Statement of general philosophy

Multidisciplinary investigations of human-ecological systems are vital to efforts to confront our most important environmental problems. Researchers in the School of Environmental Studies use a variety of approaches to investigate social, political, and ecological interactions in environmental systems. This puts us in a unique position to contribute innovative solutions to environmental problems. Our research activities in the natural and social sciences are focused into three core pillars: ecological restoration, ethnoecology, and political ecology. Collectively, we conduct research that is relevant to communities, resource users, policy makers, and researchers.

The research in our school aims to answer questions like the following:

1. What processes control patterns of ecosystem structure and function? How are these processes altered with climate change and resource use? How do we plan adaptation, management strategies, and sustainable use of biodiversity for these changes?
2. How do we best restore damaged ecosystems?
3. How do different groups of people understand and use the ecosystems around them?
4. How do contemporary environmental challenges shape our political space and future? How do groups of people respond to these challenges?

Our research is conducted in various locations around the globe, with a primary focus on western Canada, and British Columbia in particular. Our modern research and laboratory space is located in the Social Sciences and Mathematics building on the beautiful UVic campus.