Laurier expert alert: Earth Day

April 18, 2019
For Immediate Release

Waterloo – Earth Day is Monday, April 22. There are several Laurier experts available to speak about the environment, climate change, environmental policy and citizenship engagement, among other topics.   

Anne Wilson, professor in Laurier’s Department of Psychology, is an expert on motivations for environmentally sustainable behaviour and beliefs about climate change. She can speak about why, despite mounting evidence of the urgency of climate change, many people still fail to act or even accept the science, and what we can do to change that. Contact information: 519.884.0710 x3037 or awilson@wlu.ca.

Randall Wigle, professor in Laurier’s Department of Economics and at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, is an expert on Canadian climate policy and environmental economics, especially the linkages between federal and provincial action. He uses general equilibrium modeling to simulate the world economy’s response to environmental and trade policies. Contact information: 226.772.3164 or rwigle@wlu.ca.

Alex Latta, associate professor in Laurier’s Department of Global Studies and Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, is an expert on political ecology, especially ecological citizenship and environment justice, Indigenous rights and natural resources, sustainable local economies and environmental policy. Contact information: 519.884.0710 x3115 or alatta@wlu.ca.

Robert McLeman, associate professor in Laurier’s Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, is an expert on the human dimensions of climate change, including the relationship between environment and human migration, community adaptation to climatic variability and change and citizen participation in environmental science. He is also co-founder of RinkWatch, a research initiative that asks citizens across the country to help environmental scientists by monitoring conditions at local outdoor rinks and ponds. Contact information: 519.884.0710 x2653 or rmcleman@wlu.ca.

Manuel Riemer is an associate professor of community psychology and sustainability science in Laurier’s Department of Psychology and director of the Viessmann Centre for Engagement and Research in Sustainability (VERiS) and the Community, Environment and Justice Research Group. He is an expert on the engagement of people in a culture of sustainability (currently focusing on organizations located in green office buildings) and the engagement of young people in climate action. Contact information: 519.884.0710 x2982 or mriemer@wlu.ca (preferred).

Timed with Earth Day, Laurier has launched a new, immersive look at water from a multi-disciplinary perspective. Water explores how climate change is impacting the vulnerability of our water and the systems that rely on it. Research from Wilfrid Laurier University is informing – and preparing – Canadians about the changes that may lie ahead. Water invites readers to dive deeper to learn about the global impact of Laurier researchers and our wider community.

This collaborative project showcases a new, immersive digital format and invites readers to dive into specialized topics spread across six chapters – Water Bodies, Ecosystems, In the North, Disasters, Indigenous Knowledge and Making Change. The feature showcases Laurier researchers from a number of disciplines, projects and initiatives and includes a call to ignite change as individuals, organizations and communities.

Please contact us if you would like to connect with any of the researchers featured in the Water feature.