issues and experts

Impact of summer’s ongoing extreme weather: SFU experts available

August 17, 2023

British Columbia and various regions across the country continue to experience a summer of drought, wildfires—and heatwaves. An El Niño climate pattern combined with the ongoing effects of climate change has also led to marine heatwaves and extreme temperatures around the globe. 

Simon Fraser University experts are available to comment on the current effects of extreme weather in B.C. and beyond.  

AVAILABLE SFU EXPERTS

ZAFAR ADEEL, professor of professional practice, School of Sustainable Energy Engineering    
zadeel@sfu.ca
Expertise: Water security, climate change adaptation, safe drinking water, water-energy-food nexus, integrated water resources management, water-health nexus, desertification, flooding and the economic impacts.

KIFFER CARD, professor, health sciences
kcard@sfu.ca
Expertise: Ecological, political and social determinants of health, and their relation to mental health and health inequalities, including climate related ecological distress, loneliness and social isolation.

JOHN CLAGUE, professor emeritus, Earth Sciences, CRC Chair in Natural Hazard Science
jclague@sfu.ca
Expertise:The link between extreme weather events and climate change, natural disasters.

ANDREANNE DOYON, assistant professor, resource and environmental management
andreanne.doyon@sfu.ca
Expertise: Planning for/responding to extreme heat (from urban greenery to building retrofits). Planning for climate change at the city level.

GLYN WILLIAMS-JONES, professor & chair, Earth Sciences, co-director, Centre for Natural Hazards Research (Also speaks French)
glynwj@sfu.ca
Expertise: Natural hazards research in B.C. and beyond. Available to comment on the devastating wildfires in Maui.

JESSE HAHM, assistant professor, geography, SFU Hydrology Research Group
whahm@sfu.ca
Expertise:Impact of droughts, patterns of water use, threats to water quality, effects of global climate change on future water supplies. Water issues facing British Columbia.

SCOTT LEAR, Pfizer/Heart & Stroke Foundation Chair in Cardiovascular Prevention Research, professor, health sciences
slear@providencehealth.bc.ca
Expertise: Impacts and considerations of exercising in the heat, cardiovascular disease and other health risks.

SOPHIE WILKINSON, assistant professor, REM & founder, Fire and Ecosystems Research Group (available Thursday, August 17th & week of August 23rd)
sophie.wilkinson@sfu.ca
Expertise: Wildfire behaviour, impacts and the conditions that fuel them, including the importance and management of peatlands (bogs, fens and swamps). 

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

ABOUT SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Who We Are
As Canada’s engaged university, SFU works with communities, organizations and partners to create, share and embrace knowledge that improves life and generates real change. We deliver a world-class education with lifelong value that shapes change-makers, visionaries and problem-solvers. We connect research and innovation to entrepreneurship and industry to deliver sustainable, relevant solutions to today’s problems. With campuses in British Columbia’s three largest cities—Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey—SFU has eight faculties that deliver 364 undergraduate degree programs and 149 graduate degree programs to more than 37,000 students. The university now boasts more than 180,000 alumni residing in 145+ countries.

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