The Great Divide: Citizen Science in the Anthropocene at the Columbia Icefield

At the dawn of the Anthropocene humankind’s ability to influence its geophysical surroundings through processes – often times technological and industrial – has brought to the forefront the inextricably intertwined character of the natural environment and human culture. At the heart of this often reckless relationship stands Alberta, Canada. Located in Jasper and Banff National Park at hydrographic apex of the Rocky Mountains, the Columbia Icefield, an icon of historic “pristine” Canadian wilderness, is now undergoing immense change. The Icefield’s shifting environmental systems have generated new spatial and temporal relationships between humanity and nature. As a result, a new protagonist has gained prominence: the citizen scientist. This thesis seeks to open discussions on historical and future time, and our engagement with the earth through the speculative rediscovery of the Columbia Icefield by means of citizen science.