Website: http://geog.queensu.ca/faculty/cameron.asp

Coming to Canada from

Churchill College, UK

Research involves

Study of cultural encounters between peoples and places, particularly as they relate to the development of early British and Canadian ecology and conservation.

Research relevance

Will inform our understanding of past relations with "nature," providing critical tools to help us tackle today's complex environmental concerns.

Tracing the Roots of Nature and Ecology

Central ecological concepts emerged in the early 20th century. The "ecosystem" was part of the "New Ecology" which developed in the wake of the Great War and was entwined with societal concerns for national regeneration and "right living." Knowledge of the development of ecology and conservation and how people related to "nature" in the past may help us to better understand today's complex environmental concerns.

What does it mean to relate to the world "ecologically?" Where is "nature" and for whom? These are two of the central questions of Dr. Laura Cameron's work as Canada Research Chair in Historical Geographies of Nature. She will study cultural encounters between peoples and places, particularly as they relate to the development of early British and Canadian ecology and conservation.

Dr. Cameron's research has two key and related aims. First, she will seek to trace the intellectual networks and fieldwork practices of early ecology and conservation, with particular emphasis on the United Kingdom and Canada. Second, she aims to develop the collaborative research relationships and research networks vital for such an endeavour.

The objectives of Dr. Cameron's research include a monograph entitled Tansley, a co-authored book with John Forrester entitled Freud in Cambridge, a co-authored book with David Matless entitled (Un)Orthodox Ecologies, and a monograph concerning the historical geographies of Canadian ecology.

A young scholar who is known for her creativity, Dr. Cameron will be an exceptional asset to the Society, Culture and Human Behaviour research cluster established at Queen's University, which comprises one of the largest groups of scholars at the university.