1 position for MSc student available
A two year funded MSc student position is available at Concordia University in
Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to conduct research into the role of uncertainties in
environmental impact assessment:
“Uncertainty analysis and communication in Canadian EIA practice and decision
making: Examining a case study”
Start date: September 2013 (or earlier). This MSc project is fully funded by
SSHRC for 2 years and co-supervised by Dr. Jochen Jaeger (Concordia University,
Montreal) and Dr. Bram Noble (University of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan).
This MSc thesis is part of the larger project: "Speak no evil, hear no evil?
Uncertainty analysis and communication in Canadian environmental impact
assessment practice and decision making".
This larger project includes 4 MSc and 1 PhD student. It is funded by SSHRC and
conducted in collaboration with Dr. Bram Noble and Dr. Jill Gunn (both at the
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon). The main method applied in this MSc
thesis will be qualitative interviews to investigate a case study in Canada.
Good knowledge of qualitative methods and strong writing skills in English are
important. Required are: traveling to meet with interviewees and a valid
drivers license.
Work Environment
The student will be a member of the Landscape Ecology and Environmental Impact
Assessment lab of Dr. J. Jaeger at Concordia University in Montreal. This
thesis involves fieldwork (interviews).
Funding support
This MSc position is fully funded by SSHRC. The funding will be supplied for
two years.
To apply
Please send your application to: and/or to:
Dr. Jochen Jaeger Dr. Bram Noble
Concordia University University of
Saskatchewan
Department of Geography, Planning Department of Geography and
Planning
and Environment
1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W., Suite H1255 117 Science Place
Montréal, Quebec, H3G 1M8, Canada Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5A5, Canada
or by email to: jochen.jaeger @ concordia.ca b.noble @ usask.ca
Please include in your application your CV, your transcripts, three references
(including phone number and email address), and a letter of interest that
describes your background and your motivation for this project. One or two
letters of recommendation would be very welcome. Applications are welcome as
soon as possible. Deadline for application is March 20, yet the position
remains open until filled, and applications will be evaluated on an ongoing
basis until the position is filled.
Here is a summary of the entire project: "The rationale for environmental
impact assessment (EIA) is to provide decision makers with the information
needed to make informed decisions about the acceptability of a proposed
project. Recent EIA reviews, however, have shown that predictions about the
severity of a project's impacts often prove to be wrong and mitigation less
effective than anticipated. That being said, the 'appearance of certainty' is a
welcomed and continued practice in EIA. Agencies and scholars have demanded
that proponents be more explicit about uncertainties, but this assumes that
decision makers are willing to consider uncertainty when making decisions; the
public is willing to accept the uncertainty of proponents and regulators in
managing projects with potentially adverse impacts; and proponents are willing
to take the risk of acknowledging uncertainties.
How can uncertainty be more readily acknowledged, considered and communicated
in EIA practice and decision making? Omitting or underestimating uncertainties
may result in systematic bias toward project approval, and compromised
environmental protection. However, there has been no study of how uncertainty
is communicated in Canadian EIA practice; there has been limited investigation
of how uncertainty is perceived by practitioners, decision makers and affected
interests and, when acknowledged, how uncertainty influences project decisions;
and there is no guidance for EIA practitioners and decision makers on how to
communicate and consider uncertainty. Our study has three parts: i) a
cross-Canada assessment of uncertainty consideration in EIA practice and
decision making; ii) case studies to explain how uncertainty is perceived by
and communicated between practitioners, proponents, decision makers and
affected interests, and the implications of uncertainty disclosure; iii)
guidance on how to integrate uncertainties in EIA to ensure transparent and
environmentally sound decisions.
We will draw on two theoretical frameworks, 'prospect theory' and the
'uncertainty trough', which explain communication and decision making under
uncertain conditions. Our cross-Canada assessment will proceed on two fronts:
first, an analysis of EIA guidance, legislation and a sample of completed EIAs
to examine the practice of uncertainty disclosure and the extent to which
assumptions and data limitations are divulged; second, a survey of
practitioners and decision makers to better understand
uncertainty assessment and the perceived risks of uncertainty disclosure. We
will then develop three case studies of recent mega-projects: Lower Churchill
Hydro, NL; 407 East Road, ON; Joslyn Oil Sands Mine, AB. We will examine the
contextual dynamics of uncertainty and seek to explain, using our theoretical
frameworks, uncertainty disclosure, acceptance and avoidance in EIA practice
and decision making. Finally, we will hold two workshops to engage
practitioners, decision makers and academic experts to develop practical
guidance and creative solutions for uncertainty consideration and communication
in EIA practice and decision making.
The need to better understand the nature and contextual dynamics of
uncertainty, and to improve uncertainty analysis and disclosure in EIA practice
is imminent. Several resource mega-projects are looming in Canada, and
decisions will be made in the face of hidden uncertainty. The stakes are high
in EIA, and hidden uncertainties can lead to adverse environmental effects. Our
research will advance the theoretical understanding and explanation of
uncertainty in EIA; bring uncertainty to the forefront of practice; and
generate practical guidance to improve uncertainty integration, communication
and transparency in EIA. Results will contribute to better EIA, and more
informed decisions.
Objectives
i) Assess the current practice of uncertainty disclosure in EIA and the extent
to which assumptions and data limitations are divulged in project impact
statements.
ii) Survey practitioners and decision makers about the practice of uncertainty
disclosure and non disclosure in EIA, including the perceived benefits and
risks, and perspectives on why predictions of impacts often appear more certain
than they are.
iii) Develop case studies to understand and explain the contextual dynamics of
uncertainty disclosure, consideration, and avoidance behaviour in EIA.
iv) Formulate practical and creative guidance and best-practice principles for
more reliable and transparent consideration and communication of uncertainty in
EIA practice and decision making.
v) Communicate study results to the academic, policy and professional practice
communities to help advance the theoretical understanding of, and best
practices for uncertainty disclosure in EIA.
--
For further information please contact Dr. J. Jaeger (jochen.jaeger @
concordia.ca) or Dr. Bram Noble (b.noble @ usask.ca). Some more information can
also be found on this website:
http://gpe.concordia.ca/faculty-and-staff/jjaeger/
