Exploring energy inside and out of the classroom

The work of a professor in SERS involves various kinds of activities, most of which can be grouped under one of three broad categories – teaching, research, and service. At different times in one’s career, the balance across these three sets of responsibilities may change, as one develops new skills and interests, and as the institution offers one different opportunities.

For me, after a recent period of ‘service’ occupied most of my professional time (as I served as the university’s Associate Vice-President, International from 2016 to 2019 and again from 2021 to 2023), I once again have more of a balance across the three, which means that I am back teaching courses for the first time in almost ten years.

And, after almost a decade ‘away’, some things are the same, and other things are different.

What is undoubtedly the same are the passions and capabilities of SERS students. Committed to making their community a better place, their drive to advance sustainability is not only laudable, but also infectious. And their understanding, as they work to integrate and act upon knowledge bases – across disciplines, across scales, across sectors, across constituencies – is serving to advance my own learning! ... It is so informative and invigorating to be working with them again.

And not surprising – given how so many things have changed since 2016 – some things are different, at least for me in my teaching activities.

The Faculty of Environment has ‘upped its game’ regarding experiential learning over the past decade, and the timing of my return coincided with an initiative to develop new field courses for our students. While perhaps not as glamorous as journeys to Singapore or South Africa, or even the Canadian Maritimes – all highly-successful offerings presented by some of my colleagues – I decided to offer ‘Ontario’ as a focus and a series of destinations. 

Thus, the new course, ‘Energy and Society in Ontario’ was offered over eight Fridays this past May and June (2025). Combining class-based lectures and discussions with field trips both ‘near’ (Waterloo Region destinations included Evovl1, City Hall, and Home Hardware’s HQ) and (relatively) ‘far’ (day-trips to the Kincardine area and to Toronto), students had the opportunity to connect concepts and theories around energy infrastructure, sustainability, and governance with observations of ‘energy kit’ and discussions with some of the province’s leaders and workers in the energy sector. For me, the opportunity to introduce this critical issue to students from diverse backgrounds (five different Faculty of Environment degrees were represented in the class of 13 students) in meaningful ways was challenging, rewarding, and enjoyable!

It is the wide range of activities that contributes to why I so much enjoy being a professor in SERS. Looking ahead in my teaching responsibilities, I am excited to continue to advance learning on critical subjects like energy transitions, climate governance, and sustainability decision-making and to do so while deploying new tools and techniques to enhance students’ experiences both inside and outside of the classroom.

Banner photo: Students explore the sub-surface heat exchange system on the University of Waterloo campus. (I. Rowlands)

Below: Hydro One hosted the students at their corporate headquarters, exploring issues like corporate strategy, raising capital and investments, Indigenous partnerships, and sustainability through engaging and focused discussions. (I. Rowlands)