David G. Barber
{{Short description|Canadian environmental scientist and academic (1960–2022)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox scientist
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| name = David G. Barber
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| birth_date = 28 November 1960
| birth_place = Dauphin, Manitoba (Canada)
| death_date = 15 April 2022 (age 61)
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| workplaces = University of Manitoba
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| alma_mater = University of Manitoba
University of Waterloo
| thesis_title = Assessment of the Interaction of Solar Radiation (0.3 to 3.0 μm) with a Seasonally Dynamic Sea Ice Volume, from Microwave (2.0 to 5.0 cm) Scattering
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| academic_advisors = Ellsworth LeDrew
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| known_for = leadership in environmental science and contributions to the study of Arctic sea ice processes
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| awards = Order of Canada
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David George Barber, {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|OC|FRSC}} (28 November 1960 – 15 April 2022) was a Canadian environmental scientist and academic known for his contributions to Arctic science, in particular the study of Arctic sea ice processes.{{cite web|url=http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=16670&lan=eng|title=Governor General Announces 100 New Appointments to the Order of Canada as Canada Turns 150|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-date=1 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101001717/http://www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=16670&lan=eng|url-status=live}} He held the Canada Research Chair in Arctic-System Science at the University of Manitoba.{{cite web|url=http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/chairholders-titulaires/profile-eng.aspx?profileId=2464|title=Canada Research Chairs – David Barber|date=29 November 2012 |access-date=3 January 2017|archive-date=4 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104162624/http://www.chairs-chaires.gc.ca/chairholders-titulaires/profile-eng.aspx?profileId=2464|url-status=live}} He was an officer of the Order of Canada and a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.
Biography
Barber obtained his bachelor's (1981) and master's (1987) degrees from the University of Manitoba, and his Ph.D. (1992) in Arctic climatology from the University of Waterloo. He started his academic career teaching at the University of Manitoba in 1993. He received a Canada Research Chair in Arctic System Science in 2002 at the University of Manitoba. He was also Associate Dean (Research), as well as Director of the Centre for Earth Observation Science, in the Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources.{{cite web|url=http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/environment/departments/geography/staff/494.html|title=Dr. David Barber|access-date=3 January 2017|archive-date=9 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709091006/http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/environment/departments/geography/staff/494.html|url-status=live}}
Barber was married to Lucette. The couple had three children. Barber died on 15 April 2022 following complications from cardiac arrest.{{cite web|url=https://news.umanitoba.ca/mourning-the-loss-of-visionary-arctic-researcher-dr-david-barber/|title=Mourning the loss of visionary Arctic researcher, Dr. David Barber|access-date=17 April 2022|archive-date=17 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417131921/https://news.umanitoba.ca/mourning-the-loss-of-visionary-arctic-researcher-dr-david-barber/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Bergen |first=Rachel |date=17 April 2022 |title=Visionary Manitoba Arctic researcher David Barber dies, leaving 'massive footprint' in field |work=CBC.ca |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/david-barber-arctic-research-climate-change-manitoba-1.6422231 |access-date=17 April 2022 |archive-date=18 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418034458/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/david-barber-arctic-research-climate-change-manitoba-1.6422231 |url-status=live }}
= Research =
Barber's research focused on studying the effects of climate change on the arctic sea ice, and development of tools to study its harmful effects. His early work for Fisheries and Oceans Canada studied marine mammal habitat detection and change in the Arctic.{{Cite web |title=University of Manitoba – Environment and Geography – Dr. David Barber |url=https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/environment/departments/geography/staff/494.html |access-date=18 April 2022 |website=www.umanitoba.ca |archive-date=10 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210510022748/https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/environment/departments/geography/staff/494.html |url-status=live }} He used technologies including geographic information systems, remote sensing, and mathematical modelling to study linkages between the atmosphere, ocean, and ice, and connecting the same to people and their habitats. He showed that some apparently frozen sea ice was in fact porous and fragile "rotten ice", and studied the effects of its presence on Arctic food chains.{{cite web |last1=Peters |first1=Diane |title=Sea ice expert revealed climate change's effects in the Arctic |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-sea-ice-expert-revealed-climate-changes-effects-in-the-arctic/ |website=The Globe and Mail |access-date=11 February 2023 |date=13 May 2022}}
He led the development of many arctic research projects including the Canadian Arctic Shelf Exchange Study (CASES), Network of Centres of Excellence ArcticNet, and the Hudson Bay System Study (BaySys). At the University of Manitoba, he also led industry-academia outreach programs including one with Manitoba Hydro. Barber also contributed to arctic research infrastructure including CCGS Amundsen, a research vessel and icebreaker, and setup of the Churchill Marine Observatory.{{Cite news|first1=Glen |last1=Dawkins |title=Visionary Manitoba Arctic researcher Dr. David Barber passes away |url=https://winnipegsun.com/news/news-news/visionary-manitoba-arctic-researcher-dr-david-barber-passes-away |date=17 April 2022 |access-date=18 April 2022 |newspaper=Winnipeg Sun |language=en-CA}}
= Honours =
Barber was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2016. The citation accompanying the award, called him one of Canada's most influential arctic researchers and also called out his role in expanding Canada's abilities toward detection and mitigation of transportation-related contaminant spills while contributing to policies and regulatory programs toward responding to the impact of climate change on the arctic ecosystem.{{Cite web |last=General |first=Office of the Secretary to the Governor |title=Dr. David G. Barber |url=https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-10640 |access-date=18 April 2022 |website=The Governor General of Canada |archive-date=11 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111013407/https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/146-10640 |url-status=live }}
Barber was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2016, and was a member of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.{{cite web |title=Three University of Manitoba professors elected to the Royal Society of Canada |date=30 September 2016 |url=http://news.umanitoba.ca/three-university-of-manitoba-professors-have-been-elected-to-the-royal-society-of-canada/ |access-date=3 January 2017 |archive-date=4 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104163451/http://news.umanitoba.ca/three-university-of-manitoba-professors-have-been-elected-to-the-royal-society-of-canada/ |url-status=live }} He was also a recipient of the Northern Science Award for his advancement of northern research.
References
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External links
{{Scholia}}
- {{YouTube|id=ofaoiHYKtlc|title=David Barber on reduction of Arctic sea ice cover at TEDxUManitoba}}
- {{YouTube|id=Yldxko9eMqk|title=Exploring the Arctic – David Barber – MSU Canadian Studies}}
- {{YouTube|id=yn4IIsi6_0E|title=David Barber on the Atlantification of the Arctic}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Barber, David}}
Category:Place of birth missing
Category:Canadian climatologists
Category:Canada Research Chairs
Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada
Category:Officers of the Order of Canada
Category:University of Manitoba alumni
Category:Academic staff of the University of Manitoba