Special Collections & Archives is pleased to announce that the papers of Robert Dorney have been redescribed for greater access and are once again open to researchers.
Robert (Bob) Starbird Dorney, 1928-1987, was an ecologist and a pioneer in the field of environmental management. In 1967, Dorney was hired by the University of Waterloo to work for the School of Urban and Regional Planning where he remained until his death in 1987. During this 20-year period, Dorney helped to found the Waterloo Region's Ecological and Environmental Advisory Committee, was a founding partner of the environmental planning consulting company Ecoplans Ltd., wrote "The Professional Practice of Environmental Management", and also designed and maintained a Carolinian forest on his front lawn at 124 Amos Ave. in Waterloo.
Dorney's impact on the field, and on Waterloo, can be seen through the myriad honours in his name in the region, from the Robert S. Dorney Ecology Garden on campus to the Ontario Society for Environmental Management Robert S. Dorney award.
As spring approaches, why not have a look at one of the ca. 4,200 slides or read Dorney's teaching notes to learn more about environmental management in Ontario and get some ideas for your own front lawn forest.