معرفی
Brent Ward is a Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Simon Fraser University and serves as Co-director of the Centre for Natural Hazards Research. His academic career is deeply rooted in Quaternary geology with a focus on understanding glacial history and paleoenvironmental changes in western North America.
Ward received his B.Sc. (Hons.) in 1986 and Ph.D. in 1993, both from the University of Alberta. His educational background provided the foundation for his specialization in field-based Quaternary geology.
Dr. Ward is a classical, field-based Quaternary geologist whose research interests span sedimentology, stratigraphy, paleoenvironmental reconstructions, surficial mapping, drift prospecting, and landslides. His current research primarily focuses on resolving aspects of the stratigraphy of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet and associated paleoenvironmental reconstructions. This interdisciplinary work requires collaborations with researchers across various fields and combines stratigraphic studies with plant and insect macrofossil and palynological analysis to reconstruct paleoenvironments and paleoclimate. A particularly innovative aspect of his research involves work on raised sea caves—the only such work being done in North America—which provides direct information to solve questions of glacial history and past fauna and climate. His research has significant implications for understanding potential human coastal migrations during the Late Wisconsinan period.
Analysis of Ward's recent publications reveals a strong focus on Cordilleran Ice Sheet history, landslide mechanics, and glacial sedimentology. His work bridges traditional field geology with modern analytical techniques including cosmogenic nuclide dating, LiDAR analysis, and geospatial modeling. The research spans multiple geographic areas including British Columbia, Yukon, and the Canadian Arctic, addressing both fundamental scientific questions and practical applications in mineral exploration and hazard assessment.
- The Westerman Award for Outstanding Achievement in Geoscience EGBC (2023)
- APEG Fellowship APEGBC (2013)
- Engineers Canada Fellowship Engineers Canada (2009)
- Victor Milligan Paper Award Canadian Geotechnical Society (2010)
- Barlow Memorial Medal Canadian Institute for Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (2009)
Ward actively supervises graduate students, with recent projects examining the glacial history of the Ruby Range in southwest Yukon and the effects of deglacial meltwater processes on kimberlite indicator mineral concentrations. His research has secured significant funding for field investigations and laboratory analyses, supporting both fundamental research and practical applications in natural hazard assessment and mineral exploration. He has developed strong collaborative relationships with government geological surveys, industry partners, and international research teams.
As Co-director of the Centre for Natural Hazards Research, Ward leads interdisciplinary teams investigating geological hazards including landslides, glacial lake outburst floods, and seismic risks. His work integrates field observations with numerical modeling to improve hazard assessment and risk management in mountainous terrain. The Centre maintains strong connections with emergency management agencies and industry partners to ensure research findings translate into practical risk reduction strategies.
