Michael Lanthier

Dr. Michael Lanthier completed his PhD at Simon Fraser University in 2005. His thesis, Women Alone: Widows in Third Republic France, 1870-1940, examined the fate of Frenchwomen who lost the support of their husbands, and the ways in which they managed to make ends meet.  He currently teachers French, European and gender history at the University of British Columbia.  His most recent project deals with water, and the ways in which people have understood and treated this most basic of commodities throughout history. Fresh water is becoming increasingly rare as the global population continues to grow and damage our fragile eco-system: competition for this scarce yet absolutely vital resource will shape the 21st century, particularly in a water-rich country like Canada. A better understanding of our historical attitudes towards water is necessary for the drafting of equitable and sustainable water policies in the near future.

Previously taught: