The University of British Columbia - Okanagan campus

Position Title/Short Description

Full Text of JOE Listing:

The Department of Economics, Political Science and Philosophy at the Okanagan campus of the University of British Columbia, in partnership with the Okanagan Basin Water Board, seek a recent Ph.D. graduate for a two year postdoctoral position. The successful candidate will undertake a benefit cost analysis of several potential irrigation infrastructure investments in the Okanagan Valley, taking into account expected changes in the climate. The project will be developed in close collaboration with important affected communities (e.g. cities and towns, Indigenous communities, industry groups, NGOs), a ‘participatory’ benefit cost analysis.

The Okanagan campus of the University of British Columbia is located in Kelowna, British Columbia. The Canadian portion of the Okanagan Valley, the focus of the research, extends north about 200km from the border with the USA. The climate is semi-arid. Irrigation is required to grow high value crops in the valley. Climate change is increasing the area of land that can grow crops, while water limitations impact on what land can be developed. Environmental, residential and tourism needs compete for water and land. The research project will explore the economics of irrigation investments in this context.