Greg King, PhD

Area of Study / Keywords

Dendrochronology Climate Change Urban Forest Sustainability Energy and Environment Community-Engaged Research Program: Sustainability Studies Program: Environmental Science

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About

Degrees

Ph.D. Climate Sciences, Universität Bern (Switzerland)

M.Sc. Physical Geography, Carleton University

B.Sc. Environmental Science, Carleton University

Brief Biography

Although born on the west coast of Canada (Victoria, BC), I consider myself Nova Scotia grown and call Cole Harbour home. I moved to Ottawa for my undergraduate degree (Carleton University) in environmental science and was able to pursue summer research opportunities investigating paleoecology and forest disturbance ecology in northern Canada. This led to studying for a master's degree at Carleton in geography and research on biogeography in the Northwest Territories. At this point my love for northern environments was well established, but with an opportunity to pursue a Ph.D. in Switzerland, it was an offer (and a lot of chocolate) I couldn’t turn down. I spent three and a half years in Zürich investigating tree growth dynamics in stunning alpine Swiss valleys. Upon returning to Canada I taught for two semesters as a part-time faculty member at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick. In 2015 I joined the Department of Geography & Planning at Queen’s University as the Robert Gilbert Postdoctoral Fellow and called Kingston home. In this position I was able to re-establish work on vegetation change in northern Canada, continue collaboration with European colleagues and develop some new interests in urban forests. In January 2018 I started as an assistant professor of environmental science at Augustana and made Camrose my new home. Outside of the university you might catch me chasing toddlers, in my garden or the campus orchard, on the ski trails, paddling a river or playing ultimate frisbee/disc golf.

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Research

I have a broad set of research interests based around the topic of forest response to ecosystem change both contemporary and historical and within natural and urban environments. I am interested in combining different methods (crossing temporal scales from minutes to millennia) to bridge knowledge gaps and more completely understand forest response.

Current research projects include:

• Camrose Urban Forest Project -- various sub-projects on urban forest ecology and ecosystem services working in collaboration with the City of Camrose and local neighbourhoods
• Dendroarchaeology in The Beaver Hills Biosphere -- a project that uses dendrochronology to explore the human and environmental history of the Beaver Hills beyond the instrumental record
• Resilient Urban Forests for Canadians: Adapting to Climate Change for Enhanced Tree-Related Benefits -- ongoing project in collaboration with UQAM investigating response of the urban forest to drought

If you have interest in any of these projects or perhaps ideas on other research topics linked to my interests I would be happy to chat about opportunities for research through directed studies and even potential summer research positions.

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Teaching

Teaching Philosophy

"And live in fascination...fascination forever"

                                   - Draw Us Lines, Constantines

My teaching philosophy is closely linked to my own experiences as a lifelong learner who wakes each day with a sense of fascination for the world. I have a desire to use my role as an occasion to connect with students and increase awareness of the world around them. My teaching experience has primarily involved environmental and physical science courses. I view natural science as a fundamentally hands-on, exploratory pursuit and I have developed courses in soils, sustainability and climate change science with the opportunity for more on the horizon. I'm also very involved with Augustana's project-based core, leading a section of the Community Partnership Project (AUIDS 301) that focuses on municipal sustainability and aim to provide opportunities for immersive, experiential learning.

Courses Taught

I have taught several geography and environmental studies courses at Mount Allison University and Queen's University. Courses that I have taught at Augustana include the following:

• AUENV 120 - Human Activities and the Natural Environment (F11 2020, W11 2021, W11 2022, F11 2022, F11 2024)
• AUENV 233 - Soil Science and Soil Resources (W11 2018, W11 2020, F11 2021, F11 2023)
• AUENV 220 - Applications in Sustainability (F3 2018, W3 2019, W3 2020, W3 2021, W3 2022, W11 2023, W11 2024, W11 2025)
• AUENV 231 - Climatology (W11 2019)
• AUENV 234 - Research & Field Skills in Environmental Science (F3 2022, F3 2024)
• AUENV 334 - Field Studies in Environmental Science (F3 2021, F3 2023)
• AUENV 351 - Biogeography (F11 2018, F11 2020)
• AUENV 421 - Environmental Science: History & Impacts (Capstone) (W11 2022)
• AUENV 431 - Science of the Climate Crisis (W11 2021, F11 2022, F11 2024)
• AUIDS 301 - Community Partnership Project (W3/11 2023, W3/11 2024, W3/11 2025)

Camrose Urban Forest Survey Results

In 2024, we asked City of Camrose residents to tell us about their trees to shed light on how private residents shape our urban forest. Over the past 8 months a team, consisting of 4th year Sustainability Studies student Luke Beattie, Professor Glen Hvenegaard and I, analyzed the first results from the more than 550 responses to the survey and we are excited to share them with the public:

• Survey Infographic - provides an overview of the first major outcomes
• Camrose Booster Article - page 22 in the April 29 edition

A paper in the journal Urban Forestry & Urban Greening led by Augustana undergraduate student Luke Beattie is now available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1618866725002821

These first results do not cover all of the survey questions and we are now hard at work analyzing more data with plans to share more data soon.

AUENV 220 - Foundations of Sustainability

This course provides an introduction to the history of sustainability as a concept, contemporary sustainability issues, and some of the diverse perspectives that can be held approaching sustainability. The course will especially focus on introducing aspects of sustainable development especially as it relates to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provide coverage on the interconnections, trade-offs and barriers associated with them.

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AUENV 234 - Research and Field Skills in Environmental Science

An introductory methods-based course to establish and develop methods and skills of the environmental science discipline while applying the scientific method in various ecosystems of Alberta. Prerequisite: AUENV 120 or AUBIO 112.

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AUENV 351 - Biogeography

Analysis of the spatial patterns of biotic systems and species. The course examines their past and present distribution patterns in the context of biological and ecological processes and human impacts. The course employs several methods of analysis, including geographic information systems. Prerequisite: AUBIO 253. Note: Credit may be obtained for only one of AUGEO 351 (2021), AUENV 351 and AUBIO 351. Requires payment of additional student instructional support fees. Refer to the Tuition and Fees page in the University Regulations section of the Calendar.

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AUENV 431 - Science of the Climate Crisis

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing humanity. This course provides students an opportunity to develop familiarity and critical reasoning about the empirical evidence for and science behind the global climate crisis. With a global reach, we will consider the international scope of climate change, but a focus will be placed on developing a Canadian context. This is a seminar-style course - one driven by discussion and in which students will take on leadership roles of introducing materials and guiding discussions. Prerequisites: Third-year standing. Note: Credit may be obtained for only one of AUENV 431 and AUENV 331 (2024).

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AUIDS 401A - Community Partnership Project and Professionalization

With the support of a faculty advisor, students will work in small multidisciplinary groups on a specific issue raised by a community partner. This course introduces students to the skills and knowledge they need to work professionally with community partners, while reinforcing their ability to work collaboratively on a project. This course will also provide students with the skills and tools to market knowledge acquired in their degree in competitive job markets. Prerequisite: AUIDS 101; at least third-year standing.

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AUIDS 401B - Community Partnership Project and Professionalization

With the support of a faculty advisor, students will work in small multidisciplinary groups on a specific issue raised by a community partner. This course introduces students to the skills and knowledge they need to work professionally with community partners, while reinforcing their ability to work collaboratively on a project. This course will also provide students with the skills and tools to market knowledge acquired in their degree in competitive job markets. prerequisite: AUIDS 101; at least third-year standing.

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Browse more courses taught by Greg King

Luke H. Beattie, Greg King, Glen Hvenegaard

Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 2025 October; 10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128948

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Danby RK, King G, Bonney MT, Thibert S.

Focus on Geography. 2023 July; 66 (3p) 10.21690/foge/2023.66.3p

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Carolyn Bonta, Gregory M. King, Ryan K. Danby

Arctic Science. 2023 March; 10.1139/as-2022-0036

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Etienne Boucher, Fabio Gennaretti, Trevor Porter, Ignacio Hermoso De Mendoza, Sandrine Solignac, Luc Lauzon, Jodi Axelson, James H. Speer, Greg King

Tree-Ring Research. 2023 February; 10.3959/trr2022-7

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King G, Hvenegaard G.

The City is an Ecosystem: Sustainable Education, Policy, and Practice. 2022 August;

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Global Change Biology. 2016 January; 10.1111/gcb.13317

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King, G., Fonti, F., Nievergelt, D., Buntgen, U., Frank, D.

Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 2013 January; (168):38-48

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King, G.M., Gugerli, F., Fonti, F., Frank, D.C.

Oecologia. 2013 January; (173):1587-1600

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