Co-Investigator
Contact
Associate Professor & Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies
Geography and Environmental Management, Faculty of Environment
University of Waterloo
Johanna is the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies and an Associate Professor in the University of Waterloo’s Department of Geography and Environmental Management (GEM). She joined GEM in 2008 having worked previously on high impact climate change adaptation research studies in Canada.
Johanna's research examines the critical relationship between humans and the environment and specifically addresses vulnerability and adaptation assessments in relation to climate change. Her research focuses on:
- Community-level vulnerability assessment in light of climate change and other stresses in various economic sectors and geographic contexts
- Proactive adaptation planning to reduce anticipated vulnerability
Select Publications
- Cottar, S., Henstra, D., Thistlethwaite, J., Doberstein, B., & Wandel, J. (2025). Navigating land use after managed retreat: Decisions facing local governments in the post-buyout environment. Environmental Hazards.
- Cottar, S., & Wandel, J. (2024). Municipal perspectives on managed retreat and flood mitigation: A case analysis of Merritt, Canada after the 2021 British Columbia flood disaster. Climatic Change 177 (50).
- Cáceres, R., Wandel, J., Pittman, J., & Deadman, P. (2024). Insights intended to improve adaptation planning and reduce vulnerability at the local scale. Frontiers in Climate 27.
- Cottar, S., Doberstein, B., Henstra, D., & Wandel, J. (2021). Evaluating property buyouts and disaster recovery assistance (Rebuild) options in Canada: A comparative analysis of Constance Bay, Ontario and Pointe Gatineau, Quebec. Natural Hazards 109.
- Minano, A., Johnson, P.A., & Wandel, J. (2017). Visualizing flood risk, enabling participation and supporting climate change adaptation using the Geoweb: the case of coastal communities in Nova Scotia, Canada. GeoJournal 83.
- Smit, B., & Wandel, J. (2006). Adaptation, adaptive capacity, and vulnerability. Global Environmental Change 16 (3).