Tara McGee of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences was recognized in the House of Commons for her work protecting communities from the devastating impact of wildfires, before receiving the prestigious $50,000 SSHRC Impact Connection Award.
McGee was given the award for her role in co-leading the First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership (FNWEP) with Amy Cardinal Christianson of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative. FNWEP explores First Nations wildfire evacuation experiences, preparedness and hosting of First Nation evacuees. The initiative is a collaboration of First Nations, agencies and organizations providing support during wildfire evacuations, host communities and researchers from the University of Alberta.
McGee and her partners have published numerous academic studies, as well as practical recommendations for emergency managers and host communities. FNWEP has also released First Nations Wildfire Evacuations, a book-length guide for communities and external agencies.
The Impact Connection Award aims to build on and sustain Canada’s research-based knowledge culture in the social sciences and humanities. It is given to an individual or a team whose work has engaged the campus and wider community, and has generated intellectual, cultural, social and economic impacts.