Welcome to McGill Geography
Geography is the study of physical environments and human habitats. It deals with people and places. It covers issues such as global warming and climate change, food and water resources, management of ecosystems, human health, regional economic disparities, urban infrastructure, native land claims and permafrost problems. Both a physical and a social science, it provides a unique opportunity to obtain a broad exposure to modes of analyzing the many environmental and situational problems of contemporary society. Our department is based in the Faculty of Science and offers degrees at the Bachelors (B.A., B.Sc, & B.A.Sc.), Masters (M.A. & M.Sc), and Ph.D. levels.
Activities and Announcements
Passing of former McGill Geographer William Kemp
We are saddened to share the news of the death of William B. Kemp (1936-2020). In his brief nine years at McGill, Bill solidified a research and advocacy relationship between the Department of Geography and the Inuit of Nunavik and Nunavut. This relationship endures to the present. Professors Wenzel and Moore put together this obituary.
Posted January 23, 2019
Dr. Gunther Grill is leaving our department for the land of consulting
He has been with our department in the Global HydroLab for quite a few years. He did his Ph.D. in our program and has been working with Professor Bernhard Lehner as a post-doctoral researcher and Research Associate since he completed his Ph.D. He has been very productive, publishing over ten peer-reviewed papers. The most recent paper in Nature, "Mapping the world’s free-flowing rivers" topped Quebec Science’s annual list of the ten most important scientific breakthroughs. Good luck Gunther – what is Bernhard going to do without you?
Posted January 20, 2019
Winter Geospectives speaker series schedule now online
We have a great and diverse mix of speakers visiting us at McGill this semester. You can find the abstracts for each talk on the geospectives page and each talk will be announced separately about two weeks beforehand. We hope to see many of you at these talks! (cookies and coffee will be supplied).
Posted January 17, 2019
Wayne Pollard has been awarded the W. Garfield Weston Foundation Award
For three generations, The W. Garfield Weston Foundation has pursued its mission to enhance and enrich the lives of Canadians. With a focus on medical research, the environment, and education, the Foundation aims to catalyze inquiry and innovation to bring about long-term change. As the Foundation marks its 60th anniversary, it continues to collaborate with a broad range of Canadian charities to further world-class research, explore new ideas, and create tangible benefits for the communities in which it works.
Posted December 5, 2019
Department of Geography first Faculty of Science Department to be certified a McGill sustainable workplace
Good news everyone! Our office staff has been busy this summer updating our protocols and getting the Department certified as a McGill sustainable workplace. The Department of Geography is now the first Faculty of Science Department to be certified bronze-level. The Geography Advising Office has also been certified silver-level earlier this summer. For more information on the Sustainable Workplace Certification program at McGill, visit the McGill Office of Sustainability's website here. Keep up the good work team!
Posted August 1, 2019
McGill Geography researchers honoured in Québec Science 2019 list of top discoveries
Research from Geographers Günther Grill and Bernhard Lehner topped Québec Science’s annual list of the 10 most important scientific breakthroughs. Along with a team of international researchers, Grill & Lehner assessed the connectivity of 12 million kilometers of rivers worldwide, providing the first-ever global assessment of the location and extent of the planet’s remaining free-flowing rivers.
Posted January 9, 2019
McGill Geographers map world’s most detailed database of Earth’s rivers and catchments
Prof. Bernhard Lehner and his team (including 9 current or former McGill Geography students) have created a world-first high spatial resolution atlas that maps the environmental characteristics of all the globe's rivers and catchments. HydroATLAS was co-developed by and this McGill team and Simon Linke from Griffith University’s Australian Rivers Institute.
Posted December 10, 2019
Professor Margaret Kalacska discusses drones used for research on Découverte TV
In a recent interview, Professor Margaret Kalacska discusses the use of drones for studying biodiversity in Mer Bleue (roughly 7min 20sec in to the video).
Posted October 25, 2019
Professor Wayne Pollard to be awarded the 2019 RCGS Martin Bergmann Medal for Excellence in Arctic Leadership or Science
"Established by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2012, the medal recognizes achievement for "excellence in Arctic leadership or science". It celebrates "Marty" Bergmann, a public servant with an outstanding passion and talent for networking that led him to link up scientists with resources and technology. Marty also connected science (western and traditional knowledge) to policy makers and to others who could translate knowledge to action (e.g. innovators, business leaders, news-makers and authors)." - RCGS
