Sarah Wolfe

Dr. Sarah Wolfe is an associate fellow at the Centre for Global Studies and an associate (tenured ongoing) professor in the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability (SERS, formerly ERS) at the University of Waterloo. Her post doctoral research was completed in ERS at the University of Waterloo. She hold a PhD (2007) from the University of Guelph's Department of Geography, an MA from the University of Toronto's collaborative program in Political Science and Environmental Studies, and a BA from the University of Guelph's International Development program (Biophysical Environment). As part of her undergraduate program, she studied at the University of Haifa through their English-language program.

In her work, Dr. Wolfe examines the social dimensions of water decisions using ideas from environmental psychology, cognitive science, sociology and geography. Her research is designed to investigate how individuals’ cognitive experiences influence their perceptions, definitions and prioritisation of water issues, and whether individual-level responses aggregate as group or societal water management decisions. The Canadian and international water community — including water researchers, policy makers and water consumers — are her preferred sample populations, but she often works with students interested in community-based research. Her current research is focused on issues of conversion theory and identity, awe and ritual in water decisions while her graduate team is investigating the implications of disgust and fear on water decisions

Dr. Wolfe's experience includes stints with the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (Rome) in their Water Policy, Development and Management Service along with the International Development Research Organization's (Ottawa) People, Land and Water program. Her South African doctoral field season was hosted by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's South Africa office in Pretoria. She was worked as a private consultant on multiple water-related projects both in Canada and overseas. 

For more information, please refer to her cv and professional profiles at the University of Waterloo, ResearchGate and on Academia.edu.