Gavan P.L. Watson
PhD Candidate
Faculty of Environmental Studies
HNES Building
York University
4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. M3J 1P3
Links:
Academic Vitae (pdf)
Dissertation Research
Academic Writing
In the media
Academia.edu Homepage
Contact Information:
email: gavan [add ampersand] yorku.ca
Phone: +1-647-439-0271
Research Interests: environmental education; environmental philosophy; non-formal (or free-choice) learning; animal-human relationships; perceptions of animals; natural history; nature interpretation; birdwatching, birders & birds; actor-network theory; post-structuralist qualitative research methods
PhD Program Information:
Year Entered Program: 2004
Dissertation Title: Assembling the bird(er): multiple acts of birding
Comprehensive Areas:
1. Actor Network Theory, After-ANT & Enactment: Implications for method
2. Confluences in the streams of Birding, Technology and Animal Studies
3. Designing and Instructing an Experiential Course: The Natural History of the GTA & Southern Ontario
Advisory Committee:
Advisor: Dr. Leesa Fawcett
Committee Members: Dr. Ray Rogers, Dr. Jennifer Foster, Dr. Alice Hovorka
Education:
2004-Present, Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, Toronto
2002-2004, Master of Environmental Studies, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, Toronto
Area of Concentration: Environmental Education and Environmental Thought
Major paper title: Place as educator, concepts of nature: children, summer camp and environmental education.
1996-2000, Honours Bachelors of Applied Science in Family and Social Relations, University of Guelph, Guelph
Publications:
Refereed contributions
Oakley, J., Watson, G. P. L., Russell, C. L., Cutter-Mackenzie, A., Fawcett, L., Kuhl, G., et al. (Under review). Animal encounters in environmental education research: Responding to the “question of the animal”. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 15.
Watson, G. P. L. (2006). Wild Becomings: How the everyday experience of common wild animals at summer camp acts as an entrance to the more-than-human world. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 11, 127-142
Professional publications
Watson, G. P. L. (Under review). Human Ends and Animal Beginnings. Review of Animal Subjects by Jodey Castricano. Canadian Literature.
Watson, G. P. L. (Accepted for manuscript). Cultural blindspots and the disappearance of Ring-Billed Gulls in Toronto. In P. Johnson & K. Nagy (Eds.), Trash Animals: Natural and Cultural Perspectives on Maligned Species. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Watson, G. P. L. (2008). Hinterlands Who’s Who: Birding, Multiplicity, and Barn Owls. UnderCurrents (17), 6-10.
Warkentin, T., Corman, L., & Watson, G. P. L. (2007). Review of “Envisioning Animals Symposium”. H-Animal. Retrieved from http://www.h-net.org/~animal/markings_envisioning1_warkentin-corman-watson.html
Conference presentations
May, 2009, 5th World Environmental Education Congress, Montréal, QC
Poster: “Birding ≠ Bird Conservation.”
May, 2008, American Association of Geographers conference, Boston, MA.
Conference Paper Title: The robot and the birder: Power and knowledge-making in Ornithology.
November, 2007, Nature Matters Conference, Toronto, ON.
Conference Paper Title: See gull: Cultural blind spots and the disappearance of Ring-billed Gulls in Toronto.
October, 2006, Salt of the Earth, EECOM Conference, Halifax, NS.
Conference Paper Title: Disrupting the Concept of Maligned Species
May, 2006, Environmental Studies Association of Canada, Toronto, ON.
Conference Paper Title: Wild becomings
March, 2006, American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.
Conference Paper Title: The hybrid techno-nature of birding
October, 2005, Creating Ripples, EECOM Conference, Huntsville, ON.
Conference Paper Title: Children, summer camp and environmental education
February, 2005, Two days of thinking about Animals in Canada, Brock University, St. Catherines, ON.
Conference Paper Title: Children making a connection to the more than human world
Artistic works
Watson, G.P.L. (Artist). (2008). I walk the line [Photographs]. In McLean, H. (2009). Relational reflections from the big box ballet. Fuse, 32(3), 6-9.
Watson, G.P.L. (Artist). (2007). Yukon raven [Photograph]. In Avian alert. Fortean Times, (240), 18-19.
Watson, G.P.L. (Artist). (2007). Catch of the day [Photograph]. In Go Magazine, 84(2), cover.
Watson, G.P.L. (Artist). (2006). Intertidal snails [Photograph]. In Williams, P. (2009). Snail. London: Reaktion Books.
Interviews
Corman, L. (Producer). (April 24, 2007). Different Ways of Knowing: Birding, Aquariums, and the End of Suffering? Animal Voices. Toronto: CIUT FM.
Teaching:
Instructor
York University
The Natural History of the GTA, 2006, 2008-2009
Natural History, 2007
Nova Southeastern University
Foundations of Environmental Education, Theory, 2003-2006
Foundations of Environmental Education, Practice, 2003-2006
Teaching Assistant
York University
Foundations of Environment and Culture: Philosophy, Technology, Arts and Education
Ecology and Conservation Science
Introduction to Science for Environmental Studies Students
Science, Technology & the Environment
University of Guelph
Nature Interpretation
Awards:
York Scholarship, York University, 2004
Graduate Assistantship, York University, 2002
Dean’s Honour Roll, University of Guelph, 1999-2000
403 Scholarship, University of Guelph, 1996
Service:
2005-Present, Book Review Editor, Canadian Journal of Environmental Education
York University
2007-2008, 2009-2010, Teaching Development Graduate Assistant, Centre for Support of Teaching
2006-2007, Co-chair, PhD Environmental Studies Student Association
2006-2007, Member, FES Executive Committee
2005-2006, Member, Committee of Instruction
2005, Member, Hiring Committee, Environmental & Landscape Design
2004-2005, Member, Graduate Curriculum Committee
Related Experience:
2007-Present, Tour Leader, Quest Nature Tours
2004, 2008, Director, Camp Arowhon Outdoor Centre
2003, Researcher, Nova Southeastern University
2001-2002, Outdoor Education Specialist, Toronto District School Board
2000-2001, Program Coordinator, Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre
