BSc (Geology) University of Alberta MSc (Geology) University of Alberta MSc (Natural Resource Sciences) McGill University
Short Bio
Awards and Recognitions
2019: Recipient of the 2019 McGill University’s Office of Sustainability Catalyst Award for Distinguished Contribution to Sustainability within the McGill community (Sustainability Lifetime Achievement Award) 2014: Nominated for the 2014 3M National Teaching Fellowship 2013: McGill University’s Office of Sustainability Catalyst Award for staff contributions in promoting sustainability within the McGill community 2013: Macdonald Campus Outstanding Teacher Award 2007: McGill University Principal’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (Category: Faculty Lecturer)
Active Affiliations
Advisor, McGill Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF) Committee - $3.2 million fund established to aid in the building of a culture of sustainability on the McGill Campuses through the development and seed funding of interdisciplinary projects
Member, McGill’s Teaching and Learning Services Inquiry Network Working Group – a faculty learning community that explores the links between teaching and learning and how to create institution wide resources to promote students understanding and active engagement with research
Member, Education Action Team, McGill Vision 2020 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan Committee
Teaching
George McCourt's teaching philosophy takes into account that his courses are populated by a diverse group of students who have different learning styles, learning objectives and interests. Students need to carve their own learning paths and the teaching/research approach attempts to look at what students can contribute as well as what they can gain. Students are encouraged to become active learners instead of taking the traditional passive learning approach often used in undergraduate education.
His approach also attempts to integrate teaching, research, learning and community engagement. His teaching methodology encourages students to explore the process of learning that will link up with the students’ interests including various on campus research driven sustainability initiatives. These research-based sustainability initiatives have allowed for the creation of a food waste composting plan for all of downtown McGill’s Food and Dining Services and the development of a process that led to McGill becoming the first Canadian university to obtain a sustainable seafood purchasing certification for all of the seafood served in its McGill residences. Past and present student centered research projects include students working with Rotisserie St-Hubert (examining ways to reduce take-out food waste), Ville de Montreal (analyzing residential water consumption patterns) and Belron Canada (contributing to the development of a sustainable assessment strategy for the company).
George McCourt's interests in teaching, learning and research continuously explore innovative assessment strategies that move away from traditional exams. Some of these approaches include open-book and open classroom discussion lab exams. Other assessment approaches encourage students to explore writing as a research and learning tool and to express themselves in non-traditional ways including storytelling, newspaper pieces and first-person narratives. The connection between research, teaching and learning is also examined by moving away from passive learning lecture methods and to a more active learning style that includes having first year undergraduate students analyze primary environmental literature and present their findings through oral presentations and written papers.
Environment: A systems approach to study the different components of the environment involved in global climate change: the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere. The interactions among these components. Their role in global climate change. The human dimension to global change.
Offered by: Bieler School of Environment
Fall
Section 001: Downtown Campus
Section 051: Macdonald Campus
Terms
This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
Instructors
There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
Environment: Formation of the Earth and the evolution of life. How geological and biological change are the consequence of history, chance, and necessity acting over different scales of space and time. General principles governing the formation of modern landscapes and biotas. Effects of human activities on natural systems.
Offered by: Bieler School of Environment
Winter
Section 001: Downtown Campus
Section 051: Macdonald Campus
Terms
This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
Instructors
There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
Environment: Students work in an interdisciplinary team on a real-world research project involving problem definition, methodology development, social, ethical and environmental impact assessment, execution of the study, and dissemination of
results to the research community and to the people affected. Teams begin defining their projects during the preceding summer.
Offered by: Bieler School of Environment
Fall
Prerequisite(s): ENVR 301 and MATH 203 or equivalent, or by permission of the instructor
Restriction: Only open to U3 students in their final year in the following programs: B.A. Faculty Program in Environment, B.A.& Sc. Interfaculty Program in Environment, B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.) and B.Sc. Major in Environment, and Diploma in Environment.
Terms
This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
Instructors
There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
Soil Science: Interactions between Earth's various geologic systems and how these interactions lead to mineral and rock formation. Geomorphic processes and how various landforms are created by the interactions at the Earth's surface between the various geologic systems.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
Winter
Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken SOIL 200. Restricted to U2 students and above.
Terms
This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
Instructors
There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
Resource Development: A three week field course exploring relationships between climate, geology, landforms, biodiversity, biotic adaptations and ecosystem conditions in the arid regions of Arizona and southern California. Focus is on the Sonoran and Mojave deserts but includes the transitions to adjacent grassland and forest biomes of the Sky Islands and Colorado Plateau. Exploration of issues arising from human use of land and water, and conservation in arid environments. Experiential learning involving team and individual projects and assignments before and during the field trip.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
Odd-numbered Winter terms; enrollment limited to 20.
The course begins and ends in Phoenix AZ. Students are responsible for their transportation to/from Phoenix.
The course requires camping and living under desert conditions.
Restriction(s): Restricted to U2 and U3 students.
Prerequisite(s):Permission of the instructors is required to register. To be eligible students are required to have at least one systems-focused course, one ecology course and two organismal courses. Students should consult the instructors for list of appropriate courses.
A course fee of $1,596.23 covers the cost of transportation, camping, admissions and most meals during the field trip.
Terms
This course is not scheduled for the 2024 academic year
Instructors
There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024 academic year
Publications
Russell Vinegar, Pete Parker and George McCourt (2016) More than a Response to Food Insecurity: Demographics and Social Networks of Urban Dumpster Divers. Local Environment: The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability. 21(2) 241-253
Zazula, G.D., C.E. Schweger, A.B Beaudoin and G.H. McCourt (2006) Macrofossil and pollen evidence for full-glacial steppe within an ecological mosaic along the Bluefish River, Eastern Beringia. Quaternary International (142 – 143) 2-19
