About

Message from Dean Frayne

In 50 years, the Faculty of Environment has transformed itself from being the problem framers to becoming the problem solvers. I’ve been here for over 10 years of that transformation, having served as a professor and director of the School of Environment, Enterprise, and Development, representing the faculty at the University Senate and as an academic chair, and started my first term as Dean of Environment on July 1, 2022. I am excited to continue our evolution as Canada’s centre for transdisciplinary learning, research and teaching. 

Today, sustainability is a driver of modernization, where industry and environment, ecology and economy are not conflicting goals, but rather intrinsically linked. It’s with this perspective we introduce our Faculty of Environment’s 2020-2025 strategic plan: TOGETHER for a sustainable future. It’s a plan to firmly establish Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment as Canada’s catalyst for environmental innovation, solutions and talent generation, bringing partners from across disciplines and sectors together.    

Environment at a glance 2022

  • Students enrolment: 2561
  • More than 17,000 alumni in 90 countries worldwide
  • Annual research funding $13.1M
  • 1st university in Canada to offer a Climate Change degree (Masters of Climate Change)
  • Environment and Business – only program of its kind in Canada
  • Knowledge Integration – only program of its kind in Canada
  • Ranked top 5 in Canada for Environmental Sciences (2022 QS World University Rankings)
  • Ranked top 5 in Canada for Geography (2022 QS World University Rankings)
  • Ranked top 10 in Canada for Climate Action (THE University Impact Rankings 2021)

Bruce FrayneDean of Environment, Bruce Frayne

Office of the Dean

Email: bfrayne@uwaterloo.ca
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 32884
Location: EV1 347

 

Canada's largest Faculty of Environment features

  • Internationally renowned faculty members including eight Canada Research Chairs, five University Research Chairs, one University Professor, and one Caivan Communities Professor within the Faculty.
  • Eight bachelor degree programs including: Geography and Environmental Management, Knowledge Integration, The School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, The School of Planning and The School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability. The Faculty also offers cross-faculty programs in Aviation and Global Governance. 
  • The only planning program in Canada to offer degrees at the undergraduate, masters and Ph.D. level.
  • Integrated hands-on education supported by numerous field courses and access to a world-class ecology lab, a fully-outfitted workshop, multiple computer labs and multi-media resources. 
  • Undergraduate and graduate programs associated with professional designations.
  • Fully-funded PhD programs offered through the Dean's Doctoral Initiative.
  • Integrated balance of STEM and social science focused classes.
  • A new suite of entrepreneurship opportunities, including Entrepreneurship@Environment, Concept, St. Paul's Greenhouse, Jack Rosen Memorial Award and World’s Challenge Challenge foster award-winning student entrepreneurship in environmental stewardship and social justice.