Blake D. Poland University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Dr Blake Poland is a professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, current co-Director of the Environmental Health Justice in the City Research Network (www.EHJiC.ca) and former Director of the Collaborative Program in Community Development (2007-2008) and MHSc Program in Health Promotion (1999-2007). Trained in social/health geography (PhD McMaster 1994), Blake’s research has focussed on the settings approach to health promotion (see Settings for Health Promotion, Sage, 2000), the health of marginalized groups, the sociology of tobacco control, and community development as an arena of practice for health professionals (see www.hospitalcommunitycollaboration.ca). More recently his attention has turned to environmental health promotion and building community resilience for the transition to a post-carbon society, including work in the global Transition Town movement (see www.TransitionOakville.ca). Blake also teaches introductory qualitative health research methods (see ‘Teaching’, below). His research is inspired by the work of Paulo Freire, Pierre Bourdieu, complexity theory, arts-enabled and community-based participatory approaches. He has led or worked on projects employing visual methods (photovoice), participatory research, research-based theatre, interactive multimedia installations.