Lauren Harding

Lauren Harding is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), where she is affiliated with the programs in Conservation Science and Practice, Outdoor Recreation Tourism Management, and graduate studies in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (MNRES, MA NRES, MSc NRES). She is based on the Prince George campus and is actively engaged in teaching, research, and graduate supervision.

• PhD, University of British Columbia
• MA, York University
• BA, University of Alberta

Her research lies at the intersection of environmental anthropology, critical tourism studies, and settler-colonial theory, with a regional focus on western and northern Canada. She employs qualitative and ethnographic methods to investigate how conservation, outdoor recreation, and colonial histories shape human relationships with nature and wildlife, particularly in the context of human-bear coexistence and community livelihoods.

Her recent publications explore decolonial narratives in tourism and the societal values attributed to wildlife, reflecting a strong commitment to socio-ecological justice and community-centered research. These works indicate consistent engagement with cultural, ethical, and political dimensions of environmental management.

Dr. Harding is a recognized expert in her fields and is available for media consultation. She supervises graduate students and requires a research prospectus and writing sample from prospective applicants.

• ‘This isn't Canada, it’s Home’: Re-claiming Colonized Space through the Host-Guest Relationship (2019)
• What good is a bear to society? (2014)

She is actively involved in graduate education and research mentorship across multiple programs. While no specific grants are listed, her supervisory role suggests involvement in funded research projects. She is also engaged with community and Indigenous relations through her academic work and personal acknowledgment of living and working on Lheidli T’enneh territories.

Dr. Harding is a settler-Canadian from Treaty 6 territories (Edmonton, AB) and integrates personal and academic commitments to place, family, and the environment. Her work is supported by field-based qualitative research and contributes to broader conversations on decolonizing conservation and recreation practices in northern landscapes.