Dr. Barry Wellar is Professor Emeritus of Geography, and Distinguished Geomatics Scientist at the Lab for Applied Geomatics and GIS Science, University of Ottawa. He is a past president of the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA), Distinguished Research Fellow, Transport 2000 Canada, and President, Wellar Consulting Inc. Dr. Wellar is a Registered Professional Planner in Ontario, and a Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners.

In 2006 Dr. Wellar was appointed Program Director, Geography Awareness Week, by the Canadian Association of Geographers. Through his leadership, Canada is the first country to design the Awareness Week around themes, and the themes for Canada for 2008 are: Weather and Climate, Water, Energy, Transportation, Food and Health. Ten websites from governments, businesses, research organizations, and advocacy groups are selected annually to illustrate how each theme is affected by Canada’s geography at the national, regional, and local scales. In addition, the websites also demonstrate how geographic research in universities, governments, businesses, and interest groups contributes to understanding and making decisions about our weather and climate, water, energy, transportation, and food and health resources and situations.

Through Dr. Wellar’s leadership, Geography Awareness Week 2008 in Canada is also introducing the Applied Geography Showcase and the GeoSkills Showcase. The Showcases are designed to inform Canadians and the Internet world about some of the work that places Canada at the leading edge of research, teaching, and applications involving geographic knowledge, geographic skills, and GIS technology. Dr. Wellar is the author of more than 400 research papers, has given more than 1000 media interviews, and has received numerous research, professional, and public service awards. His current research emphases are on climate change and sustainable transport, pedestrians’ safety, applications of geographic information systems and sciences, sustainable transport practices, and identifying trends in strategic safety and security issues involving interdependent infrastructures.