As an Assistant Professor in York University's Disaster and Emergency Management Program, I study the various connections between groups of people living and working at the intersections of environment and society in disaster and emergency contexts.

Given my sociocultural anthropological training, I take a holistic and comparative approach to understanding the social and cultural diversity of these groups. I draw on qualitative research methods in my investigations to examine how people make meaning, assess and communicate risk, and engage in protective action decision making during disaster and emergency situations.

I focus on interaction and language in use within and across groups to learn how virtual, face-to-face and individual-environmental encounters shape understanding, influence disaster response, and create differing experiences with recovery following disastrous events.

Contact: jspinney@yorku.ca -or- spinneywx@gmail.com