issues and experts

Climate change, heat & wildfires – SFU experts available

July 13, 2021
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Heat waves, record-breaking temperatures and raging forest fires are underscoring the potential risks associated with climate change, and some scientists suggest this may be our new normal. 

SFU researchers are working to address the challenges of global warming and can share their expertise:

AVAILABLE SFU EXPERTS

JOHN CLAGUE, professor emeritus, earth sciences                      
jclague@sfu.ca 
John Clague conducted a wide range of geological research on climate change. He can comment on climate change as a contributor to weather events, from our recent heat dome to glacial events such as the Himalayan glacier collapse in February.

ANDREANNE DOYON, assistant professor, resource and environmental management 
andreanne_doyon@sfu.ca
Andreanne Doyon can comment on the impact of hot weather, heat waves and urban planning.        

DAN GREENBERG, postdoctoral researcher, biological sciences          
dan_greenberg@sfu.ca
Dan Greenberg has studied the physiological impact of climate on the world’s amphibians and reptiles, particularly in terms of how temperature and dehydration interact (see his Royal Society paper here). 

DEBORAH HARFORD, executive director, Adaptation to Climate Change Team 
dharford@sfu.ca
Deborah Harford has worked on projects involving community strategic planning to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide aid in places vulnerable to climate change impacts.has worked on projects involving community strategic planning to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide aid in places vulnerable to climate change impacts.    

KEN LERTZMAN, professor emeritus, resource and environmental management kenneth_lertzman@sfu.ca
Ken Lertzman can provide insight about the climate impacts on forests, fires and ecosystems.   

NICO MUNOZ, PhD student, SFU’s Earth2Ocean research group    nico_munoz@sfu.ca
Nico Munoz has carried out research related to heat-induced salmon deaths and ways to mitigate the vulnerability of salmon to climate change.     

BRENT WARD, professor, earth sciences  
bcward@sfu.ca
Brent Ward is also a co-director of the Centre for Natural Hazards Research. Ward and his team work extensively to collect and aggregate researchable data for the public and government decision makers, to increase preparedness and response to weather-related and other natural disasters.

TAMMARA SOMA, assistant professor, resource and environmental management tammara_soma@sfu.ca
Tammara Soma is also the research director of SFU’s Food Systems Lab, and can speak on crop loss due to wildfires and smoke, from orchard fruit and vineyards to grain crops, and how climate change realities are increasing the burden of risk on farmers.     

CONTACT 

MELISSA SHAW, SFU  Communications & Marketing 
236.880.3297 | melissa_shaw@sfu.ca

Simon Fraser University
Communications & Marketing |  SFU Media Experts Directory
778.782.3210

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