Our research
UVic Geography faculty conduct research locally and globally to benefit environmental and social causes.
We seek to contribute new knowledge, understanding and solutions to the challenges facing society. These contributions - disciplinary and interdisciplinary - range from the local and humanistic to the international and biophysical.
Our members have several commitments to external communities. Often, such engagement is a challenging process as we seek to understand and mediate disparate and sometimes conflicting community goals.
This is the essence of much of our commitment as geographers. We aim to seek the best in our communities and to offer our knowledge to assist in building sound communities.
Learn about UVic Geography on:
Collaborations
Water & Climate Impacts Research Centre (W-CIRC)
W-CIRC was established as part of a co-location agreement between the Department of Geography and the National Water Research Institute (NWRI) of Environment Canada (EC).
A primary focus of W-CIRC's current research is participation in the hydrology, hydro-climatology, hydrologic-hydraulic modelling, sediment processes and ecological flow needs sub-components of the water quantity/hydrology/sediment program that forms part of EC's world-class oil sands monitoring program.
They are also studying the hydrologic and ecological impacts of atmospheric change and variability, particularly in the Canadian Arctic.
Other affiliates include NWRI scientists and research technicians at the National Hydrology Research Centre (NHRC) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and the Canadian Centre for Inland Waters (CCIW) in Burlington, Ontario.
Through the co-location model, W-CIRC has established, grown and built a renowned network of academic scientists working in collaboration to fulfill W-CIRC’s program delivery related to EC’s mandate.
Participatory Sustainable Waste Management (PSWM)
PSWM is an interdisciplinary collaboration between UVic and Universitário Fundação Santo André, Brazil. The group undertakes innovative projects dedicated to more sustainable lifestyles suited to the needs and wants of current and future generations.
PSWM members present a viable option to make better use of the world's resources. They explore opportunities to generate income and improve the quality of life for informal recyclers while promoting environmental sustainability and inclusive public policies.
New Emerging Team for Health in Rural and Northern British Columbia (NETHRN-BC)
NETHRN-BC is a multidisciplinary research program based at 5 BC universities (UVic, University of Northern BC, Thompson Rivers University, Simon Fraser University and University of British Columbia).
With investigators in epidemiology, geography, psychology, sociology and statistics, the program will develop research capacity in the social dimensions of rural, remote and northern health in BC to improve the health of those regions’ residents.
Coastal Aquaculture Research and Training (CART) Network
This UVic network comprises a multidisciplinary team of scientists that form an intra-university collaborative network to address research and training initiatives associated with coastal aquaculture.
Working on temperate and tropical region programs, the CART network extends to working relationships with other institutions, within Canada and abroad.
Facilities
Research equipment varies from field equipment such as hand-held GPS units to boats and ATVs. Our state-of-the-art lab-based equipment includes an X-ray densitometer, electronic microscopes, an airborne hyperspectral scanner and advanced analytical software.
Our shared wet/dirty prep lab is equipped with:
- 2 fume-hoods
- a chemical lab
- a 10-station senior undergrad/grad computer lab
- a shared field equipment storage and staging area
- a teaching and research equipment sign-out room
- a wet teaching lab with a soil shaker, ovens and a furnace
Research labs & groups
Chris Darimont’s team conducts science inspired by nature, people and place. They work with Indigenous governments to contribute high-quality data from applied scientific research to inform decision-making.
Led by David Atkinson, researchers in this lab focus on researching climate change and its effects on the environment and society.
Eva Kwoll and researchers examine how waves, tides and currents shape coastlines. They study the impacts of human activities and climate change on coastal environments.
The Community-based Research Laboratory (CBRL) is a knowledge hub created by Dr. Jutta Gutberlet. CBRL hosts researchers and students committed to participatory-oriented and community-based research in Canada and around the world.
Led by Reuben Rose-Redwood, researchers critically examine the interrelations of space, knowledge and power in society and within the academy.
Sophia Carodenuto’s team is a community-engaged research group. They work with global and local partners to support ethical production and consumption to improve lives and ecosystems.
Led by Randall Scharien, the research team studies interactions between ice, climate and ecosystems. They work closely with partners and collaborators on UK/NERC, NSERC, Canada Foundation for Innovation and Polar Knowledge Canada-funded research projects.
Led by Christina Hoicka, lab members research innovation and diffusion, benefits, justice and participation for urban, rural and Indigenous communities in renewable energy transformations.
Maycira Costa and her team investigate the interaction of light energy with organic and inorganic material in ocean waters in the field and controlled lab environment.
Chris Bone’s lab integrates geospatial technologies, simulation modelling and visualization tools for helping communities and government build resilient landscapes.
Noemie Boulanger-Lapointe's lab focuses on the impact of climate and anthropogenic changes on plant communities, herbivores and humans in Arctic and Alpine ecosystems.Ongoing projects focus on changes in plant communities in the southwest Coast Mountains, scientific and Indigenous knowledge of berries in the Canadian North as well as plant-animal interactions in Iceland.
Dave Duffus and his team conduct extensive field research to collect information on marine creatures and combine these field data sets with cutting-edge Geographic Information System analysis.
Map library
The map library in the William C. Mearns Centre for Learning - McPherson Library contains thousands of paper and online maps and aerial photos. Most maps can be borrowed for the same loan period as books. A GIS workstation with ArcGIS can be used by any UVic student, staff or faculty.
For more information, contact Maps and GIS or Geospatial Librarian Daniel Brendle-Moczuk at 250-853-3619.
Research events