Olalekan Balogun, PhD

Assistant Professor of Geography & Environment
Guided by the principle “First delight. Then instruct,” I strive to be a source of light, creating a joyful, respectful atmosphere for my students while empowering them with knowledge and critical thinking skills. Rooted in Ephesians 4:11-12, teaching is my sacred responsibility—to build up future generations who reflect light and serve a world in need.

Olalekan Balogun is an Educator and Environmental Scientist with over a decade of experience in teaching and research, specializing in physical geography, peatland carbon science, and Arctic climate change. He is skilled in using terrestrial ecosystem and atmospheric transport models, GIS, R programming, and Python. Known as the “Professor from Birth,” Olalekan is a dynamic, optimistic, and compassionate lifelong educator.

He has previously taught at the University of Toronto’s School of the Environment and York University’s Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. Olalekan has presented his research at numerous international conferences and published in reputable peer-reviewed journals. His doctoral research focused on the impact of climate change on peatland energy balance and ecosystem carbon exchange. As a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Physics at the University of Toronto, his research, funded by the Canadian Space Agency, examined how satellite measurements of carbon monoxide can constrain Boreal Forest fire emissions and improve chemical transport and fire emissions models.

Beyond his academic career, Olalekan is dedicated to advancing education in developing countries and supporting charities that provide financial and mentorship assistance to children and youths. He feels immensely blessed to be part of TWU, where he can seamlessly blend his passion for teaching, enthusiasm for research, and deep love for God into a fulfilling and meaningful journey.

Connect with Olalekan on Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/olalekan-balogun/

  • Post-Doctoral in Physics (University of Toronto, Canada; 2024)
  • PhD in Geography/Climate Science (York University, Canada; 2021)
  • MSc Geography (York University, Canada; 2016)
  • BSc Geography Science (University of Ibadan, Nigeria; 2009)

Expertise

Modelling of boreal forest fire CO emissions and satellite data assimilation; Response of northern vegetation photosynthesis & respiration to climate change; Peatland carbon science; Peatland restoration and management.

Recent Publications

  • Balogun, O., Bello, R., and Higuchi, K. (2024). Long‐term response of peatland carbon exchange to climatic changes in the Hudson Bay Lowlands. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, 129(5), e2023JG007873. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JG007873
  • Balogun, O., Bello, R., and Higuchi, K. (2023). Terrestrial CO2 exchange diagnosis using a peatland-optimized vegetation photosynthesis and respiration model (VPRM) for the Hudson Bay Lowlands. Science of The Total Environment, 162591. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162591
  • Balogun, O., Bello, R., and Higuchi, K. (2022). NARR-based analysis of changes in the mesoscale wind and temperature over the Hudson Bay Lowlands and their impact on the surface energy balance: 1979–2018. Polar Science, 100861. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polar.2022.100861
  • Amanambu, A. C., Obarein, O. A., Mossa, J., Li, L., Ayeni, S. S., Balogun, O., Oyebamiji, A. and Ochege, F. U. (2020). Groundwater system and climate change: Present status and future considerations. Journal of Hydrology, 125163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125163

Affiliations & Memberships

  • American Geophysical Union (AGU)

  • GENV 121 Intro to Earth Systems Science
  • GENV 322 Global Climate Change
  • GENV 341 Resources & Environmental Management