SERS students participate in global field course

This story was originally published by the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The Faculty of Environment offered a new field course in Cape Town, South Africa this year: Connecting Biodiversity, Climate Change and Social Justice (ENV 474). The course was run between the co-op term, exam and formal lecture period from April 27 to May 5, 2024, and was worth 0.5 credits.

This field course provided students with the opportunity to explore how social justice issues intersect with ongoing experiences of climate change and human-induced threats to some of the world’s most significant biodiversity resources. The students observed South Africa's unique ecosystems, engaged with local communities and gained hands-on experience.  Activities ranged from rock-pooling in the biodiversity-rich inter-tidal zone, participating in a cooking class in the historical Bo-Kaap neighbourhood of Cape Town and seeing first-hand the implications of climate-induced wildfire. 

Field courses like this create valuable opportunities to foster collaboration and build partnerships that lead to interdisciplinary solutions for our sustainable future. An invaluable opportunity for the students, they were able to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings as well as benefit from professional growth and cultural awareness. The trip even included a visit to the region’s popular wineries to understand how land grabs, social justice, and economic development create conflict.

Tara Ryan and Samantha Terry, Indigenous students studying in the Environment, Resources and Sustainability program, had the opportunity to participate in this field study course to study abroad with the support of the Global Skills Opportunity program, funded by Employment and Social Development Canada.

Terry, an Anishinaabe student, said her key takeaway from the trip was just how complex problems can be when dealing with the intersections of climate change, biodiversity and social justice.

“Local communities who have sustained themselves in the area for a long time are having to give up their traditional ways when they may not be the issue. These problems have intricate solutions and require an informed understanding of all positions to begin the process of unravelling,” Terry said.

Despite facing the complexities and challenges of climate change, biodiversity and social justice, this journey to South Africa also set the scene for fostering friendships and deepening self-reflection.

“To be able to share this experience with so many different people in Environment — including people I already knew and alongside new friends — was really wonderful. Every day we were always doing something different, having thought-provoking conversations, and it always set the scene for good reflections,” said Ryan, an Inuk student studying in the Environment, Resources and Sustainability program.

She also encourages future students who might be interested in studying environmental and sustainability issues to tackle global challenges without feeling that the burden lies with one individual to change the world.

Students from various cultural backgrounds and eight unique programs across Environment participated in this field study course, adding diverse perspectives to activities and discussions. The Global Skills Opportunity fund is designed to encourage low-income students, students with disabilities and Indigenous students to participate in work abroad programming. Visit the Universities Canada website to learn more.  

Banner photo credit: Jaden McGregor, a student in the Geography and Aviation program, Ella-Kari Muhl (PhD '23), a lecturer at the University of Cape Town, and Derek Armitage, a SERS professor at Waterloo.