Natural Resources Institute

Dr. Sinclair has been with the Natural Resources Institute since 1991 after the completion of his Ph.D. in the Faculty of Environmental Studies at the University of Waterloo. Following his long-standing involvement in non-government initiatives, particularly related to sustainability issues, the theme of civic engagement in resource and environmental governance is well reflected in both his research and teaching. John teaches courses in environmental assessment, environmental governance, individual and social learning in resource and environmental management and thesis research methods. As well, he lends his considerable field research and teaching experience to the NRI field seminar courses. He is very active both locally and nationally with a number of environmental non-government organizations and professional associations, such as The Green Action Center, the Canadian Environment Network's Environmental Assessment Caucus, which he has chaired on two occasions. John also for many years Chaired the University of Manitoba Sustainability Committee. The University of Manitoba has recognized Dr. Sinclair's outreach activities in the community with awards such as the Campbell Outreach Award and the Leadership in Sustainability Award.

Dr. Sinclair's primary research interest focuses on public and community participation in, and learning through, natural resource and environmental decision-making. The overarching aim is to understand ways that governance processes can facilitate and incorporate learning, and how learning and governance outcomes can help guide sustainability transitions. He and his students work on a wide variety of research projects pursuing this broad goal, which includes investigating both within and in critical opposition to official processes. For example, there is a cluster of projects examining environmental impact assessment that are addressing diverse topics, ranging, for example, from the components of next generation assessment law in general to focused research on the use of qualitative methods in impact assessment. Another project has students working in the Canadian Arctic, considering Indigenous community and stakeholder involvement in impact assessments and policy development related to oil spill response and shipping safety in ice infested waters (image 2). And he has students working in India, where he has been doing research for many years, exploring topics such as environmental justice in relation to protected areas planning and management, the role of protests and social action, and community involvement in the development of sustainable micro-hydro (image 3). 

Burdett, T., and Sinclair, A.J. 2024 (Eds). Handbook of Public Participation in Impact Assessment. Edward Elgar Publishing, Edward Elgar Publishing: Cheltenham, UK. http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781800889996

Burdett, T., and Sinclair, A.J. 2024. Setting the scene: public participation in impact assessment. In Handbook of Public Participation in Impact Assessment, Burdett, T., and Sinclair, A.J. (eds) Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781800889996. pp. 2-27.

Sinclair, A.J. and Burdett, T. 2024. The essential elements of meaningful public participation in IA. In Handbook of Public Participation in Impact Assessment, Burdett, T., and Sinclair, A.J. (eds) Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781800889996. pp. 28-47.

Diduck, A.P., and Sinclair, A.J. 2024. The promise of social learning-oriented approaches to public participation. In Handbook of Public Participation in Impact Assessment. Burdett, T., and Sinclair, A.J. (eds) Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781800889996. pp. 89-101.

Johnston, A., and Sinclair, A.J. 2024. Setting the stage for success: early engagement in IA. In Handbook of Public Participation in Impact Assessment. Burdett, T., and Sinclair, A.J. (eds) Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781800889996. pp. 102-119.

Fitzpatrick, P., Bond, A., and Sinclair, A.J. 2024. Crossing boundaries and jurisdictions: implications for public participation highlighting Canada and Europe. In Handbook of Public Participation in Impact Assessment. Burdett, T., and Sinclair, A.J. (eds) Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781800889996. pp. 272-389.

Doelle, M., Wright, D.V., Sinclair, A.J., and Dueck, S. 2023. The New Federal Impact Assessment Act and Arctic shipping: Opportunities for improved governance. In Shipping in Inuit Nunangat: Governance Challenges and Approaches in Canadian Arctic Waters. Bartenstein, K. and Chircop, A. (Eds). Brill. https://brill.com/edcollbook-oa/title/61767

Parkins, J., and Sinclair, A.J. 2023. Public participation at a cross-roads: Manipulation or meaningful engagement in the Boreal region. In Boreal Forests in the Face of Climate Change. Girona, M.M., Morin, H., Gauthier, S., and Bergeron, Y. (Eds). Advances in Global Change Research Vol. 74, pp. 575-588, Springer, Cham.  https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-15988-6_23

Sinclair, A.J., Diduck, A.P., and Parkins, J.R. 2022. Innovative approaches to achieving meaningful participation in next-generation impact assessment. In Handbook of Environmental Impact Assessment, Hanna, K. (ed) Toronto: Routledge, pp. 239-258.

Doelle, M., and Sinclair, A.J. (eds). 2021. The Next Generation of Impact Assessment: A Critical Review of the Canadian Impact Assessment Act. Toronto: Irwin Law Inc.

Walker, H., Pope, J., Morrison-Saunders, A., Bond, A., Diduck, A.P., Sinclair, A.J., Middel, B., and Retief, F. 2024. Identifying and promoting qualitative methods for impact assessment. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal. 1-12 doi.org/10.1080/14615517.2024.2369454

Backer, J, Moyer, J.M., and Sinclair, A.J. 2024. Sustainability action in faith communities: A comparative case study of two Winnipeg congregations. Prairie Perspectives, 23:1, 31-45.

Delay, A., Sinclair, A.J., Didiuck, A.P., and Gardner, J.S. 2024. Participation, learning and environmental justice: A case study of park planning and management in the Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh, India. Conservation and Society, 22:1, 37-48, DOI: 10.4103/cs.cs_23_23

Biswal, R., Sinclair, A.J., and Spaling, H. 2023. Moving to next generation community-based environmental assessment. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 41:5, 416-427, DOI: 10.1080/14615517.2023.2243019

Moyer, J.M., and Sinclair A.J. 2022. Faith-based environmental engagement in Canada: An environmental governance perspective. Society and Natural Resources, 35:8, 836-855, DOI: 10.1080/08941920.2022.2079786

Almudi, T., and Sinclair, A.J. 2021. Community-level responses to extreme flooding: The case of Brazilian Amazon Ribeirinhos. Climate and Development, 14:9, 781-793, DOI: 10.1080/17565529.2021.1997700

Sinclair, A.J., Doelle, M., and Gibson, R.B., 2021. Next generation impact assessment: Exploring key components. Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 40:1, 3-19, DOI: 10.1080/14615517.2021.1945891

Assauh, A. and Sinclair, A.J. 2021. Solid waste management in Western Canadian First Nations. Waste Management, 129: 54-61.

Zurba, M., Sinclair, A.J., and Diduck, A.P. 2021. “Two-Row” cross-cultural learning for collaborative governance of forestland in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. Regional Environmental Change, 21(57), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-021-01784-0

Almudi, T., and Sinclair, A.J. 2021. Extreme hydroclimatic events in rural communities of the Brazilian Amazon: Local perceptions of change, impacts and adaptation. Regional Environmental Change, 14:9, 781-793, DOI: 10.1080/17565529.2021.1997700
 

Member, (Past Chair) Canadian Environment Network - Environmental Assessment Caucus
Member, Public Participation Section Co-Chair, International Association of Impact Assessment
Member, Multi-Interest Advisory Committee on Federal EA, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Member, Environment and Resources Working Group, Canadian Association of Geographers
Member, Environmental Studies Association of Canada
Past President (founding member of the Board of Directors), Manitoba Model Forest Inc.
Member, International Association of Impact Assessment, Co-Chair of the Public Participation Section
Chair, University of Manitoba Sustainability Committee
Editorial Board Appointments – Alternatives Journal – Environmental Impact Assessment Review