Environment and Sustainability

Participating Faculties: Engineering, Science (Host) and Social Science

Project Coordinator: David Wardlaw

Total Project Funding: $560,000

Funding Period: 3 years

Abstract:
IDI funding has been allocated for development of a proposed School of Environment & Sustainability at Western.  The idea for this project emerged from an Environmental Education Working Group co-chaired by Robert Bailey (Director of Environmental Research Western) and Dan Shrubsole (Chair of Geography), charged in 2005 by the Provost with reviewing, redefining, and reinvigorating environmental education and research at Western. The proposed School will combine interdisciplinary graduate, undergraduate, and continuing education with research activities in the area of environment and sustainability. It will initially be co-managed by the Faculty of Science (the host faculty), Faculty of Engineering, and Faculty of Social Science. Over 70 faculty members from the three participating Faculties as well as several other Faculties have expressed interest in participating in activities of the proposed School. IDI funding, combined with matching contributions from the three participating Faculties, will be used as seed money to appoint three inaugural faculty members (including a Director) to the nascent school. This core group will coordinate the development of an academic plan for the proposed school and, in due course, a detailed proposal for the School of Environment & Sustainability as an academic unit at Western. Initially, the proposed School will incorporate the existing research centre, Environmental Research Western, as well as the Graduate Program in Environment & Sustainability, and the Undergraduate Program in Environmental Science. Comprehensive, pan-Faculty interdisciplinary undergraduate programming in the environment and sustainability will subsequently be developed.