The King's Connection Magazine Volume 24 // Number 1 | Page 6

FACULTY NEWS

Interdisciplinary
research group examines
Alberta’s oil sands
H

ow do decisions get made about oil sands development?
How do scientific research and religion play a role in that
decision-making?
These are among the questions at the center of a lively
dialogue happening right now at King’s across disciplines
as diverse as sociology, political science, philosophy,
economics, and environmental studies. DR. CHRISTOPHER
PEET, dean of social sciences, challenged faculty to deliver
on King’s commitment “to create strategic direction and
synergy around specific research themes… by clustering
faculty from various disciplines” on the topic of the oil sands,
and faculty responded.
The research project is a collaborative investigation of the role
of science and religion in public decision making regarding
the development of the oil sands. The multidisciplinary project
aims to better understand how public decisions are made
and who participates in making them.

“I can critique economic arguments for and against the oil
sands,” says Dr. Kits, “but when it comes to understanding
why we use those arguments to make decisions, I only
have one piece of the puzzle. My colleagues can help me
understand the political, social and even psychological
factors that also play a role in those decisions.”
“I bring to the study my knowledge of the social philosophy
framework behind public decision making, but I need my
colleagues’ knowledge in economics, science, and politics
to develop a holistic understanding of the oil sands,” says
Dr. De Moor. “The depth of understanding of the oil sands
—both positive and negative aspects—will assist decision
makers to better understand the unique characteristics of this
natural resource and the implications for Albertans.” 

“My research analyzes the deeper philosophical and religious
meaning of day-to-day oil/tar sands developments,”
says Dr. John Hiemstra, professor of political studies.
“What do these developments tell us about who we believe
we are? What society, politics and the economy are really
for? Why society thinks it needs more fossil fuels and
endless economic growth? How Christians can help re-orient
society’s decision-making towards sustainability and justice?”
Other faculty involved in the project include
DR. RANDOLPH HALUZA-DELAY (Sociology),
DR. GERDA KITS (Economics), DR. MICHAEL DE
MOOR (Social and Political Philosophy), DR. DAVID LONG
(Sociology), and DR. THERESA ZOLNER (Psychology).
The project is also committed to supporting undergraduate
research by including students as assistants and participants
in the research. Faculty are actively applying to granting
agencies such as the Social Sciences & Humanities
Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) for research
funding to develop the project.
Participating faculty are excited about the opportunity
to pool their expertise to build greater understanding.

4 /// The King’s Connection /// Summer 2014

Left to right Dr. Gerda Kits, Dr. Hank Bestman, Dr. Michael De
Moor, Dr. Randolph Haluza-Delay, Dr. Chris Peet