Blog

Prof. Stephen Quilley’s project ‘Embodied Technics in an Age of Automation: Craft Practice, Skill, and the Transformation of Work’ received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

The question at the heart of the project relates to the future of hands-on craftwork in a world increasingly dominated by A.I., the 4th industrial revolution, the ‘Internet of Things’ and technologies such as 3D Printing. 

A new paper led by SERS PhD student Mackenzie Jones in Dr. Chantel Markle’s Lab takes a global look at how researchers are studying the interactions between ecology and hydrology, an interdisciplinary field known as ecohydrology. Find out how we can advance wildlife ecohydrology research and how it can help guide future conservation and management efforts. There's a wonderful infographic which communicates the information as well.

Have you considered the environmental impacts of industrial tequila production?

While many consume the beverage, in Jalisco State in Mexico, the region’s ecosystems are being destroyed and replaced by a uniform crop that is prone to pest outbreaks.

Prof. Brendon Larson and colleagues outline several issues with industrial production of tequila and highlight a shift to the more traditional use of mezcal.

After a period of time in an administrative role, Dr. Ian Rowlands returned to the rhythm of being a 'regular' professor. He offered a brand new, experiential learning course on "Energy and Society in Ontario" which comprised classroom and field trip instruction.

Interested in seeing the world, while also building career and research skills?

Third year ERS student Jordan Wilton spent two months of the spring 2025 term studying environmental issues through the Beyond Borders: Field School in Ghana. Check out the blog and video diary Jordan created during the course.

Dr. Leah Jones-Crank reflects on the spring 2025 field trip course which explored the complexity of urban sustainability through a case study of Singapore. As the 10-day field course progressed, the 20 students and two instructors engaged their critical thinking skills to reflect on the environmental, social, and economic connections within Singapore.

In an article published in The Conservation, Trevor Swerdfager and Derek Armitage argue that Canada urgently needs ambitious new biodiversity law if we are to make meaningful progress in addressing the biodiversity crisis facing Canada today. 

Fossil fuels are widely used all across the economy, including in food systems. Dr. Jennifer Clapp has been working with colleagues on a new project that seeks to uncover where we rely on fossil fuels in our food system to assess where and how we can shift away from them. In one podcast episode, she walks through fossil energy use associated with a typical bag of corn chips.

ERS 318 Photography for Sustainability wrapped up another successful Open House on December 3, 2024. Twenty students took the course this year, drawn from five of the six UW faculties, and from all five academic units in the Faculty of Environment.

Every year, professors from the Faculty of Environment travel to Nanjing, China to teach students at the Nanjing University of Finance and Economics (NUFE). SERS faculty member Dr. James Nugent shares his experiences from 2024.