Environment and Community

Scholars in this area use their expertise to study a range of subjects including civic engagement in climate action and other social movements, the relationship between land use, community, and policymaking in urban centres and the nature of human-environment relationships.

Welcome to our new graduate students for 2025W

Welcome to our new graduate students for 2025W

UBC Sociology is excited to welcome our incoming 2024W graduate student cohort! We are excited for the new perspectives and research they bring to our community.

Prof. David Tindall writes about the latest climate conundrum facing political leaders

Prof. David Tindall writes about the latest climate conundrum facing political leaders

Survey results find many want to have it both ways, supporting Canada’s climate goals and continued development of oil sands and pipelines.

What are Calgarians’ impressions of densification policies? Zoe Duquette investigates in her honours thesis

What are Calgarians’ impressions of densification policies? Zoe Duquette investigates in her honours thesis

Zoe analyzes public engagement with the process to rezone low density districts to understand the public’s perceptions of densification.

MA students awarded funding from Canada Graduate Scholarships program

MA students awarded funding from Canada Graduate Scholarships program

Daniel Hwang and Isaac Tetreault both joined UBC Sociology this past September and are in the first year of the master’s program.

MA student Caitlin Chong wins 2025 CCHSBC Wickberg Graduate Prize

MA student Caitlin Chong wins 2025 CCHSBC Wickberg Graduate Prize

Caitlin received the award for her thesis research on Chinese activism in Vancouver through the fight for 105 Keefer.

Flooding, Sociospatial Risk, and Population Health: Prof. Ethan Raker investigates how climate change is affecting flood patterns

Flooding, Sociospatial Risk, and Population Health: Prof. Ethan Raker investigates how climate change is affecting flood patterns

In Demography, Raker explores how an underexamined dimension of vulnerability—sociospatial risk determinations—can stratify population health.

New research brief from Prof. Ethan Raker and PhD candidate Rose Xueqing Zhang on emergency orders in BC

New research brief from Prof. Ethan Raker and PhD candidate Rose Xueqing Zhang on emergency orders in BC

Prof. Ethan Raker and PhD candidate Rose Xueqing Zhang introduce a new way to estimate the population burden of environmental emergency orders.

Prof. David Tindall comments on head of UBCIC’s stance reversal on Northern Gateway pipeline

Prof. David Tindall comments on head of UBCIC’s stance reversal on Northern Gateway pipeline

Tindall called Grand Chief Stewart Phillip’s recent comments reversing his previous opposition to the scrapped Northern Gateway pipeline “very surprising.”

“There is no way to retreat from the risk of wildfires”: Prof. Katie McConnell on LA wildfires for NYT Opinion

“There is no way to retreat from the risk of wildfires”: Prof. Katie McConnell on LA wildfires for NYT Opinion

Prof. Katie McConnell writes in NYT Opinion with Dr. Liz Koslov about the fires burning across Los Angeles and the feasibility of managed retreat.

Prof. Emily Huddart commented on the link between political activism and Taylor Swift’s Eras tour

Prof. Emily Huddart commented on the link between political activism and Taylor Swift’s Eras tour

Prof. Huddart commented on the “Unite the Swifties” campaign encouraging people who wanted free tickets to the Eras tour to engage in escalating actions against RBC.