Sophie Webber
Adaptation ecologies: Circuits of finance, ideas, and technologies in the climate change adaptation industry
Simon Donner and Jamie Peck
Melbourne
Australia
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I decided to pursue a graduate degree because I love learning, thinking, and discovering. I am also passionate about, and endlessly intrigued by, both my discipline and my specific research. Graduate study was a wonderful way to keep exploring.
Why did you decide to study at UBC?
The Geography graduate program at UBC is fantastic: huge, vibrant, exciting, and intellectually stimulating. I wanted to leave Australia to study for many reasons, but I was extremely lucky to end up here.
What was the best surprise about UBC or life in Vancouver?
The best surprise about my program was the curiosity and acuity of all the other graduate students; we have a lovely community in our funny building. Of course, I am also always grateful for the opportunity to continue to investigate something I am passionate about.
What do you hope to accomplish with your research?
My preliminary research has suggested that climate change adaptation projects can have perverse effects; but given the abysmal progress of attempts to halt climate change to date, these projects are critical for some Pacific Islands. I hope my research will be able to extend and deepen critical analyses of actually-existing adaptation projects through multi-sited and comparative research in order to understand the limits and potentials of such interventions.
What has winning a major award meant to you?
An award like this is great encouragement, and I feel very fortunate. This financial support will be invaluable for conducting my field research and sharing the results. Producing these academic achievements, however, is a collective effort, and my study is only possible with the help of an inspiring supervisory committee and extremely generous and patient research informants: I hope this award will recognize their efforts as well.
What advice do you have for new graduate students?
I have lots of advice, as my friends will all attest to. But I think some important things to consider when pursuing graduate study are: make the most of the wonderful people in, and visiting, your department and university; and figure out early on (perhaps even before starting a PhD?) what you want to study and, most importantly, why.