I went to university to study science and have been employed as a geologist and a chemist. While working for the federal government, I conducted research on environmental problems relating to acid rain, solar energy, and the disposal of radioactive waste.

I was then bitten by the philosophical bug, as a result of my reading the philosophy of science. This interest grew until I decided to leave my job as a scientist in order to study philosophy full-time. After teaching at various universities for a few years, I joined the Contemporary Studies program at Laurier Brantford in 2000.

Additional interests include playing the fiddle.

I am interested in philosophical problems related to science and ethics. My areas of specialty are the philosophy of science, applied ethics, and policy-making.

I have a particular interest in environmental issues, especially predictions of global catastrophe that might result from, say, overpopulation, global warming, or nuclear winter. I examine whether the resources of science are adequate to supply the kind of information we need to make decisions about these predictions, and the ethics of decision-making under uncertainty and great risk.

I am also interested in the ethics of tourism. Is it possible to be an ethical tourist? What responsibilities fall on the individual tourists themselves?

• “Kierkegaard’s Repetition and Pilgrimage.” (2016) International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage, Vol. 4(ii). Pp 11-17.
• “In defense of tourist photography.” (2014) Journal of Tourism and Development. No 21/22 Vol. 2. pp 413-423.
• “A Proposal for How to Organize the Public Funding of Science.” James Gerrie and Stephen.
• "Grave Concerns: Concepts of Self and Respect for the Dead." International Journal of Applied Philosophy 21:2, 2007. pp 195-212.
• "The Role of Science in Public Policy: Higher Reason or Reason for Hire?" Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 2007. (co-author James Gerrie).
• "Apocalypse Soon?: Wagering on Warnings of Global Catastrophe," McGill-Queen's University Press, 2002.
• "A Prudential Argument for Precaution Under Uncertainty and High Risk." Journal of Ethics and the Environment, 2000.