Department of Geography

Max Liboiron, Charles Mather, and Dean Bavington are looking to recruit two Masters students and one PhD student for an interdisciplinary, STS-driven project on Action-Research Methods for the Anthropocene at the Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada. The aim of this project is to develop methodologies that are appropriate to researching and acting in environments that are affected by permanent pollution.  Our main case is marine plastics, a largely invisible but permanent pollution problem emblematic of the Anthropocene. While the project will look at a variety of methodologies based in action, activism, and making change during research, we will focus on participatory citizen science in particular. This approach aims to democratize science by involving local experts such as fishermen and women as full collaborators who co-create research questions, collect data, analyse findings, and mobilize research.

We offer full funding to successful applicants at both MA and PhD levels. The thesis-based MA students can be based in either the Geography Department or the Department of Sociology. The PhD student will be based in the Department of Sociology at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. All students will be part of Memorial’s WaSTE Group (Waste in Science,Technology, and the Environment). Student start dates can be: Sept 1, 2015; January 1, 2016; May 1, 2016; or Sept 1, 2016. Positions are open until filled.

For more information on the project see: Civic Laboratory website or email Max Liboiron.