I am an assistant professor in the Department of Geography at the University of British Columbia interested in how the climate affects people and aquatic ecosystems. I also maintain the popular blog Maribo.

I currently lead research into the effects of climate variability, climate change and land use change on nutrient cycling, coral reefs, and human decisions. This work provides insight into the impacts of climate and land use change, the policy and mitigation options, and the consequence for human welfare.

Scientists like myself have the opportunity to engage our curiosity about the natural world. With that opportunity comes responsibility. I am committed to increasing public science literacy and communicating with policymakers about climate change and related issues. For more, keep tuned to Maribo.

What's new

My latest study on climate change and coral reefs appears in PLOS-One. Some earlier work on climate change and coral reefs was profiled in the The Guardian, the UNEP report In Deep Water and CBC Radio´s Quirks and Quarks.

See "Fueling the future" in Momentum Magazine to learn about the trade-off between meat production and biofuel production.

Our study linking ethanol production and the Gulf of Mexico "Dead Zone" appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. See Maribo for media coverage.

Students interested in graduate degrees focusing on climate change, coral reefs, and nutrient cycling can apply through Department of Geography, the RMES program or the Atmospheric Science Program. Students are encouraged to apply for external funding; please note those applications (e.g. NSERC, SSHRC) are often due before UBC graduate applications.