Christie Spry
B.Sc. (Geology and Environmental Earth Sciences, St. Francis Xavier University)
- Candidate

Research Experience

I am originally from Ottawa, Ontario but moved to Nova Scotia in 2004 to complete my BSc in Geology and Environmental Earth Sciences at St. Francis Xavier University. There, I developed a broad array of research interests by working on a number of different projects ranging from fluvial geochemistry to soil carbon isotope and flux studies. In my spare time, I was an avid environmental activist and I co-founded St. Fx's Environmental Science Society to develop a platform for environmental guest speakers, community clean-ups, conferences, fundraisers and field trips that would bridge my academic and activism interests. Similarly, my undergraduate research focused on developing Sustainability Performance Indicators (SPIs) for the town of Antigonish, NS, which allowed me to integrate physical science concepts with environmental management and public policy issues.

Current Research Interests

My current research interests include climate change and adaptation, extreme weather events and meteorology, dendrochronology, and sustainability. I am currently a 2nd year Master's student in REM, working with Dr. Karen Kohfeld ( rem.sfu.ca/COPElab/people.html ) and Dr. Ken Lertzman on a tree ring study that uses oxygen isotopes as a proxy for past occurences of Pineapple Express (PE) storm events in the Pacific Northwest. Preliminary results indicate that PE storms are isotopically distinct from other storm types, and further analysis will aim at trying to tease this signal out of the tree ring record. In true REM fashion, my research will also look at the local impacts of these storms in Vancouver (including rain-on-snow events, flooding, and debris flow initiation) as well as the implications for hazard planning and water resource management. I have also been involved with the Adaptation to Climate change Team (ACT) at SFU as a researcher investigating the historical and future climate of Rossland, BC for a climate change adaptation report.