundland, to the headquarters of large European seafood suppliers and marketing bodies, conducting indepth interviews along the way. Utilizing these recordings, I am also experimenting with audio documentary production as a means of meaningfully engaging industry participants in the final outcomes of the research.
R E S E A R C H N O TA B L E S T H E W I N N I N G S A K K I J Â N G I N N AT U K N U N A L I K T E A M : T R E V O R B E L L I S T H I R D F R O M L E F T A N D C H R I S T I N A G O L D H A R I S FA R R I G H T, B O T H I N B A C K R O W.
I N S P I R AT I O N A L G E O G R A P H E R S Geographers Trevor Bell (Professor) and Christina
signed research projects that address the challenges
Goldhar (MA 2011) were members of the winning
of climate change and promote and evaluate ad-
SakKijânginnatuk Nunalik (Sustainable Communities
aptation actions,” said Dr. Bell after the ceremony.
Initiative) team that shared the Arctic Inspiration
“Working with the Sustainable Communities team
Prize, announced at a gala event in Halifax in Decem-
and Nunatsiavummuit has been the most reward-
ber. Their winning project - Healthy homes in thriv-
ing and transformative of my academic career. Our
ing Nunatsiavut communities - received $350,000 for
action-oriented research is affecting meaningful
their Knowledge-to-Action plan to build and monitor
change in a remote area of our province that has
Nunatsiavut’s first sustainable, multi-unit, residen-
experienced rapid political, socio-economic, climatic
tial dwelling and establish a prototype for northern
and environmental changes in recent decades. Win-
housing development that addresses the changing
ning the Arctic Inspiration Prize is wonderful recog-
climate, infrastructure requirements and Inuit hous-
nition of the value of applied and engaged research,
ing needs and preferences.
especially research that directly affects quality of life
“For the past decade or so I have worked closely
searchers at Memorial to engage communities and
with northern communities and regions on co-de-
regions with their knowledge and expertise.”
in communities. I hope it inspires our early career re-
R E G I O N A L A N A LY T I C S I N G E O G R A P H Y
F R O M L E F T: A LV I N S I M M S A N D J A M I E W A R D
A trend in regional planning and development programs
shipment delays on region economies,
is the move to evidence based methods. Regional
[3] Identification of functional economic regions for
analytics methodology is an example of evidence based
economic development in Atlantic Canada,
methods as they use quantitative data to generate
[4] Regional economic impact analysis and identification
solutions for policy challenges at a range of spatial scales.
of industry supply chains for pulp-and paper, aquaculture
In other words, these regional analytics methodologies
and iron mining in Newfoundland and Labrador
allow us to develop real world solutions to regional
[5] Analysis and forecasting of demographic change on
development challenges. The recent availability of
the Burin Peninsula and its impact on regional industries
relevant data has provided the impetus for a research
and labour markets and
group at Memorial to develop an innovative suite of
[6] Forecasting of population change and housing
regional analytical methods to assess the impacts–and
requirements for the NE Avalon.
to analyze the dynamics–of the interconnectedness of demography, socio-economic factors, industries and
The data collected through the group’s research
occupations.
provides the basis for interpreting the impact of local, provincial, national and global events at various
Simms and his research partners Dr. David Freshwater
geographical scales. Within the context of policy these
and Jamie Ward (MSc Geography) along with the
forecast models provide the framework for development
Harris Centre are engaged in funded regional analytics
strategies as well as information on potential impact of
projects involving:
existing opportunities and stresses that can enhance
[1] Analysis of industry-to-occupation and industry-to-
or impede regional growth. A major component of
industry dependencies and linkages to assess present
this research is the engagement of stakeholders at
and future labour force supply issues in Atlantic Canada,
all levels of government as well as local development
[2] An investigation into the transportation supply chain
associations. The outcomes of the research are being
on the Island of Newfoundland and assess the impact of
mobilized through public forums and town meetings.
D E PA R T M E N T O F G E O G R A P H Y R E S E A R C H R E P O R T 1 3 / 1 4
081-14030
C O N S I D E R I N G G R A D U AT E S T U D Y IN GEOGRAPHY? We offer fully funded studentships for MA, MSc, and PhD programs. Our graduate program attracts students from across Canada and around the world, and provides opportunities for field-based scientific and social scientific studies in a wide variety of areas. Students
attending
Memorial
receive
instruction
in
geographical practices and methods appropriate to their field of study. Our program offers the chance to interact with a diverse array of fellow students and to live and study in St. John’s, the culturally vibrant capital of the ruggedly beautiful province of Newfoundland. Our graduates go on to further advanced study, university faculty positions, and governments and private sector employment. Please visit our website to learn about particular faculty members’ interests and to find out about specific graduate student opportunities: www.mun.ca/geog. Our application deadline is listed as January 15, but we will consider applicants on an ongoing basis. For more information and applications for graduate study at Memorial, visit www.mun.ca/sgs. Find out more at:
D E PA R T M E N T OF GEOGRAPHY
W W W. M U N . C A / G E O G