R. MICHAEL FISHER
Ph.D.

Introducing Michael

Michael Fisher joins the doctoral program in CSCI this year. Having begun his academic career in environmental biology (University of Calgary). His professional life has included teaching environmental education in secondary schools, consulting work with government and business and the development of alternative schooling programs. During the 1990s, he founded an alternative adult education centre in Calgary. Michael has also worked as a counselor and program designer (8 yrs) in a treatment centre for youth and families at risk. He initially returned to UBC to write a Masters thesis entitled "Toward a conflict pedagogy: A critical discourse analysis of 'conflict' in conflict management education." (Feb. 2000).

For his Ph.D., he looks forward to developing theoretical perspectives for a 'conflict' pedagogy, focusing on the concepts of 'fear' and 'fearlessness' in educational and inter-disciplinary documents. His work will contribute to the field of conflict resolution studies, particularly in violent settings. He will ask how we teach and learn in sites characterised by conflict, and how gang culture, fear of crime and safety issues affect our perspectives. Michael is looking forward to working in CSCI as a full-time student, and intends to collaborate with the "Rough Writing" venture in sharing ideas, developing writing and examining artistic-performative methodologies.