I grew up in the diverse city of Toronto where even in the dead of winter, I was often packed in a baby carriage and left outside to sleep. Since then, I have been interested in how the weather and the climate affect people.
Today, I am an interdisciplinary climate scientist and professor at the University of British Columbia, where I teach and conduct research at the intersection of climate science, marine science, and policy. I hold appointments in UBC’s Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, Geography Department, and Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries. I am also a member of Canada’s Net-Zero Advisory Body, which advises the federal government on pathways to eliminate climate-warming emissions.
Being a scientist and a professor at a public institution, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to engage my curiosity about the world for a living. With that opportunity, comes responsibility. I regularly volunteer to translate climate change science for the public and policymakers via government hearings, community events, radio and television appearances, and sometimes, by filming videos about climate change while cycling to work. For more on these efforts, please see the Engagement page.
Due to a lifelong love of watersports, my spouse says I’m like an aquatic plant – I need sun and water to thrive. After the start of the pandemic, we dipped into the cold ocean near our Vancouver home every day for over a year.
