Ian Rowlands, recipient of the Distinguished Teacher Award, 2009

Environment and Resource Studies

In his 10 years at University of Waterloo, Ian Rowlands has been a valued all-round member of the Faculty of Environment. And as a devoted hockey-dad for three young children, he leaves colleagues wondering where he finds the time and energy to do so much so well. True to the transdisciplinary spirit of environment and resource studies (ERS), professor Rowlands draws on his training in engineering and political science to develop research and teaching expertise in energy management strategies, international environmental politics, and corporate sustainability. His teaching reaches beyond ERS to students in political science, international governance, and environment and business. Professor Rowlands was tapped to establish, and for five years served as director, of the faculty's environment and business program. The strong foundation he established resulted in its identification by Corporate Knights as Canada's leading undergraduate business program. Student evaluations at all levels of instruction for professor Rowlands have consistently been excellent. Comments use such adjectives as “caring,” “exceptional,” “innovative,” “inspiring,” “interested,” “interesting,” “passionate,” “respectful,” and “phenomenal.”