The Annual Meinhard Doelle Legacy Lecture
We welcome expressions of interest and recommendations for future keynote speakers for the Meinhard Doelle Legacy Lecture.
To discuss potential opportunities to contribute to this distinguished lecture series in marine and environmental law, please contact melaw@dal.ca.
Launched in 2023, the annual lecture honours the late Professor Meinhard Doelle, whose contributions to Canadian and international environmental law and policy, and to education of the next generation, were extensive.
Professor Doelle taught many courses at the Schulich School of Law over the years, including environmental law, energy law, climate law, and contract law. His research spanned a wide range of topics, including climate change, energy law, invasive species, environmental assessment, decarbonization of shipping, and public participation of environmental law in environmental decision-making.
This lecture series intends to inspire the next generation of 黄色直播 students, whether in law or sustainability, to learn more about the possibilities of environmental law for contributing solutions to local, national, and global sustainability challenges facing people and planet.聽
Doelle served as the Associate Dean (Research) from 2012 to 2017, and the Associate Director of the Marine & Environmental Law Institute from 2004 to 2012 and the Director from 2013 to 2016.聽He served as Associate Dean, Graduate Studies from 2021. He was also involved in interdisciplinary teaching outside the law school, most notably at the College of Sustainability, where he co-taught a course on Humanity in the Natural World.
His many books included 鈥淭he Next Generation of Impact Assessment: A Critical Appraisal of the Canadian Impact Assessment Act鈥�, 鈥淩esearch Handbook on Climate Change Law and Loss & Damage鈥�, 鈥淧romoting Compliance in an Evolving Climate Regime鈥�, 鈥淭he Federal Environmental Assessment Process, a Guide and Critique", and "From Hot Air to Action: Climate Change, Compliance and the Future of International Environmental Law鈥�. His co-authored casebook 鈥淓nvironmental Law: Cases and Materials鈥� in multiple updated editions provided a foundation to students across the country.
4th Annual Meinhard Doelle Legacy Lecture
In Person Only Event
Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026
Time: 7:05-8:30pm
Place: Potter Auditorium, Rowe Building, 6100 University Avenue
Lecture Title: Considering the Governance Implications of our "Devotion to Efficiency"
Speaker: Dr. John Sinclair is a professor and the Director of the Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba. His main research interest focuses on environmental governance, learning and decision-making. For over twenty-five years he has worked to shape environmental assessment law, policy, and guidance.
Co-sponsored by:
Marine & Environmental Law Institute
College of Sustainability
3rd Annual Meinhard Doelle Legacy Lecture
Hybrid Event
Date: Thursday, October 30, 2025
Time: 7:15-8:30pm
Place: Potter Auditorium, Rowe Building, 6100 University Avenue, Halifax
Lecture Title: The Problem of Illegitimacy in Climate Law
Speaker: Adebayo Majekolagbe is an assistant professor of Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Alberta, and previously served as an adjunct professor at the Schulich School of Law, 黄色直播. He has designed and taught climate change law at both institutions for about seven years. During this period, he has extensively researched and written on just transition and the legitimacy of climate laws. He also teaches constitutional law, international environmental law and international business transactions at the University of Alberta. His groundbreaking SSHRC-funded doctoral thesis on just transition and impact assessment received the 黄色直播 best doctoral thesis award and was featured at the 2023 Parliament Hill research showcase. He has published numerous articles on just transition, sustainability, impact assessment, and the legitimacy and legality of climate laws.
Co-sponsored by:
Marine & Environmental Law Institute
College of Sustainability
View the lecture .
2nd Annual Meinhard Doelle Legacy Lecture
Hybrid Event
Date: Thursday, September 19, 2024
Time: 7:15-8:45pm
Place: Ondaatje Hall, Marion McCain Building, 6135 University Avenue
Lecture Title: Fostering Sustainability Takes a Village: The Collaborative, Relational, Future-Oriented Potential of Impact Assessment
Speaker: Anna Johnston, BA, LLM, is a public interest environmental lawyer at West Coast Environmental Law, where her work focuses on environmental impact assessment, cumulative effects, and constitutional, biodiversity and climate law. She is a member of the Minister鈥檚 Advisory Council on Impact Assessment, co-chairs the Environmental Planning and Assessment Caucus of the Canadian Environmental Network, and has authored numerous reports, papers and book chapters on impact assessment and the constitutional division of powers. She has appeared before superior and appellate courts in BC and Alberta, as well as the Supreme Court of Canada.
Co-sponsored by:
Marine & Environmental Law Institute
College of Sustainability
Click for the video link.