Laurier expert alert: Earth Day

April 17, 2026
For Immediate Release

Earth Day, celebrated each year on April 22, marks the beginning of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Wilfrid Laurier University experts are available to speak on a wide range of Earth Day topics, including climate change, environmental justice, geopolitics and policy, environmental education, sustainable infrastructure, and Indigenous rights.

The following list includes Laurier experts who are available to speak at this time but does not represent the full breadth of expertise that exists at the institution. For a comprehensive inventory of Laurier’s faculty researchers, consult the Experts at Laurier database.

• Simon Dalby — Climate geopolitics, ecological footprint, environmental security, and representations of climate change in the media.
• Alex Latta — Water politics and policy, including drinking water and hydroelectricity, climate change adaptation, Indigenous rights, natural resources, and conservation.
• Chris Lemieux — Biodiversity conservation, natural resources policy, planning and management, management of parks and protected areas, and renewable resources.
• Homa Kheyrollah Pour — Northwest Territories and northern research, water-related threats from climate change, ice roads, and ice thickness.
• Manuel Riemer — Climate justice, environmental activism, green buildings, and the psychology of sustainability.
• Erin Sperling — Environmental sustainability education, food justice, and ecojustice.
• Debora VanNijnatten — Canadian climate policy, climate change politics, climate-ready communities, the Great Lakes, net-zero politics and policy, and U.S. environmental policy.