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.
The Faculty of Environment acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. EV1, EV2 and EV3 are situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across main campus through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.
- Bruce Frayne, Dean, Faculty of Environment
Canada's centre for transdisciplinary learning, research and teaching
$14.1 million+ in annual research funding
16K+ alumni from 80 countries
2,826 students enrolled at all levels of study
One-of-a-kind programs that include Knowledge Integration and Environment and Business
First Climate Change degree offered in Canada
Ranked top 5 in Canada for Environmental Sciences (2022 QS World University Rankings)
14% of our courses include field work experience
Ranked top 5 in Canada for Geography (2022 QS World University Rankings)
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.