Issue 4

Dean's Message

Throughout our history, the Faculty of Environment has been dedicated to creating a positive impact locally and globally. By focusing on human-environment interactions, our community of students, alumni, donors, faculty, and staff have made meaningful change happen in the classroom, the workplace, across Canada and around the world. As we celebrate our past, we are also looking to the future, because the world needs our expertise more than ever. Seeking sustainability in the face of climate change is likely the greatest challenge of this century, and it impels society to fundamentally transform our economy and how we live. These complex problems create an imperative for us to address the world’s most pressing challenges through rigorous research, effective knowledge mobilization, and creative solutions.

Consciousness and caring in the face of climate crisis

Fully coming to terms with the impacts of climate change can be overwhelming. The implications of the crisis can reach deeply into our personal life, our beliefs about social justice, and our fight for the natural world. It is easier to push those thoughts aside and get swept up in our day-to-day lives.

Beyond the classroom

Indra Sarju (BES ’19) chose the International Development program at Waterloo because she wanted to work abroad

"The International Development program allowed me to take what I’m passionate about and apply it to create positive change in places where social, economic and environmental challenges threaten the very existence of the people who live there." - Indra Sarju (BES ’19)

Hungry for change

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but sometimes one person’s impact can have a rippling effect for decades and generations to come.

Alumni awards

Twenty-seven exceptional nominees, three prestigious awards, and one exciting announcement about our Alumni Awards! This year, as the Faculty celebrates its 50th anniversary, we are delighted to add four more deserving recipients to our roster of honourees!

Last word: Can we count on the world to unite for a better future?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer a vision for global action on the urgent environmental, political, and economic challenges facing our planet. Four years into the mandate, many countries are failing on their commitments with inequalities and environmental degradation continuing to rise. We need the SDGs to be a rallying point to unite Canadian voices and ensure that big societal transitions we face are fair and that no one is left behind.