University of Alberta
Department of Resource Economics & Environmental Sociology

Chair in Food Security and Sovereignty
http://www.geog.uvic.ca/dept/cag/jobs.htm#L967

The Chair in Food Security and Sovereignty will have a well-established record of world-class research and be expected to develop a strong collaborative research program at the University of Alberta focused on issues of food security and the associated political, social, and human rights realm of food sovereignty. The Chair should develop a program of scholarship in this area that recognizes that issues of food production and distribution cannot be separated from questions about food allocation, sustainability of food production systems, governance systems and land ownership patterns, the right to food, and the rights of communities and nations to make decisions about their own food production and allocation systems.

The Chair will be given considerable latitude to propose and develop a cohesive program of social science research that brings critical perspectives to issues of food safety and sovereignty. The Chair's research might focus on questions about the politics of food. For example, how are food prices, famines and political unrest linked in developing countries? What are the most effective governance systems for facilitating international food relief efforts? Alternatively, they could focus on social inequality dimensions of food production, distribution, and allocation. For example, how do global commodity markets, international trade arrangements and new food production technologies affect equality of food security between and within nations? The research program developed by the Chair could also examine questions about food sustainability. For example, how do farm ownership, agribusiness trends and technological innovations affect Canada's food sovereignty? Where should Alberta target its long-term food production plans, given variable market conditions, climate change, declining non-renewable resources?

Given the inter-disciplinary nature of the field, the recruited candidate might be a sociologist, political scientist, institutional economist, human geographer or anthropologist. The individual might have a primarily international focus, or might be more engaged in researching food security and sovereignty issues at the local, provincial, or national levels.

The Chair will have demonstrated broad interests in food security and sovereignty and will build a strong collaborative program together with existing faculty at the University of Alberta and with relevant programs throughout Alberta, as well as nationally and internationally. The appointment will be at either the Associate or Full Professor level. The successful candidate will be jointly appointed to the two Departments and will be expected to combine research with instruction, graduate student supervision, and public service.

Contact:

Lois Harder
Professor and Associate Dean, Research & Graduate Studies
Faculty of Arts
6-33 Humanities Centre
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB T6G 2E5
Phone: 780 492 9132
Fax: 780 492 7251
email: [log in to unmask]

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. The University of Alberta hires on the basis of merit. We are committed to the principle of equity in employment. We welcome diversity and encourage applications from all qualified women and men, including persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and Aboriginal persons.