Mark Terry, an adjunct professor in York University’s Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change, has been awarded the prestigious J. Robert Cox Award for Environmental Communication and Civic Engagement by the National Communication Association (NCA). This marks the first time the award has been given to someone outside the U.S. in the NCA’s 110-year history.
Founded in 1914, the NCA is one of the world’s oldest academic organizations recognizing excellence in communications studies. Its Cox Award specifically celebrates scholars whose research significantly impacts global environmental justice. Terry earned this distinction for his groundbreaking Youth Climate Report project, a partner program of the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Drawing on his experience as a polar explorer and documentary filmmaker, Terry developed the Geo-Doc platform, an innovative approach that has revolutionized how environmental information is presented to policymakers. This platform employs geographic information system technology to map climate research videos globally, representing a significant shift in environmental data collection and presentation.
“The Youth Climate Report project amplifies young voices through a multilinear database, providing policy participation for under-represented communities,” Terry explains. “It offers policymakers valuable visible evidence of climate impacts instantly and globally, affording them a visual context to the scientific papers traditionally used as a resource.”
Terry’s work bridges the gap between academic research and real-world environmental challenges. His contributions to UN climate summits and international climate policy have demonstrated the practical applications of his research. “Being recognized by your academic peers for excellence is always humbling,” Terry shares, “but this particular award is given to those academics whose innovative theories are tested in the field and result in a measurable impact on global environmental justice and policy.”
The impact of Terry’s work extends beyond this recognition. He is currently developing a Geo-Doc course for York students, aiming to equip the next generation with tools for effective environmental communication. “This course will provide students with practical skills in creating documentary films focused on environmental issues,” he explains. “I’m planning to submit it to our Department of Humanities and, pending approval, teach it in upcoming academic terms here at York.”
Additionally, publisher Palgrave Macmillan and Springer Nature have commissioned Terry to write a book about the Youth Climate Report, slated for spring 2026. The book will further explore the impact and potential of the Geo-Doc platform in environmental communication and policymaking.
Acknowledging the collaborative nature of his success, Terry credits Professor Kate Tilleczek, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Youth, Education & Global Good at York University, and the Young Lives Research Lab she directs. This lab’s focus on interdisciplinary research with and for youth aligns closely with his work on youth climate communication.
“The J. Robert Cox Award validates this theoretical framework and opens up possibilities for new applications in other fields,” he says, reflecting on the broader implications of this recognition. The award will be presented at the NCA’s 110th annual convention in New Orleans on Nov. 23. This recognition not only highlights significant contributions in the field but also underscores the impact of Canadian research in environmental communication on the international stage.