News

Global biodiversity is in rapid decline, with an estimated 1 million species at risk of extinction. The Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR), which came into effect in 2024, sets binding targets for European countries to restore at least 30% of their continent’s land and seas by 2030. The NRR narrowly passed into law and faced significant opposition, driven by a widespread campaign of disinformation through social media and other channels. Now that the regulation is in effect, effective implementation will not occur without a stakeholder engagement strategy. Florencia Panizza, a recent graduate from the Master of Environment and Business, identified stakeholder collaboration approaches for the French agricultural sector to support the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation.

A new short documentary by Dr. Kelsey Leonard in the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability follows a gathering of Indigenous women as they rematriate wampum as a living system of justice, truth and inherent relationship

Congratulations to Joan Kaburia, Lauren McElroy, Izhaan Rauf and Dandin Wong!

Dr. Amelia Clarke in the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development has been recognized for her excellence in graduate student supervision. Her contributions span rigorous academic advising, transformative mentorship and a deep commitment to building inclusive research communities. Congratulations, Dr. Clarke! 

Each year, Knowledge Integration students bring ideas to life through immersive museum exhibits as part of their final capstone project. This year’s KI Exhibit invited visitors to reflect on our experiences in an increasingly digital world. 

Canada’s eastern boreal forest supports a wide diversity of wildlife, including sandhill cranes. This migratory bird is a species of conservation concern and uses the eastern boreal forest of Ontario and Quebec for breeding. Kiaunna Lee, a recent graduate of the Master of Environmental Studies program, used high-resolution satellite telemetry data to assess how land cover and land use influenced breeding habitat selection of 42 sandhill cranes in Ontario and Quebec.

Dr. Jennifer Clapp has been named the AAG Honorary Geographer for her groundbreaking work at the intersection of global economy, food systems and food security, along with her sustained commitment to international policy.

Bashirah, a master's student in SEED, and Gurpreet, a PhD student in sustainability management were selected as finalists for the 2026 GRADflix video competition.

The University of Waterloo is announcing an important evolution to one of its longstanding academic programs: Geomatics has been renamed to Geospatial Data Science. The new name better reflects the modern tools, methods and career pathways that define the field today, helping students, employers and partners clearly understand the program’s contemporary focus and strengths. 

Libro Credit Union has renewed its commitment to experiential learning in the Faculty of Environment, pledging another $60,000 over the next three years.