For more information or to be notified of upcoming presentations, please contact Dr. Katrina Moser ([e-mail])

1

The Department of Geography Speaker
Seriespresents a Ph.D Colloquium

A case comparison of pesticide
policypreferences and health risk perceptions
Rachel Hirschrhirsch_at_uwo.ca
The main objective of this study is to understand
why some people support a municipal pesticide
by-law and others do not. By comparing different
policy climates, this research will determine the
relative support for mandatory as opposed to
voluntary pesticide control approaches, consider
the role local values play in defining a persons
risk tolerance above and beyond health risk
perceptions, and explore how antagonistic
relationships with neighbours are influenced by a
persons residential pesticide use. A
questionnaire survey analysis indicates that the
two most important determinants of pesticide
policy preference are pesticide-free yard care
practices and divergent lawn aesthetics (e.g.,
naturalized vs. weed-free yards). Pesticide
by-law preference is, therefore, more than just a
health risk perception issue it is also situated
in the experiences of residents everyday lives.

Friday February 8th at 300pm Room 2333 Social
Science Centre

For more information or to be notified of
upcoming presentations, please contact Dr.
Katrina Moser (kmoser_at_uwo.ca)