A new year often brings changes and the Department of Environment of Resource Studies has a big change to announce.
As of 4 January 2016, we are now known as the
‘School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability (SERS)’
Our continuing focus is to achieve sustainability in an increasingly complex world through protecting, restoring, reforming and transforming social and ecological systems.We will build on our student-centred legacy tobroaden opportunities for learning,and to engage in research that transcends disciplines.
The change in name and strategy reflects our ethos that institutions need to move ahead of the curve. We explain our motivation and the implications below.
Welcome to the next era of SERS!
- Steve Murphy, Chair
Find out everything you need to know about this exciting change below…
The Department of Environment and Resource Studies is now the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability.
As Environment and Resource Studies (ERS) has expanded over the past four decades, our focus has crystalized. We have transitioned from a traditional environmental studies program to a unit concentrating on the sustainability of resources, ecosystem conservation and restoration, and environmental policy and governance. In doing so we have coalesced around a core mission of achieving sustainability in an increasingly complex world through protecting, restoring, reforming and transforming social and ecological systems.
The name, “School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability (SERS)”, was deliberately chosen to reflect the dynamic nature of our research and teaching, and strategically position us to evolve with the challenges that lie ahead.
What’s in a name?
Environment: Leading with “environment” reinforces our fit within the Faculty. We certainly have strength in particular areas, such as ecosystem restoration, environmental politics, resilience, and governance for food, water and energy. However, a broad focus on “environment” is compatible with our integrative orientation.
Resources: Our use of the term “resources” reflects a real strength of our faculty and students in the field of resource analysis (understanding how the earth’s natural resources – water, land, ecosystems, etc. – can be utilized in a sustainable fashion).
Sustainability: Many of our faculty and graduate students engage with ideas at the cutting edge of environmental thought such as “the Anthropocene,” “novel ecosystems,” and “resilience.” These specialized concepts are often connected to broader discussions and debates about sustainability. Therefore, we chose to emphasize sustainability – a concept that is widely understood and used in the public sphere, and which has been part of the bedrock of our teaching and research for several decades. To illustrate, our current graduate programs (MES and PhD) are called, “Social and Ecological Sustainability.”
What is the difference between a Department and a School?
The transition to ‘School’ enables us to better communicate to prospective employers and students the full range of teaching, research and outreach in which we are involved. As a School, for example, we will be better positioned to offer professional certifications or specializations(e.g., environmental assessment, restoration). As well, we will be better able to leverage our commitment to experiential learning delivered in a diversity of ways (e.g., ecology labs, community-oriented projects, independent research, field courses). Our commitment to cutting across disciplinary approaches means we draw on many fields – from politics and sociology to ecology and systems science. The change from department to ‘School’ reflects the broad range of disciplines and fields upon which we draw.
Additionally, the majority of the units that are comparable to SERS deliver their programs through Schools. Changing our name to ‘School’ more clearly signals to prospective students (undergraduate and graduate) and others the comprehensive approach and opportunities available in our unit.
Finally, and most importantly, transforming ourselves into the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability sharpens our focus on our core mission of achieving sustainability in an increasingly complex world through protecting, restoring, reforming and transforming social and ecological systems.
How did we come up with the new name?
Our name change involved a lengthy process of reflection and consultation with internal and external stakeholders over the past two years. We sought the advice of alumni, employers, current students (undergraduate and graduate), prospective students, faculty and staff. At the end of the process we concluded that the passive perspective that often is associated with “environmental studies” simply didn’t reflect our current orientation and mission.
What are the implications for students?
Changing the name to SERS does not affect your degree program or the name of your degree, whether you are enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program.
The general focus of our program remains largely the same. However, we are using the process of the name change to revisit how we can deliver our curriculum in ways that best prepare students to achieve sustainability outcomes in an increasingly complex world.
Part of our goal in this name change is to better communicatethe scope of the work we do in SERS. Departments are often more discipline specific. Changing to a “School” better reflects our core mission.
The name change from ‘Environment and Resource Studies’ to ‘Environment, Resources and Sustainability’ better communicates that we don’t just study things. We are actively involved in resolving sustainability challenges, and we work closely with people, communities and organizations to make sure our work is relevant and effective.This clearer focus benefits students because it allows them to clearly describe to employers the skills, experiences and knowledge they have gained through a degree from SERS.
What are the implications for alumni?
Our alumni have been a huge part of our success. We are maintaining a strong sense of continuity with roots of ERS and a ground-breaking department that evolved over a period of forty years. Professor George Francis, one of the individuals who started ERS, is still activein our unit, and there is a deep-seated affinity with the original mission of integration and sustainability that was adopted in the early 1970s.
We have always maintained a very strong connection with our graduates as they moved into diverse and satisfying careers and pursued a host of life opportunities. Many of our alumni have become leading lights in their fields, in academia, governments at all levels, and in the private sector. As a result of these strong links, our students benefit from a steady flow of co-op and employment opportunities. As the School develops we will continue to build on the strength of our alumni community.
Is SERS still part of the Faculty of Environment?
Absolutely. SERS remains an integral unit with the Faculty of Environment and is committed to delivering on the priorities reflected in the Faculty of Environment Strategic Plan. Those priorities include high impact and internationally recognized research, and outstanding academic programming. We bring to these priorities particular strengths in assessing sustainability of resourcesystems, ecosystem conservation and restoration, and environmental policy and governance.
There is no better place to be for leading edge research and teaching on the Environment. Our Faculty added two new units (School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, and Department of Knowledge Integration), both of which share the integrative orientation of ERS. It is important for us to distinguish our programs from those of our sibling units so that prospective students, employers and funders can appreciate the full range of what the Faculty of Environment offers. Our new name is the public face of those changes.
When does the name change take effect?
The name change takes effect onJanuary 1, 2016. There is nothing individual students need to do…except celebrate a renewed vision for our academic unit and commitment to teaching, research and outreach focused on achieving sustainability in an increasingly complex world.
Looking ahead…SERS @ University of Waterloo
Transformative research. A global outlook. Outstanding academic programming. Experiential education. These are some of the key themes in the University of Waterloo’s Strategic Plan for 2013-2018 and they are foundational to SERS. Moving forward we will build on our student-centred legacy tobroaden opportunities for learning,and to engage in research that transcends disciplines.
The future for SERS is bright. We have 14 full-time faculty members, a dynamic undergraduate program, and outstanding Master’s and PhD programs. We are the place for students who are seeking the kind of strongly integrative education and training that is needed to address contemporary environmental challenges and opportunities.
For more information of the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability and its new name, please contact SERS Director, Stephen Murphy. . 519-888-4567 x35616. Location: EV2 2034.
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