Michael D. Mehta
Encyclopedia
Michael D. Mehta is an environmental
social scientist
who specializes in science
, technology
and society with a focus on environmental and health
risk issues.
in psychology, a Master of Environmental Studies, a Ph.D.
in Environmental Sociology and he did a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Environmental Policy.
in Kamloops, British Columbia
, Canada.
Previously he was Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Winnipeg
, and was the founding Principal of Richardson College for the Environment. While Principal, Mehta worked on developing key academic and community programs in the areas of Forest Ecology, Urban Ecology, The Global North, Water Resources and Environment & Health.
Prior to joining the University of Winnipeg, Mehta was the Executive Director of the Population Research Laboratory at the University of Alberta where he led approximately 30 research projects over a 14-month period. With close to 120 employees the Population Research Laboratory is the largest social sciences research centre in Western Canada. It has extensive experience in conducting research in the areas of health, education, labour markets, environment, science and technology, immigration, social policy and public opinion. Upon taking over as Executive Director of the Population Research Laboratory Mehta developed a continuing education program for staff members, began the process of fleshing out an enterprise risk management (ERM) framework for assessing internal and external risks and opportunities, created a pandemic flu plan as part of the Lab’s business continuity planning, developed new relationships with clients from various sectors, and reorganized the day-to-day operations of the Lab to increase efficiencies.
Before that he was at the University of Saskatchewan
in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where he was Chair of the Sociology of Biotechnology Program, Director of the Social Research Unit, and Professor of Sociology. While there he developed and administered interdisciplinary programs to train undergraduate and graduate (M.Sc. and Ph.D.) students on how the intersections of science, technology and society create a series of challenges and opportunities that can be best examined through the lenses provided by disciplines (and approaches) like those found in sociology, philosophy, law and commerce.
As Chair of the Sociology of Biotechnology Program at the University of Saskatchewan, Mehta was involved heavily in research on a wide array of topics. He helped build a body of literature dealing with the following areas: genetic testing and new technologies, biotechnology and risk, public perceptions of different applications in biotechnology, and biotechnology
and social cohesion
. In addition to helping flesh out core areas within the Sociology of Biotechnology, he also worked on expanding this field by exploring the emerging connections between biotechnology and nanotechnology (nanobiotechnology).
Mehta is widely published, authoring or editing five books including Biotechnology Unglued – Science, Society and Social Cohesion; Risky Business: Nuclear Power
and Public Protest in Canada and Nanotechnology – Risk, Ethics and Law (co-authored with Geoffrey Hunt.) He has won numerous awards such as Chief Scientist Distinguished Lecturer for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Science, Technology, Advancement of Science, Health Canada (2007), The Saskatchewan Centennial Medal (2006), and Agriculture Genomics Award, Genome Canada (2003).
Mehta is a former Director of Canadian Blood Services
, SaskPower
, SaskPower International, and NorthPoint Energy Solutions. He was a member of the Mayor's Environmental Advisory Committee (Winnipeg).
Environmental science
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems...
social scientist
Social Scientist
Social Scientist is a New Delhi based journal in social sciences and humanities published since 1972....
who specializes in science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
and society with a focus on environmental and health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
risk issues.
Education
He holds a B.A.Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in psychology, a Master of Environmental Studies, a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Environmental Sociology and he did a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Environmental Policy.
Career
Mehta is the Dean of the Faculty of Arts at Thompson Rivers UniversityThompson Rivers University
Thompson Rivers University is a comprehensive university located in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. It offers students a broad range of courses, career streams, and the ability to ladder credits from diploma programs into full degrees...
in Kamloops, British Columbia
Kamloops, British Columbia
Kamloops is a city in south central British Columbia, at the confluence of the two branches of the Thompson River and near Kamloops Lake. It is the largest community in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District and the location of the regional district's offices. The surrounding region is more commonly...
, Canada.
Previously he was Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of Winnipeg
University of Winnipeg
The University of Winnipeg is a public university in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada that offers undergraduate faculties of art, business and economics, education, science and theology as well as graduate programs. The U of W's founding colleges were Manitoba College and Wesley College, which merged...
, and was the founding Principal of Richardson College for the Environment. While Principal, Mehta worked on developing key academic and community programs in the areas of Forest Ecology, Urban Ecology, The Global North, Water Resources and Environment & Health.
Prior to joining the University of Winnipeg, Mehta was the Executive Director of the Population Research Laboratory at the University of Alberta where he led approximately 30 research projects over a 14-month period. With close to 120 employees the Population Research Laboratory is the largest social sciences research centre in Western Canada. It has extensive experience in conducting research in the areas of health, education, labour markets, environment, science and technology, immigration, social policy and public opinion. Upon taking over as Executive Director of the Population Research Laboratory Mehta developed a continuing education program for staff members, began the process of fleshing out an enterprise risk management (ERM) framework for assessing internal and external risks and opportunities, created a pandemic flu plan as part of the Lab’s business continuity planning, developed new relationships with clients from various sectors, and reorganized the day-to-day operations of the Lab to increase efficiencies.
Before that he was at the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where he was Chair of the Sociology of Biotechnology Program, Director of the Social Research Unit, and Professor of Sociology. While there he developed and administered interdisciplinary programs to train undergraduate and graduate (M.Sc. and Ph.D.) students on how the intersections of science, technology and society create a series of challenges and opportunities that can be best examined through the lenses provided by disciplines (and approaches) like those found in sociology, philosophy, law and commerce.
As Chair of the Sociology of Biotechnology Program at the University of Saskatchewan, Mehta was involved heavily in research on a wide array of topics. He helped build a body of literature dealing with the following areas: genetic testing and new technologies, biotechnology and risk, public perceptions of different applications in biotechnology, and biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
and social cohesion
Social cohesion
Social cohesion is a term used in social policy, sociology and political science to describe the bonds or "glue" that bring people together in society, particularly in the context of cultural diversity. Social cohesion is a multi-faceted notion covering many different kinds of social phenomena...
. In addition to helping flesh out core areas within the Sociology of Biotechnology, he also worked on expanding this field by exploring the emerging connections between biotechnology and nanotechnology (nanobiotechnology).
Mehta is widely published, authoring or editing five books including Biotechnology Unglued – Science, Society and Social Cohesion; Risky Business: Nuclear Power
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
and Public Protest in Canada and Nanotechnology – Risk, Ethics and Law (co-authored with Geoffrey Hunt.) He has won numerous awards such as Chief Scientist Distinguished Lecturer for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Science, Technology, Advancement of Science, Health Canada (2007), The Saskatchewan Centennial Medal (2006), and Agriculture Genomics Award, Genome Canada (2003).
Mehta is a former Director of Canadian Blood Services
Canadian Blood Services
Canadian Blood Services is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization that manages the blood supply in all provinces and territories of Canada, outside of Quebec, and oversees the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network . A separate organization, Héma-Québec, operates in the province of Quebec...
, SaskPower
SaskPower
Since 1929, SaskPower has been the principal supplier of electricity in Saskatchewan, Canada. Today, it serves more than 473,000 customers and manages $5.3 billion in assets...
, SaskPower International, and NorthPoint Energy Solutions. He was a member of the Mayor's Environmental Advisory Committee (Winnipeg).
Published works
- Risk, Ethics and Law
- Unglued: Science, Society and Social Cohesion
- Business: Nuclear Power and Public Protest in Canada
- Efficiency and the Role of Risk Assessment
- Sociology: Theory and Practice