UBC experts on heat dome anniversary and summer season
June 25 marks the fifth anniversary of the 2021 Western North America heat dome. With summer now underway and extreme heat becoming a concern across different regions, UBC experts are available to comment on related topics.
Dr. Andrew Almas
(He/Him/His)
Associate Professor of Teaching and Program Director, Bachelor of Urban Forestry
Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Stewardship
Tel: 647-528-8867
Email: andrew.almas@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- urban forestry
- modifying green spaces to adapt to changing climates
Dr. Jennifer Baumbusch, PhD, RN
(She/Her/Hers)
Professor, School of Nursing
phone: 604-822-7496
Email: jennifer.baumbusch@nursing.ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- health impacts of extreme heat for older adults and people with disabilities
- experiences of older adults and families of children with disabilities during the 2021 Vancouver heat dome
- low-cost adaptive measures during heat events
Dr. Wendy Hall, RN, PhD
(She/Her/Hers)
Professor Emeritus, School of Nursing
phone: 604-649-3567
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- effects of heat exposure on sleep
- practical ways to try to cool down at night when air conditioning and/or cross ventilation are not available
* Unavailable after 11:30 a.m. on June 24.
Dr. Christopher Harley
(He/Him/His)
Professor, Dept. of Zoology, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Email: harley@zoology.ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- ecological impacts of extreme weather, particularly in intertidal and other marine ecosystems
- likely impacts of the incoming El Niño
Dr. Karen Hodges, PhD
(She/Her/Hers)
Professor, Dept. of Biology
Email: karen.hodges@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- wildfires and wildlife
- ecological effects of climate change
Dr. Melissa McHale, PhD
(She/Her/Hers)
Professor, Dept. of Forest Resources Management, Urban Forest Research Hub
Email: melissa.mchale@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- increased urban heating, urban heat island effect
- climate-resilient communities, heat mitigation at human relevant scales, equity and heat
- nature-based solutions for cooling, landscaping choices and heat, energy, and water consumption tradeoffs
Dr. Sean Michaletz, BA, MSc, PhD
(He/Him/His)
Assistant Professor, Biodiversity Research Centre, Department of Botany
Email: sean.michaletz@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- plant ecology/ecophysiology
- forests
- wildfires
- climate change
- high temperature impacts
- photosynthesis, water use
- ecosystem processes (productivity, evapotranspiration, global carbon budgets)
* Starting July 2, researcher will be available on GMT +2
Dr. Lorien Nesbitt, PhD
Associate Professor, Dept. of Forest Resources Management
Email: lorien.nesbitt@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- nature-based solutions to heat, climate/environmental justice, and planetary health
Dr. Stephen R.J. Sheppard, PhD
Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Forest Resources Management
Email: stephen.sheppard@ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- role of green infrastructure and tree canopy in keeping neighbourhoods cool
- community engagement on climate action, urban forestry, community energy and other aspects of sustainable landscapes
- visualizing futures with climate change
Margaret Slein
(She/Her/Hers)
PhD student, Dept. of Zoology
Email: maslein@zoology.ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- heat dome ecological impacts
- how organisms cope with temperature change
Dr. Diane Srivastava
(She/Her/Hers)
Professor, Biodiversity Research Centre, Dept. of Zoology
Email: srivast@zoology.ubc.ca
Interview languages: English, Spanish
Expertise:
- effects of the 2021 heat dome on species including behaviour and mortality, and ecosystems including streamflow and wildfire
- need for a BC observation network for biodiversity to evaluate and mitigate such impacts
- potential for cumulative effects of extreme climate effects
Dr. Rachel White
(She/Her/Hers)
Assistant Professor, Dept. of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences
Email: rwhite@eoas.ubc.ca
Interview languages: English
Expertise:
- impacts of climate change on summer and extreme heat
- impacts of solstice timing on the 2021 heat wave
- atmospheric circulation, the jet stream and extreme heat
