Kristen Lowitt

Assistant Professor

School of Environmental Studies

Contact Information

Office: 3240 Biosciences Complex
Phone: 613-533-6000, ext. 77420
Email: kristen.lowitt@queensu.ca
Website     Twitter: @KLowitt

BES, Environmental Studies, York University
MES, Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University 
PhD, Interdisciplinary Studies, Memorial University

Research

General Research Interests:

- Sustainable food systems
- Food sovereignty
- Small-scale fisheries
- Natural resource governance
- Community development

My research goals are directed towards working with communities to build just and sustainable food systems in rural and coastal settings. Three main themes characterize my research program: a) the role of small-scale fisheries in sustainable food systems; b) Indigenous food sovereignty, and specifically reconciling Western natural resource management with Indigenous governance of land and water; and c)  collective action and civil society participation in food systems governance. While my research is grounded in environmental studies and human geography, I draw upon a larger literature in the social sciences, including insights from sociology, regional and international development, environmental management, and political ecology. My research approach is based in partnership-building and co-production of research and knowledge with communities.