SCHOOL OF
Fall Term 2014
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY TALKING SENSE
www.usask.ca/sens
Talking SENSe
School of Environment and Sustainability University of Saskatchewan Kirk Hall, Room 323 117 Science Place Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8 Executive Director Toddi Steelman, PhD Newsletter Sharla Daviduik, MRM Administrative Officer Meagan Hinther, BSc On the cover: “We went out specifically to look for this mother and her calf,” says MSEM alumna Merci Rapolti, who took this photo of moose south of Saskatoon last winter. Above: Kinsmen Park in Saskatoon, last winter; photo by MES student Raea Gooding. Read more about Raea and her research on page 5. Communications Specialist Please submit comments to sens.info@usask.ca 3 Executive Director’s Message 4 SENSSA Elects New Executive 4 SENSSA Conducts Waste Audit for Ness Creek Festival 5 SENS Profiles 7 PhD Student Awarded Nexen Scholarship 7 Honours, Awards, and Other Impressive Achievements 8 Harnessing the Power of the Wind 9 Fall Convocation 2014 10 Important Dates 3
Executive Director’s Message
SENS aims to be the premier site interna‐
tionally for practicing problem‐oriented, socially relevant interdisciplinary research concerning the environment and sustain‐
ability. But what does it mean to practice this kind of research and why is that im‐
portant? ter quality modeling, history, drama, an‐
throlopology and biogeochemistry. No one form is inherently better or worse than another, and each has their relative advantage and disadvantage for any given problem that is being addressed. Within the School, we lead by example, where our core courses are instructed by two or more professors from different disciplines often using a problem‐based approach. Arguably, the “soft skills” needed to practice interdisciplinarity are what make us special. Compassion and fostering genuine understanding are as important as the content we teach. Our instructors model behavior in how to communicate effectively across discipli‐
nary cultures, illustrate how to question assumptions appropriately and respect‐
fully, demonstrate that intellectual strength comes not from arrogance or superiority but the confidence of asking basic or elementary questions when you are outside your zone of comfort, and create the social architecture to enhance effective collaborative teams and the skills to work in those teams. If we start with the premise that knowledge is power, then the question is what do we do with that power as faculty, students and staff that work in institu‐
tions of higher education—a quite privi‐
leged position in society relative to many others. With power comes responsibility. What is our responsibility? In short, it is to serve society by focusing on real prob‐
lems faced by real people. How can we do that? Interdisciplinary research at SENS seeks to integrate different disciplines when ap‐
proaching, investigating and/or identify‐
ing potential solutions to the challenging environmental and sustainability prob‐
lems we face. The premise is that prob‐
lems emerge from a variety of causes, and we need to embrace that complexity with the relevant disciplines to address them. Interdisciplinarity can be practiced by a group or by an individual. Interdiscipli‐
narity is different from multidisciplinarity, which brings to bear different disciplinary perspectives on a problem, but does not necessarily integrate them. Interdiscipli‐
narity exists on a continuum from “weak”—where similar disciplines are integrated, like water quality modeling, geomorphology and watershed hydrolo‐
gy—to “strong” —where very dissimilar disciplines would work together, like wa‐ Our students engage in interdisciplinary research, often in collaboration with our faculty, community partners or clients on whose projects they work. Depending on the nature of the project, this can take us into realm of transdisciplinarity. Trans‐
disciplinary occurs when we move beyond the boundaries of academia to work with community partners, industry, clients or others to define a problem, the approach and/or the potential pathways moving forward to address a specific problem. None of this is easy. But we never prom‐
ised it would be, because the problems we face are hard. If they could have been solved by other means, they would have been addressed by now. So why does SENS take an interdiscipli‐
nary, and perhaps transdisciplinary, ap‐
proach? Because we don’t have other feasible options at this time for address‐
ing the environmental and sustainability problems faced by society. This doesn’t mean we will always be successful, but we can take faith in that we are all en‐
gaged in a grand experiment to serve society to the best of our ability. While we may not always end up practicing the interdisciplinary, problem‐oriented ideal, our aim is high. Toddi Steelman, PhD Executive Director
The complex problems addressed by interdisciplinary research at SENS are the result of human in‐
teractions with the environment. Wildlife conservation and conflicts are one example of this. Photo by Manuel Chavez‐Ortiz. Talking SENSe
SENSSA Elects New Executive The School of Environment and Sustainability Students’ Association (SENSSA) started the new academic year with elections in September. Krystal Caldwell, a student in the MES program, was elected President. Aimee Schmidt, PhD program, is Vice‐President, and Martin Boucher, PhD program, is Treasurer/Secretary. Given SENSSA’s mandate of administering activities for its members, and “furthering the intellectual, cultural and social activities of students within SENSSA,” the executive also includes the following members: 
Academic Affairs – Hardi Shahadu, PhD program 
Social Coordinator – Evan Andrews, MES program 
Campus Liaison Coordinators – Naomi Maina, PhD program, and Kathleen Aikens, PhD program 
Community Liaison Coordinator – Amandeep Sangha, MSEM program 
Communications and Webmaster – Manuel Chavez‐Ortiz, MSEM program The group is busily planning activities for the upcoming year. Based on SENSSA’s past accomplishments, they are sure to continue to advocate for sustainability in everything they do! Members of the 2014‐15 SENSSA Executive (from left): Amandeep Sangha, Krystal Caldwell, Martin Boucher, Kelly Richardson (a mem‐
ber of the 2013‐14 Executive), Hardi Shahadu, Kathleen Aikens, and Naomi Maina. Missing: Aimee Schmidt and Evan Andrews.
SENSSA Conducts Waste Audit for Ness Creek Festival
Last autumn, SENSSA held a series of waste reduction work‐
shops in partnership with the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council. Although the workshops had to be rescheduled at the last minute due to an unexpected water shut‐off on campus, Carlie Letts from the Ness Creek Cultural Society did hear about them. She approached Krystal Caldwell and Janell Rempel, members of the 2013‐14 SENSSA Executive, about forming a partnership to conduct a waste audit for the 2014 Ness Creek Music Festival. The audit was intended to provide baseline data for future sustainability initiatives, as well as to provide leverage to secure future grants. SENSSA decided to enter into the partnership, as it was a unique opportunity to educate the public about waste reduc‐
tion in a fun setting. MSEM student Kelly Richardson took over the project in May 2014. Last summer, a team of about thirty‐
five volunteers descended upon the Ness Creek Festival Site, making it one of the cleanest festivals to date. SENSSA also introduced composting at the festival, and started an environ‐
mental education campaign, which will be continued by Kelly this year. With contributions from Kelly Richardson. 5
Student Profile: Raea Gooding
Research interests: Sustainable agriculture, wa‐
ter quality, eutrophication, community environ‐
mental stewardship. My current research is look‐
ing at the ability of small reservoirs in an agricul‐
tural landscape to remove nitrogen from the system. These reservoirs were installed by a group of landowners dedicated to managing soil and water resources in the watershed in a more sustainable way. Influences: My biggest influence has been a lakeside community in Manitoba called Victoria Beach where I spent my childhood summers. This is where I learned to swim, and played with rocks and shells instead of phones or computers. This is where my love and ap‐
preciation of nature and wildlife began, and undoubt‐
edly what drove me to pursue environmental studies. What impact do you hope your research will have? I hope my research encourages the landowners of To‐
bacco Creek, Manitoba to continue to find ways to Place of birth: Winnipeg, MB. reduce the impact of agricultural activity on their wa‐
Most significant achievement: I suppose this tershed. Many of them have committed to finding award would go to landing an amazing overseas solutions to the issues posed by intensive agriculture, job after the first year of my undergraduate de‐
and I am delighted to show them evidence that their gree. Honourable mentions include finally per‐
efforts are indeed making a difference. I guess a part forming a kayak roll after much struggling, and of me also hopes that these differences in nutrient getting my carnivorous father to admit that some exports downstream, however small in scale, when vegetarian burritos I made "might actually be taken together can help restore the health of my ail‐
tastier than ground beef." ing, beloved Lake Winnipeg. MES student Raea Gooding is conduct‐
ing research regarding the ability of small reservoirs in an agricultural land‐
scape to remove nitrogen from the system. Favourite music: Most of the music I listen to would be classified as indie rock, but really, I will listen to anything that suits the mood. I'm happy two‐stepping to country music, attending ludi‐
crous Bollywood parties, and sitting through hours of symphony. As long as it makes me feel something, it doesn't much matter what type of music it is! How do you define sustainability? I like the idea that we don't inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. Any respectable person will return borrowed items in the same shape they received it, or maybe even a little better. Sustainabil‐
ity is being mindful that we are an insignificant frac‐
tion of the users of the planet's resources, and that we have a responsibility to all users ‐ present and future, human and non‐human ‐ to balance our needs and desires with those of theirs.
Faculty Profile: Saman Razavi
Saman is the newest member of the SENS faculty; he was appointed to a position in watershed modelling, in affiliation with the Global Institute for Water Security, on November 15, 2014. Place of birth: Tehran, Iran. Research interests: My research is focused on understanding, modelling, and predicting large‐scale hydrologic and water resources systems. I am always interested in taking a system perspective and rigorously studying how the many components in such systems behave and interact under different forcings (e.g., different cli‐
matic conditions, policies, develop‐
ment scenarios, etc.). I also develop algorithms for more effective and efficient optimization, sensitivity and uncertainty analyses, with a variety of applications including improved wa‐
tershed model development and ap‐
plication. Most significant achievement: Hard to say! Probably my most significant technical achieve‐
ment is the development of my new sensitivity analysis method. More generally, just getting to where I am now has been my most significant achievement, both professionally and personally. Favourite music: I think Iranian folk music is fan‐
tastic. Also, I very much like Leonard Cohen. In my teenage years, I was a big fan of Pink Floyd and Metallica. Influences: Hoshin Gupta, University of Arizona, has been very influential on my research career. What impact do you hope your research will have? There is significant uncertainty around the future of available water resources. I hope my research will contribute to better predicting the future of our limited fresh water resources and more informed decision‐making for planning, devel‐
opment, and management of water‐related infrastruc‐
ture. In particular, I hope to improve our modelling capability of these large‐ scale systems. How do you define sustainability? I think in simple words sustainability refers to utilizing the available resources on the earth just as much as they can be renewed. Of course, it is not what is happening now and the natural resources are being depleted at a fast rate. The accurate evaluation of the current state of these resources and their rate and pattern of change, due to natural and anthropogenic factors, are of par‐
amount importance to plan towards sustainability. This also helps to raise public awareness, hopefully leading to lower the ever‐increasing humankind appe‐
tite for the world's limited resources. Talking SENSe
Alumni Profile: Kiri Staples, Class of 2014 “It actually took me a while to realize that the field of environment and sustainability was where I wanted to be,” MES alumna Kiri Staples says. “My undergraduate degree was in international studies, with a focus on gender. I spent a lot of time outside, but I considered that to be more of a personal interest.” Kiri’s view of how environment and sustain‐
ability could fit into a career changed when she participated in a project in Tanzania, where she helped to establish community‐
based research projects related to poverty reduction and environmental conservation. “Something about that experience really opened my eyes to how important environ‐
mental issues are to my life and how I should be pursuing that passion in a career setting.” The program at SENS appealed to Kiri be‐
cause many of the faculty focus on northern research. “I’m from the Yukon Territory. Southern universities don’t always have a good reputation in northern communities, and often for good reason. It struck me that SENS was really invested in changing the dynamics of that relationship, and I wanted to be a part of that.” MES alumna Kiri Staples is currently the Project Manager for the SSHRC‐funded Delta Dialogue Network. At SENS, Kiri completed her MES degree under the supervision of SENS associate Da‐
vid Natcher from the Department of Biore‐
source Policy, Business, and Economics, Col‐
lege of Agriculture and Bioresources. Her thesis, titled “Gender and Decision‐Making in Natural Resource Co‐Management in Yukon Territory” drew on her previous academic background, her aspirations to work in the field of environment and sustainability, and her northern background. Although Kiri has now graduated, she is still a part of the SENS community in Kirk Hall, but with a new title: Project Manager, Delta Dialogue Network. She is responsible for the day‐to‐day management of this SSHRC‐
funded research network; this includes communications, reporting, organizing work‐
shops, and supporting research activities. Reflecting back on her time as a SENS stu‐
dent, Kiri says that her favourite moment was the Cultural Food Fair. “Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of memorable academic moments, but the food fair was a beautiful combination of students, staff, and (obviously) amazing food. The fact that you could have Mexican tacos, Ukrainian cab‐
bage rolls, West African peanut soup, and Saskatchewan apple fritters on one plate was pretty great.” Kiri does have some advice for current SENS students regarding academic study, however. “Talk to other people in the program about what they are working on! I know it’s a cliché, but learning from your peers is incredibly valuable and inspiring.” As far as future careers in envi‐
ronment and sustainability are concerned, she says, “Whenever I start to feel particularly pes‐
simistic about the state of the world, I find it helpful to think about the kind of work other SENS students are doing. It’s a bit like most envi‐
ronmental documentaries – despite the fact that 95% of the film is spent on how horrible humans are to the planet, the last 5% is always dedicated to the ‘but wait, there’s hope!’ message. The people at SENS are that last 5% for me. Despite the enormity of the environmental issues we will be faced with in our future, there are extremely inspiring and innovative individuals dedicated to working on them. I think that the next genera‐
tion of people with environmental careers will continue to be similar sources of hope and inspi‐
ration in the face of complex sustainability is‐
sues.” 7
PhD Student Awarded Nexen Scholarship Martin Boucher’s Atypical Background a Perfect Fit for Research About Sustainable Energy They are beacons of sustainable energy – giant wind turbines and gleaming solar panels that harness the power of natural phenomena. If PhD student Martin Boucher has his way, one day many Saskatchewan residents may be powering or heating their homes and businesses with re‐
newable energy produced right where they live. “Recently, we’ve been building renewable ener‐
gy systems in a centralized way like we’ve built traditional large‐scale plants – these massive solar or wind farms on the outskirts of cities and towns,” said Martin. With a Master of Arts in Integrated Studies from Athabasca University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Waterloo that focused on the physical sciences and math, Martin’s atypical background helps him look at the technical, economic and social side of re‐
newable energy. He also spent the last three years as a manager in an environmental and civil engineering consulting firm in Ottawa. “I enjoy working in both the policy and social sciences and also in more of the physical sci‐
ences like engineering,” explained Martin.
“The school offers a unique program that provides the flexibility to solve the problems I want to examine. I’m not locked into a disci‐
pline or limited in my ability to try different research methodologies.” A native of Ottawa, Martin is happy to make his new home in Saskatoon and is pleasantly surprised by the city and the vibrant energy it has. “What a surprise Saskatoon has been! The city is beautiful and the people are among the friendliest I have met.” “These types of systems are very expensive, complicated to implement and supply only in‐
termittent energy. What may be a better direc‐
tion are decentralized – or distributed – urban energy systems where individuals or urban communities produce their own energy in an integrated way.” His research goal is to develop a comprehensive technical and policy strategy for decentralized energy in urban and suburban Saskatchewan. A recipient of the SENS Nexen Energy Scholarship, Martin was awarded $90,000 over three years for research related to energy, environment and sustainability. “The generous Nexen Energy Scholarship is an amazing opportunity that will be instrumental in the development of my research idea.” PhD student Martin Boucher has received the SENS Nexen Energy Scholarship. Honours, Awards, and Other Impressive Achievements
SENS faculty, students, and alumni continue to make the School proud! 
Professor Jeff McDonnell was recently elected President of the American Geophysical Union’s Hydrology Section. Nearly 7,000 of the AGU’s more than 60,000 members are affiliated with the Hydrology Section. “The American Geophysical Union is the leading learned soci‐
ety in the world for geosciences,” notes Canada Excellence Research Chair in Water Security Howard Wheater. “Jeff’s election by the membership to this prestigious post is an indication of the esteem and regard in which he is held by the international community.” See http://hydrology.agu.org/index.html for more information about the AGU Hydrology Section. 
Distinguished Professor Karsten Liber assumed the position of Vice‐President of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) in November. He will then become President of SETAC next year, and Past‐President the following year. SETAC has more than 5,500 members in over 100 countries. The organization also publishes the journals Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry and Integrat‐
ed Environmental Assessment and Management. See https://www.setac.org/ 
Professor Maureen Reed was recently shortlisted for a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Connection Award for her research investigating governance and sustainability in UNESCO biosphere reserves. Under Dr. Reed’s leadership, and with SSHRC funding, SENS and the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association created a partnership to enhance the capacity of biosphere reserves to achieve their objectives by developing and documenting strategies for networking and social learning. 
MSEM Student Branimir Gjetvaj has been appointed to the University of Saskatchewan Senate as a representative of Nature Saskatche‐
wan. The Senate, the Board of Governors, University Council, and the General Academic Assembly constitute the governing bodies of the U of S. 
MES Alumna Shannon Dyck is a recipient of a 2014 U of S Alumni Association Award. Nominated in the young alumni category, Shannon was recognized for her commitment to volunteerism and to environmental and sustainability initiatives. “Shannon is the sort of graduate the School of Environment and Sustainability is proud to call its own – someone who consistently embodies the ‘act locally, think globally’ ethic, and who truly strives to make her community a better place for all,” Administrative Officer Sharla Daviduik wrote in the nomination letter. Talking SENSe
Harnessing the Power of the Wind y While growing up in Chihauhau, Mexico, Manuel Chavez‐Ortiz recalls always being interested in the natural environment. “My father is a rancher. He taught my sister and me while we were growing up to respect nature, to care for it and to be good to the envi‐
ronment.” It was the pursuit of higher education that brought him to the U of S in 2003. Manuel completed his Bachelor of Arts in economics and worked as the manager at a fine‐dining restaurant in Saskatoon following graduation. In 2012, he began the Master of Sustainable Environmental Management program and joined SENS. “I wanted a more meaningful career and what SENS had to offer seemed like exactly what I wanted to do. I liked the project‐based aspect,” explained Manuel. His MSEM project looked at the barriers to implementing renewable energy in Saskatchewan and was specifically focused on wind energy storage. He was partnered with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society – an organization he had been volunteering with for the previous four years. SES plans to use his final report as a tool to inform and educate the public. “The problem with wind energy is that you only produce energy when there is wind blowing. In my opinion, the energy storage issue is one of the public’s fears of relying on wind for energy. What my research discovered was that, in reality, it shouldn’t be an issue for Saskatchewan. For example, in Nova Scotia, wind energy production supplies over 10% of the province’s energy needs, and that’s without any storage capaci‐
ty.” “Storage is perceived as a barrier in Saskatchewan for wind energy, but it does not need to be,” he added. Manuel returned to Mexico in late‐September to relax and rejuvenate following what has been a very busy couple of years. As the past presi‐
dent of SENSSA, he dedicated himself to growing the number of events and offerings and greatly enjoyed the experience of working with his fellow students and networking with community organizations. He will continue his role remotely with SENSSA as Communications and Web‐
master. “Being part of SENSSA was really important to me,” said Manuel. “It gave me a space to work on skills that I hadn’t had an opportunity to use before. I was able to explore what my strengths were and what I had to offer. It gave me a great opportunity to contribute to SENS in a differ‐
ent way, and especially to apply sustainability solutions in a real way.” While in Mexico, Manuel plans to put his MSEM project knowledge into practice and build a windmill. “I read a really inspirational book called the Boy Who Harnessed the Wind about a boy in Africa who built a windmill out of materials that he found in the landfill. My best friends in Mexico have a metal business and I want to build a windmill myself.” Manuel went on to explain that, in his area of Mexico, there are many ranches that are very isolated and not connected to the grid. Like his father’s ranch, for example. “We have great wind resources so I think it could be a viable way to produce electricity.” For this soon‐to‐be graduate, right now it seems like there is no place like home. Particularly when it comes to applying what he has learnt while at SENS. Manuel Chavez‐Ortiz has completed the requirements for his MSEM degree and will graduate in the spring. 9
Fall Convocation 2014 SENS was pleased to honour thirteen graduates at Fall Convoca‐
tion on October 25, 2014. Receiving degrees were: Lindsey Tallon, Doctor of Philosophy: Spatial Variability of Ther‐
mal Properties in Reclamation COV. Supervisors: Bing Si and Sid‐
ney Barbour Bennet Awume, Master of Environment and Sustainability: Con‐
trol of Hydrogen Sulphide Emissions Using Zinc Oxide Nano Parti‐
cles. Supervisor: Mehdi Nemati Kiri Staples, Master of Environment and Sustainability: Gender and Decision‐Making in Natural Resource Co‐Management in Yu‐
kon Territory. Supervisor: David Natcher Christina Thomson, Master of Environment and Sustainability: Teaching and Learning for Spiritual Relations with Nature. Super‐
visor: MJ Barrett Brandon Clinton, Master of Sustainable Environmental Manage‐
ment: Towards Effective Conservation Strategies in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Advisor: Vladimir Kricsfalusy Min Jia, Master of Sustainable Environmental Management: Minimizing Food Waste Sent to Landfill in FCL Federated Co‐
Operatives Limited (FCL). Advisor: Phil Loring Kelechi Nwanekezie, Master of Sustainable Environmental Manage‐
ment: Advancing Energy Efficiency: A Case‐study of Federated Co‐
Operatives Limited Food Distribution Centre in Saskatoon, Canada. Advisor: Ken Belcher Ayeha Qazi, Master of Sustainable Environmental Management: Growing Saskatoon: Immigrants and the Potential for Urban Market Gardens in Saskatoon. Advisor: Rachel Engler‐Stringer Merci Rapolti, Master of Sustainable Environmental Management: Creating a Successful Shorebird Monitoring Program at Chaplin, Sas‐
katchewan. Advisor: Christy Morrissey Allan Scholz, Master of Sustainable Environmental Management: Canadian Agriculture and Food System Sustainability: A Life Cycle As‐
sessment. Advisor: Ken Belcher Mary Tait, Master of Sustainable Environmental Management: Hy‐
drological and Limnological Study of the Lenore Lake Wetland. Advi‐
sor: Karl‐Erich Lindenschmidt Kyle Young, Master of Sustainable Environmental Management: Dis‐
trict of Lakeland No. 521 Environmental Management Plan. Advisor: Bob Patrick Congratulations to the newest SENS alumni!
Vernon Kiss, Master of Sustainable Environmental Management: Domestic Energy Consumption and Socioecological Energy Transi‐
tions. Advisor: Geoff Cunfer The after‐the‐convocation‐ceremony lunch. Back, from left: Mary Tait (MSEM), Ayesha Qazi (MSEM), Kelechi Nwanekezie (MSEM), Bennet Awume (MES), Graduate Chair Markus Hecker, Executive Director Toddi Steelman, Kiri Staples (MES), and Graduate Secretary Irene Schwalm. Front, from left: Min Jia (MSEM), and SENSSA President Krystal Caldwell. Photo courtesy Min Jia. Talking SENSe
Members of the SENS community, including students, faculty, and staff, at the School’s 2014 welcome lunch, held in September outside Kirk Hall.
Important Dates 
University Closed for Holidays – December 25, 2014 – January 1, 2015 
First Day of Term 2 Classes – January 5, 2015 
Delta Day – February 6, 2015 
Reading Week – February 16 – 20, 2015 
International Women’s Day – March 8, 2015 
World Water Day – March 22, 2015 
SENS Student Symposium – March 27, 2015