Issue 5

Dean's Message

TOGETHER for a Sustainable Future

The world needs Waterloo Environment’s sustainability leaders more than ever. The Faculty of Environment has a plan for that. Introducing the Faculty of Environment’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan: TOGETHER for a Sustainable Future. For most of us, the past week and month have been uncharted waters regarding global health challenges related to COVID-19 and economic turmoil. However, resilience is what we do best here in Environment. It’s times like these that I’m proud of the community we have and the sense of solidarity we all share to keep each other safe and informed. In 50 years, the Faculty of Environment has transformed itself from being the problem framers to becoming the problem solvers. I am excited to continue our evolution as Canada's centre for transdisciplinary learning, research and teaching.

Climate research: Trekking to the ends of the Earth to set a timetable for our climate emergency

For eight days straight, researcher Christine Dow and her team dragged a sled-mounted radar system roughly 85 kilometres across the frozen Antarctic. The hard-earned data they collected has Dow convinced the Antarctic Ice Sheet is destabilizing faster than anyone thought.

Lewitt Family Foundation funds experiential learning in Knowledge Integration

When an opportunity arose for Jane Lewitt of the Lewitt Family Foundation to give back to her daughter Ellen’s school, Jane knew she wanted to create the opportunity and give the same joy her daughter enjoyed for future Knowledge Integration students.

Our environmental champions: How homegrown footwear company KEEN is supporting the next generation of sustainability leaders

Environment is proud to announce the KEEN Graduate Entrance Scholarships to support Environment students entering the Master of Climate Change, Master of Development Practice, and Master of Economic Development and Innovation programs, and the KEEN Global Citizen Internships! Thanks to generous donors like KEEN, the Global Citizen Internship Program allows students to work with non-profit partners like Nature Conservancy to apply their knowledge in the field, and support our communities. KEEN will be supporting 15 of Waterloo Environment’s sustainability leaders.

Waterloo alumnus Bronwyn Lazowski is helping families adopt smart technology and smart practices for sustainable living

Every day Faculty of Environment alumni across the country and around the world are creating solutions, leading change and innovating to enable a more sustainable future. Each year we are honoured to recognize the incredible accomplishments of some of these individuals through our annual awards program. If you know an outstanding graduate, please consider nominating them for a Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, Young Alumni Inspiration Award or Friend of the Faculty Impact Award.

Do you know an Environment alumnus who deserves to be celebrated? Nominate them for an Alumni Achievement Award today!

Every day Faculty of Environment alumni and friends from across the country and around the world are creating solutions, leading change and innovating to enable a more sustainable future. Each year we are honoured to recognize the incredible accomplishments of some of these individuals and their organizations. If you know an outstanding graduate or friend of the Faculty, please consider nominating them for a Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, Young Alumni Inspiration Award or Friend of the Faculty Impact Award.

Environment celebrates International Women’s Day 2020

The theme of IWD 2020 was “Each for Equal.” We are all parts of a whole. Our individual actions, conversations, behaviors and mindsets can have an impact on our larger society. This idea is rooted in everything we do in Environment. Because collectively, we can make change happen. Collectively, we can each help to create a gender equal world. We asked our community what Gender equity means to them.