Kearney Coupland

Kearney Coupland is an Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture whose research and teaching explore the social, psychological, and spatial dimensions of climate change. With a background in both design and human geography, her work focuses on climate migration, managed retreat, and planned community relocation, particularly in the Arctic, Caribbean, and rural contexts.

Her current research examines the ethics and challenges of relocation in response to sea-level rise, and how participatory design, storytelling, and community-to-community knowledge sharing can support more just and effective adaptation. Kearney is especially interested in how research can empower communities without overwhelming local capacity, and how mobility functions both as a form of adaptation and a site of vulnerability.

She teaches courses in research methods, environmental psychology, and design, emphasizing interdisciplinary thinking, relational ethics, and community-engaged practice. Kearney’s work is grounded in ongoing collaboration with Indigenous and remote communities and a commitment to decolonizing research and planning processes.

Education

PhD Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University (2022)
MLA Landscape Architecture, University of Guelph (2016)
BA International Development, University of Guelph (2008)

Professional Affiliations

Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA)
Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA)

Research Focus

-      Community-based climate change adaptation
-      Climate migration
-      Community-driven planned relocation