I spend about two-thirds of my time on research and writing. In recent years, this has involved participating in interdisciplinary team research on social and environmental issues in rural Newfoundland and in Alabama. My main concern in the 1990s was the social impact of an ecological disaster - the disappearance of the northern cod on which many people in this area depended for a living. More recently I have become interested in fisheries science, forest resource issues and offshore oil development. I try to understand how people conduct their every day lives in the context of their history, physical environment, and the immediate settings of household, work place and neighbourhood. Have a look at the publications section in my CV for sources you might wish to consult.

I enjoy photography, painting, writing a little poetry, jazz and classical music (only listening), walking/hiking, and many sports, which I used to play before coming down with knee trouble. I try to resist watching professional sports, but often fail. I like to cook, mainly vegetarian, east Asian and Italian. Nature, gardening, travel and reading fiction are also important interests.