George McCourt
McGill School of Environment
Rowles House
Macdonald Campus of McGill University,
21, 111 Lakeshore Road,
Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, H9X 3V9
Tel: 514- 398-7550
AWARDS and NOMINATIONS:
WINNER of the 2007 McGill University Principal’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in the category of Faculty Lecturer
WINNER of the 2013 McGill University’s Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science Macdonald Campus Outstanding Teacher Award
WINNER of the 2013 McGill University’s Office of Sustainability Catalyst Award for staff contributions in promoting sustainability within the McGill community
Nominated for the 2006 McGill University Principal’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in the category of Faculty Lecturer
Nominated for the 2012 McGill University Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science’s Outstanding Teaching Award
Nominated for the 2014 3M National Teaching Fellowship
EDUCATION:
1992 M.Sc. (Natural Resource Sciences) McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
Thesis: Soil mineral weathering as a buffering mechanism against atmospheric acid deposition
1980 M.Sc. (Geology) University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
Thesis: Quaternary Palynology and Geology, Bluefish Basin. Northern Yukon Territory
1975 B.Sc. (Geology) University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
WORK CHRONOLOGY:
2013 – present Senior Faculty Lecturer, McGill School of Environment, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
2009 – present Associate Director, Undergraduate Affairs, McGill School of Environment, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
2002 – present Faculty Lecturer, McGill School of Environment, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
1998 – 2002 Sessional Lecturer, McGill School of Environment and Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec
1997 – 1998 Geological Consultant and Copy Writer, St. Remy Multimedia Services, Montreal, Quebec
1995 – 1997 Educational Software Program Designer, AMAV Industries, St. Laurent, Quebec
1994 – 1995 Professor Earth Sciences, Department of Geosciences, John Abbott College, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec
1993 Sessional Lecturer, Department Renewable Resources, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec
1987 – 1988 Geological Consultant, Madaba Plains Archaeological Project, Amman, Jordan
1980 – 1986 Senior Exploration Geologist and Biostratigrapher, Shell Canada Ltd. Calgary, Alberta
Teaching Experience:
McGill University
- Lecturer and lab instructor for Geosystems (SOIL 300). Lecture-lab course designed to give students in ecology and environment a basic understanding of Earth Sciences. The course takes a systems approach and examines how the Plate Tectonic Cycle, the Rock Cycle and the Hydrological Cycle interact to produce (1) the materials (rocks and minerals) that make up the Earth and (2) the landforms that occur at the surface of the Earth.
- Part of interdisciplinary team teaching course The Global Environment (ENVR 200) in the McGill School of Environment. Course examines the interactions between the atmosphere, oceans, and ecosphere, including humans, on a global scale. Course assesses the impact of human activity on global systems and how anthropogenic change can modify natural elemental cycles.
- Part of interdisciplinary team teaching course The Evolving Earth (ENVR 202) in the McGill School of Environment. Course examines the interactions of biological and geological processes and patterns and their role in building the earth and ecosystems over geologic time. Course assesses the evidence and information used in interpreting past and present geological and biological changes and evaluates how history, chance and necessity have contributed to these changes.
- Project supervisor for students in the McGill School of Environment capstone course Environmental Research (ENVR 401). Students work on a real-world research project involving problem definition, methodology development, social, ethical and environmental impact assessment, execution of the study, and dissemination of results to the research community and to the people affected.
- Part of interdisciplinary team teaching the bi-annual McGill Desert Ecology Field Trip (WILD 475). Course involves a three-week filed trip to examine the biotic and abiotic relationships that exist in the desert regions of the American South West.
- Special topics supervisor for a variety of student initiated research projects (SEE Projects listed below). Projects related to Earth and Environmental Sciences allow students to carry out independent research under the guidance of qualified staff.
- Honours Thesis supervisor for senior undergraduate students (SEE Honours Thesis topics listed below). Projects related to Environmental Research allow students to carry out intensive and rigorous research under the supervision of qualified staff.
John Abbott College
- Lecturer in first-year university equivalent course Introduction to Earth Sciences. Course designed to give science students a basic understanding of Earth Sciences. Students introduced to topics on minerals, rocks, earthquakes and volcanoes.
- Lecturer in Environmental Geology. Course covered such subjects as soil and water resources, renewable and non-renewable energy resources, mineral resources, waste disposal, and landscape evaluation.
Research Experience:
McGill University
- Developed new technique for determining rates of soil mineral weathering based on amounts of acidity that can be buffered as a result of mineral weathering. Technique allows many soil samples to be analysed in a relatively short time allowing for a better quantification of acid buffering within a given area. This allows for development of more effective soil weathering models.
- Tested PROFILE computer model designed to predict changes in soil profile chemistry in response to changing atmospheric acid deposition conditions. Compared field data collected from six regions of southern Quebec with predicted model results.
University of Alberta
- Established a two and one-half million year old vegetational record for the Bluefish Basin area of the northern Yukon using palynological techniques. This was part of the Yukon-Beringia Refugium Project and has helped contribute to understanding the Steppe-Tundra Mammoth Paradox question.
- Geological analysis of sedimentary record helped contribute to a better understanding of the geological relationships between the unglaciated regions of Yukon-Beringia Refugium and the surrounding glaciated regions of the Southern Yukon and the adjoining Northwest Territories.
Work Experience:
Associate Director, Undergraduate Affairs, McGill School of Environment (MSE)
- Chair of the Undergraduate Academic Committee that oversees the MSE Undergraduate Program
- Responsible for the continued development and operation of MSE’s undergraduate program that currently has over 350 undergraduate students enrolled in the Environment Major with another 200+ students registered in the Minor in Environment Program.
- Help facilitate and coordinate ongoing discussions within the MSE community about the MSE core program, domains, undergraduate research, and others activities the MSE is involved in with undergraduate education
- Responsible for establishing subcommittees such as Undergraduate Scholarships and Fellowships Committee and coordinating recruitment activities related to the undergraduate programs involving the MSE.
- Initiated a review of the core course program and the ten undergraduate domains (areas of specialization) in order to assess their current relevance.
- Organized workshops with the MSE core courses teaching teams and small domain review committees to allow for an ongoing discussion of the purpose and learning outcomes of the current undergraduate program.
- Organized a number of meetings with the Teaching and Learning Services (TLS) team who have been instrumental in helping the MSE faculty articulate, change and deliver on its core learning mandate for the undergraduate program.
- Contributed to the development of a new undergraduate program within the MSE, the Montreal Urban Sustainable Experience (MUSE). This six credit field-based experiential research program examines the issues of urban sustainability around the island of Montreal is currently being offered to a wide selection of McGill undergraduate students. Actively involved with a group of undergraduate students in helping develop a course “Change through Sustainable Education”.
Madaba Plains Archaeological Project
- Field supervisor at the excavation of an Early Bronze Age to Persian Age archaeological site near Amman, Jordan. Collected soil samples for palynological analysis. Analysis used to determine changes in nutritional history during period of human occupation.
Shell Canada
- Developed areas for oil and gas exploration in Western Canada Sedimentary Basin. Co-ordinated drilling of wells. Involved in economic modelling, including risk analysis and feasibility studies.
- Conducted palynostratigraphic and lithostratigraphic correlations of wells drilled in frontier areas (Mackenzie River Basin, Arctic Islands) of Canada. Utilized quantitative biostratigraphic techniques, particularly PALYNOFACIES, for geologic correlation purposes.
St. Remy Multimedia Services
- Geological Consultant for a “Rocks and Minerals” hands-on field guide developed for Discovery Channel’snew ‘Explore Your World’ Series. Advised on basic outlay and organization of guide, reviewed all written material and wrote material for several of the sections of field guide.
Current University Service:
- Associate Director of Undergraduate Affairs, McGill School of Environment (MSE)
- McGill School of Environment representative on Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (FAES) Academic Planning Committee (APC)
- Member, MSE Scholarships Committee
- Member, McGill University Teaching and Learning Services Inquiry Network Working Group on Nexus between Teaching and Research/Scholarship
- Member, McGill University Working Group on Undergraduate Outcomes
- Member, McGill University Vision 2020 Working Group on Teaching and Learning
- Member, McGill University Sustainability Projects Working Group Fund Review Committee
- Member, Search Committee, Manager of the Office of Sustainability
- Member FAES Outstanding TA Award Committee
- 2012 Workshop with students engaged in McGill’s Panorama of Science program (July 3rd, 2012)
- 2012 McGill Inaugural Community Engagement Day Co-ordinator
- 2013 Freshman Orientation Week McGill “Experts” panel on how to get the most of your education at McGill
- 2013 Workshop with students engaged in McGill’s Panorama of Science program (July 2nd, 2013)
Honour’s Thesis Supervised:
- Kendra Pomerantz (2014) “Creating a Two Campus Composting Plan for McGill: A Cost Benefit Analysis”
- Sophie Nitoslawski (2013-2014) (Joint with Andrew Gonzales – Biology) – "Inequality and Environmental Impact: A Meta-Analysis of Aggregate Data Studies"
- Andrew Wu (2012-2013) “An Examination of Carbon Flows from Material Human Waste at the Macdonald Campus of McGill University”
- Russell Vinegar (2011-2012) “Dumpster Divers and Their Motivations: An Exploratory Study of a Modern Response to Waste and Food Insecurity”
- Rosie Simms (2010-2011) “An Impact-based comparison of two Canadian Mega-Energy Industries: Hydroelectric Generation and Oil Sands”
- Meredith Cairns (2007-2008) “Willingness to Pay for Water in the Town of Montreal West” – Winner of an Eco-Canada Student Award for Environmental Excellence (2008)
Independent Studies:
- Simon Poitrimolt (2014) “Economics of Composting at the Macdonald Campus”
- Vincent Racine (2014) “Incorporating independent food vendors at McGill into an overall composting system”
- Munib Khanyari (2013) “A report on Central Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) behaviour and diet: comparison between continuous and fragmented forests in measuring forest health
- Marina Privorotsky and Megan Bajzath (2013) “AWE (Acquainted with Earth) – A Program for Environmental Education in Elementary Schools
- Anna Hermanson (2013) “Livelihood Diversification and Adaptation to Climate Change among Pastoralist in Kajiado District, Kenya
- Julia Simone (2013) “Geothermal Energy – A Potential Investment for Canada”
- Susanna Klassen (2013) “Applied Student Research – Lessons learned from Integrating Sustainability into Undergraduate Education”
- Julien Robitaille (2012) “Development of the Circum-Antarctic Current and its Impacts on Antarctica’s Climate”
- Max Luke (2012) “Integrating Sustainability into the Curriculum – The Case for Experiential Learning and Applied Student Research at McGill University”
- Peter Tikasz, Jaaved Singh and Andrew Wu (2012) “Changing Student Behaviour to Increase Energy Sustainability and Efficiency at the Macdonald Campus, McGill University”
- May Benbady (2011) - “Ecological and Political Climate in the Middle East: The Case of the Jordan River”
- Ana Vadeanu (2011) - “Potential for the social and environmental space around community-building organizations to influence urban policy”
- Jonathan Glencross (2010) – “From Footprints to Action - McGill Living Laboratory Project” – report submitted to the TD Go Green Challenge.
- Holly Stewart (2010) – “German Climate Change Policies – a success story?”
- Maggie Knight (2010) – “Knowledge of Adaptation to Climate change in coastal and Arctic regions in Canada”
- Daphne Ferguson (2009) (Water Policy Fellow granted by Walter and Gordon Duncan Foundation in collaboration with Nature Quebec) – “Evaluating “New Water Infrastructure” Measures for Montreal: A Cost- Benefit Approach”
- Beatrice Simms (2009) – “Water Issues in Canada – Hydroelectric Dams”
- Dana Holtby (2009) – “Water Issues in Canada – Industrial Water Uses”
- Katryna van Vliet (2009) – “Water Issues in Canada – Domestic Water Uses”
- Krystyna Glavinovic (2009) – “Water Issues in Canada – Agriculture Water Uses”
- Katherine Beardsley (2008) – “Assessing Student Satisfaction with the McGill School of Environment”
- Tara Lutchman, Rachel Laurin and Elizabeth Poirier-Garneau (2007) – L’adoption d’une perspective environnementale dans la restauration: Le cycle de vie appliqué aux Rôtisseries St-Hubert
- Aliya Tejani (2007) - Hydrological changes due deforestation in the Amazon River Basin
- Heather Peacock (2006) – “A WHOLE WORLD OF CHANGE: The Evolutionary Implications of Extinction (With particular reference to the Permian mass extinction event)”
- Veronique Bisaillon (2006) – “Cities and Sustainability: Four Case Studies”
- Marie-Eve Lemieux (2006) – “Improving Macdonald Campus transit system: a model based on a “univer-city” cooperation”
- Johanne Philippe (2006) – “Proposal for a community composting project in the community of Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec”
Undergraduate Group Research Projects Supervised:
- Chang A., Lee E., Poitrimolt S., Racine V., Rankin T., Rozon J., Thompson K. and Vinegar M. (2013) “Creating a Composting Plan for McGill Food and Dining Services, McGill University”
- Klassen, S., S. Chaini, J. Lo, K. Chan, N. Toutain, E. Lenain, S. Shivji (2012) “Understanding Water Consumption on Campus: Estimating Research & Academic Usage in McGill’s Chemistry Department”
- Ben-David D., A. Hermanson, F. Haddad, J. Lukawiecki, J. Rosario Yeung, K. Marchand, M. Ghiasi (2012) “Investigating Community Participation and Engagement in Sustainability at Thompson House, McGill University”
- Luke, M., K. Lauzon, D. Sharma, N. Mobasher and J. Gallant (2011) “Sustainability and Curriculum at McGill University: A Toolkit of Effective Strategy Building” 41pp
- Friedman, J., A. Laham, R. MacDonald, D. See-Har, H. Stewart and M. Tvaronas (2011) “Vaudreuil-Soulanges Integrated Water Management Project” 23 pp
- Agnew, W., R. Chen, M. Cregan, M. Knight, K. O’Konski, K. Simic, S. Smith and A. Vadeanu (2010) “Sustainable Seafood Practices at McGill University” 58 pp