Research

Chris Darimont in a forest

Chris Darimont's research shows how extreme human predatory behavior is responsible for widespread wildlife extinctions, shrinking fish sizes and disruptions to global food chains.

Costa on a BC Ferry looking at a monitor with two other people

Passengers are helping UVic geographer Maycira Costa and grad students understand ocean health and declining salmon populations in the Salish Sea.

Prowse at a small lake near Inuvik, NWT

Terry Prowse is researching the interplay of temperature and snow in the mountains and how it has a huge impact on our lives.

Waste pickers in Dhaka

Jutta Gutberlet is leading the Participatory Sustainable Waste Management project, which examines the health risks and livelihoods of waste pickers in Bangladesh.

Levi Hildebrand behind a video camera outdoors

Undergraduate student Levi Hildebrand says combining his two passions, geography and film making, to share research is very inspiring.

Our vibrant research program

Geography faculty members conduct research locally and globally to benefit environmental and social causes. Our laboratories are faculty established and managed to carry out specific research programs through a geographic perspective.

All labs include workstations for graduate students to assist in department projects and gain valuable research experience in their field of interest.

Geography Master’s student Alessia Kockel explains her research on Marine Protected Areas in the Philippines. This film was produced by geography undergraduate student Levi Hildebrand

Student research

Students undertake their own research for undergraduate courses, during an honours undergraduate degree, as a recipient of the Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Award, or during graduate degrees.

Students have a variety of opportunities to share and present their research, both at UVic and elsewhere. Common options for early-career researchers include:

  • Bridging the Gap, an annual student conference organized by the UVic Department of Geography
  • JCURA Research Fair, a UVic undergraduate research fair for recipients of the Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Award (JCURA)
  • WDCAG Meeting, an annual meeting of the Western Division, Canadian Association of Geographers. The location of this conference changes from year to year.

Students are encouraged to present their research and attend conferences when possible, as this promotes networking, community building, development of presentation skills, and exploration of other areas of geography.