Dr. Michele Koppes

Biography

Michele Koppes is a faculty member at the University of British Columbia in the Department of Geography. She received her PhD and MSc from the University of Washington and obtained her Bachelor's degree with Honours from Williams College. Her research primarily focuses on glaciology and climate change, exploring how glaciers, mountains, and human communities interact under changing climatic conditions. Koppes's ongoing research projects investigate landscape hazards and the changing dynamics of ice, along with the implications for hydrology and the cultural experiences of mountain communities, especially in regions like British Columbia, Alaska, Patagonia, Greenland, and the Himalayas. She emphasizes the importance of integrating cultural narratives and scientific data to understand the complex interplay between landscapes and human adaptation to climate change. Koppes has published extensively in various reputable journals and has contributed chapters to key academic texts on mountains and climate interactions. She leads the Landscapes and Climate Change Lab and is involved in several collaborative projects aimed at enhancing scientific inclusivity in environmental sciences.

Research Interests