“Dr. Clark is an excellent fit for the school,” said Karsten Liber, acting director, School of Environment and Sustainability. “His interdisciplinary approach to environmental issues and his expertise in environmental decision-making will further enhance the school’s profile and build its reputation.”

The Centennial Chair, a five-year appointment effective August 1, 2009, will provide leadership and vision in establishing an interdisciplinary research program and promote excellence in graduate student training. Three centennial chairs, one each in environment, public policy and public health, were created to mark the 100th anniversary of the university in 2007.

“Human dimensions of environmental problems are often overlooked,” said Clark, using recent controversies over polar bear conservation as an example.

“Polar bears have become a symbol of global warming and climate change—and understandably so—but what often isn’t considered is how specific policies intended to protect polar bears have caused difficulties for northern aboriginal people who live with and hunt polar bears. Conservation decisions that aren't based on a comprehensive picture of a situation often don't achieve the goals that are intended, creating lose-lose outcomes. We can do better than that,” he said.

Clark, who spent 11 years in natural resource conservation with Parks Canada, said that to successfully address emerging social and ecological challenges, biological conservation goals must be achieved hand-in-hand with human dignity, never at the expense of it.

“We can’t rely on a single view or approach, we need to address these issues collaboratively and involve multiple participants,” said Clark. “This is an exciting opportunity because the interdisciplinary nature of the school matches what I do, addressing environmental issues from more than one approach.”

Clark earned a bachelor degree in biology from the University of Victoria, a master’s in zoology from the University of Alberta, and a PhD in geography and environmental studies from Wilfrid Laurier University. Since 2007, Clark has served as a scholar-in-residence at Yukon College, building the college’s research capacity and providing strategic advice on a new undergraduate environmental studies program. During this time, he was also appointed as a post-doctoral fellow with the University of Alberta, leading a collaborative research project intended to improve decision-making in polar bear conservation by applying problem analysis methods from the policy sciences.

Clark was recently re-appointed for a one-year term as a research affiliate with the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies at Yale University, a role he has been in since 2008. He will continue to conduct his research on decision-making for large carnivore conservation from Saskatoon. Some of his other research interests include governance and policy processes for wildlife and ecosystem management, large carnivore conservation and wildlife-human conflicts, and improving professional practice in natural resource management.

Founded in July 2007, the School of Environment and Sustainability is one of three interdisciplinary schools at the U of S. Offering innovative opportunities for graduate education, research and programming, the school raises questions about how and which people and places are most affected by unsustainable practices, how our current policies contribute to (un)sustainability, and how Saskatchewan is placed within a global political economy. For more information on the school, visit http://www.usask.ca/sens/index.php.

Located in the heart of Saskatoon, the U of S is uniquely positioned in the areas of human, animal and plant studies. World-class research facilities, renowned faculty and award winning students make the U of S a leader in post-secondary education.

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For more information contact:

Kris Foster
Research Communications Specialist
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-2427
kris.foster@usask.ca