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  • Fig. 1 | How data leakage might occur in ecological applications, explained through the lens of shortcut learning.

    CHANS Lab researchers depict how machine learning can suffer data leakage

    In a new paper in Nature Ecology & Evolution, Andy Stock, Ed Gregr, and Kai Chan demonstrate how many routine applications of machine learning can inadvertently "leak data", undermining accurate predictions.

  • Kai’s TEDx talk is online

    Special Agents, Rubik’s Cubes, and How to Solve the Climate Crisis | Kai Chan | TEDxSurrey In a planetary crisis, action enables hope. But it's daunting to try to live sustainably in an unsustainable system. Professor and change-agent Dr. Kai Chan shares stories of triumph and challenge in international policy for nature, and finding the real key to a better future on Earth: you. You are already part of the solution to our many-sided puzzle of climate, ecology, and equity. Join the conversation here. Dr. Kai Chan loves science, play, fitness, and inspiring action for a planet both better and wilder. Check him out @ CoSphere.net

  • CHANS Lab is launching CoSphere

    Following North America's Overshoot Day (Mar 13), CHANS Lab will be launching CoSphere with partners including David Suzuki Foundation, Plastic Oceans, Raincoast Conservation, and CPAWS. Join and share our community for transformative change towards a sustainable and just future!

  • Kai is appointed as a Canada Research Chair

    Our PI Kai Chan is now a Tier 1 CRC in Re-Wilding and Social-Ecological Transformation. UBC announcement

  • Kai coauthors UN report “Making Peace with Nature”

    Kai joined Ivar Baste and Sir Bob Watson and other Section Leads to coauthor the UNEP report "Making Peace with Nature". This new 2021 report synthesizes major assessments from IPCC, IPBES, the Global Environmental Outlook and more to provide a blueprint for meeting the planet's linked environmental challenges.

CHANS Lab Mission and Research Overview:

Our mission is to conduct cutting-edge analysis and modelling of social-ecological systems, for both fundamental insight and application to real-world practice and transformation–to enable the just treatment of current and future people and the natural world. Our work in the natural sciences focuses on including humans and evolution in ecological research, including modeling and diverse empirical analysis. Our work in the social sciences explores the just treatment of current and future generations, developing novel approaches to management and governance, and informing the relevance of our natural science work. Our lab is addressing the above mission through a diverse set of integrative and overlapping research foci:

  • Transformation (interdisciplinary social research examining what motivates and empowers individuals to act in ways that change social norms and systems toward sustainability and equity)
  • Environmental Values (social research to understand and leverage values, especially those pertaining to all manner of relationships among people and nature, i.e., relational values)
  • Rewilding People and Nature (social-ecological research to understand the effects of restoring top predators, ecosystem engineers, ecological interactions, and whole functioning systems in ways that reconnect people with nature and support ecosystem functions and benefits)
  • Social-Ecological Systems (characterization and modeling of dynamics, vulnerability and adaptive capacity)
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Rumi Naito defends her PhD

Congratulations to Rumi for an excellent PhD defence! “Messaging for wildlife conservation: leveraging attitudes, intentions, and actions for transformative change” With co-supervisor Jiaying Zhao, Rumi’s supervisory committee included Robin Naidoo, Jeff Sayer, and Intu Boedhihartono. Her external examiner was Kathryn Williams of the University of Melbourne, and her UBC examiners were Dave Hardisty and Daniel Weary. Bravo, Rumi!

CHANS Lab researchers depict how machine learning can suffer data leakage

In a new paper in Nature Ecology & Evolution, Andy Stock, Ed Gregr, and Kai Chan demonstrate how many routine applications of machine learning can inadvertently “leak data”, undermining accurate predictions.

Aaron’s bat research covered by CBC

Especially following the discovery of the fungus that causes White Nose Syndrome, Aaron Aguirre’s bat research has received welcome attention from the media. Check out this <2-minute segment on CBC.

Lea Anderson defends her MA thesis

Congratulations to Lea for her outstanding MA thesis defence! Her examiner was Terre Satterfield, and her supervisory committee included Mollie Chapman and Barbara Muraca. Lea’s thesis, “Seeking transformative lifestyles: a role for social media influencers in creating sustainable futures” is now available.

Kai’s TEDx talk is online

Special Agents, Rubik’s Cubes, and How to Solve the Climate Crisis | Kai Chan | TEDxSurrey

In a planetary crisis, action enables hope. But it’s daunting to try to live sustainably in an unsustainable system. Professor and change-agent Dr. Kai Chan shares stories of triumph and challenge in international policy for nature, and finding the real key to a better future on Earth: you. You are already part of the solution to our many-sided puzzle of climate, ecology, and equity. Join the conversation here. Dr. Kai Chan loves science, play, fitness, and inspiring action for a planet both better and wilder. Check him out @ CoSphere.net

Kai to speak at TEDxSurrey on Jan. 21st, 2023

Kai will be one of 12 speakers at the TEDxSurrey’s 2023 event, “A Shift in Thinking”, on January 21st. For those wondering how they can help address the climate-and-ecological crisis, Kai’s TEDx Talk will offer some ideas and argue that you may have much more to offer than you realized. The remaining speakers will cover […]

Daniel Forrest receives Josephine T. Berthier Fellowship

CHANS Lab graduate student, Daniel Forrest, received the Josephine T. Berthier Fellowship. The fellowship was awarded via the UBC Affiliated Awards – Master’s competition, and will provide $16,000 to support Dan’s research through Summer 2023. Congrats, Dan!  

4 CHANS Lab students become Public Scholars!

  Four CHANS Lab graduate students, Anna Santo, Dana Johnson, Jo Fitzgibbons, and Dan Forrest, joined UBC Graduate & Post-doctoral Studies’ Public Scholars Initiative. This program supports UBC doctoral students whose research extends beyond the academy, and beyond traditional disciplinary approaches, to have a tangible impact for the public good through collaborative, action-oriented, and/or creative […]

Julia Craig’s bat research covered in Vancouver Sun

The story by Tiffany Crawford was titled, “UBC researcher rides bicycle around Vancouver to study how city affects bats”. Julia is now on a cross-continental bike tour of South America.

Ashli Akins defends her PhD

Congratulations to Ashli for her exceptional PhD Defence today for her dissertation entitled, “Pampa and Pallay : the paradox of culture and economy in the Andean mountains”. It was a pass with no revisions (save a typo). Dorothy Nason and Jon Beasley-Murray were university examiners, Nancy Turner was on Zoom, Mark Turin in absentia, and co-supervisors Wade Davis and Kai Chan asking their own questions and those of external examiner Graham Dutfield at Leeds.

More news...
  • Sánchez et al., Climate change and rainbow trout habitat

    Sánchez, C., E.J. Gregr, E.A. Parkinson and K.M.A. Chan (2023). "The benefits of climate change mitigation to retaining rainbow trout habitat in British Columbia, Canada." Regional Environmental Change 23(3): 108. 10.1007/s10113-023-02097-0


  • Stock et al., Problems with machine learning in ecology

    Stock, A., E.J. Gregr and K.M.A. Chan (2023). "Data leakage jeopardizes ecological applications of machine learning." Nature Ecology & Evolution. Doi: 10.1038/s41559-023-02162-1


  • López de la Lama et al., Private land conservation in South America

    López de la Lama, R., N. Bennett, J. Bulkan, D. Boyd and K.M.A. Chan "A legal assessment of private land conservation in South America." Conservation Biology n/a(n/a): e14068. Doi: 10.1111/cobi.14068


  • Loos et al, Environmental justice and ecosystem services

    Loos, J., F. Benra, M. Berbés-Blázquez, L.L. Bremer, K.M.A. Chan et al. (2023). "An environmental justice perspective on ecosystem services." Ambio 52(3): 477-488. 10.1007/s13280-022-01812-1


  • Eyster et al., Relational thinking

    Eyster, H.N., T. Satterfield and K.M.A. Chan "Empirical examples demonstrate how relational thinking might enrich science and practice." People and Nature 5(2): 455–469. Doi: 10.1002/pan3.10453


  • Stock et al., Exploring multiple stressor effects

    Stock, A., C.C. Murray, E.J. Gregr, J. Steenbeek, E. Woodburn, F. Micheli, V. Christensen and K.M.A. Chan (2023). "Exploring multiple stressor effects with Ecopath, Ecosim, and Ecospace: Research designs, modeling techniques, and future directions." Science of The Total Environment 869: 161719. Doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161719


  • Driscoll & Chan, Assessing fisheries nutrient yields

    Driscoll, J. and K.M.A. Chan (2023). "Assessing fisheries nutrient yields: The Northwest Atlantic, 1950–2014." Ambio 52: 271–284. Doi: 10.1007/s13280-022-01795-z


  • Eyster et al., Perennial polycultures boost bird diversity in the US Midwest

    Eyster, H.N., D.S. Srivastava, M. Kreitzman and K.M.A. Chan "Functional traits and metacommunity theory reveal that habitat filtering and competition maintain bird diversity in a human shared landscape." Ecography 2022(11): e06240. Doi: 10.1111/ecog.06240


More publications...
We envision a world where consideration of social and ecological risks and consequences is fundamental to decision-making.

Our mission is to provide rigorous cutting-edge applied and insight-driven research that informs real-world decision making, to enable the just treatment of current and future people and the natural world.
Chan's Lab
Aquatic Ecosystem Research Laboratories
4th Floor, 2202 Main Mall,
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z5, Canada
CHANS Lab
Vancouver Campus
Aquatic Ecosystems Research Laboratory (AERL)
2202 Main Mall
Vancouver, British Columbia Canada V6T 1Z4
Email kaichan@ires.ubc.ca
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