UBC experts on cold and extreme weather

Snowfall and cold weather are forecast for many parts of B.C. in the next few days. UBC experts are available to comment. 

Environmental impact 

Dr. Nemkumar (Nemy) Banthia (he/him)
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
Senior Canada Research Chair in Infrastructure Rehabilitation
Email: banthia@civil.ubc.ca
Interview language(s): English, Hindi, French 

• Potential for greater road accidents
• Negative impact of de-icing salts on the life span of roads, bridges and other transportation structures

Holly Chubb (she/her)
Researcher and Lecturer, Department of Geography
Email: holly.chubb@ubc.ca
Interview language(s): English

• Impact of climate change and extreme weather events on natural hazards, with a focus on catastrophic landslides
• Snow and ice dynamics
• Climate change education and hazard resilience

Dr. Simon Donner
Professor, Department of Geography / Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability
Email: simon.donner@ubc.ca
Interview language(s): English 

• Climate change, policy and adaptation 

Dr. Chris Harley
Professor, Department of Zoology / Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Email: harley@zoology.ubc.ca
Interview language(s): English

• Weather effects on oceans including high tides and waves, effects of extreme cold in the intertidal zone

Dr. Gord Lovegrove (he/him)
Associate Professor, School of Engineering, UBC Okanagan
Tel: 250-808-9377
Email: gord.lovegrove@ubc.ca
Interview language(s): English 

• Effect of snow and cold on traffic and transportation
• Active transportation (bike, walk, bus) and staying safe in the snow

Dr. Anais Orsi (she/her)
Assistant Professor, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
Email: aorsi@eoas.ubc.ca
Interview language(s): English

• Physics of snow and ice
• Polar climate, climate change

Dr. John Richardson (he/him)
Professor, Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences
Email: john.richardson@ubc.ca
Interview language(s): English 

• Effects of extreme cold on ecosystems
• Effects of flooding and water supplies on streams and lakes, water quality and debris torrents
• Impacts of cold on freshwater bodies and species
• Road salt alternatives

Dr. Patricia M. Schulte
Professor, Department of Zoology
Email: pschulte@zoology.ubc.ca
Interview language(s): English 

• Effects of road salt on salmon, road salt levels in streams around the Lower Mainland

Dr. Babak Tosarkani
Assistant Professor, School of Engineering, UBC Okanagan
Cell: 236-865-7531
Email: babak.tosarkani@ubc.ca
Interview language(s): English 

• Impacts of extreme cold on the supply chain

Health and social impact 

Dr. Jennifer Baumbusch (she/her)
Professor, School of Nursing
Email: jennifer.baumbusch@ubc.ca
Interview language(s): English 

• Protecting seniors and other vulnerable people from extreme cold and other climate extremes

Dr. John Graham (he/him)
Professor, School of Social Work, UBC Okanagan
Phone: 250-864-7118
Email: john.graham@ubc.ca
Interview language(s): English 

• Impacts of extreme cold on the homeless population

*Limited availability Jan. 9-31, generally available starting Feb. 1