SCHOOL OF
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY TALKING SENSE
SENS Celebrates Five Years! 2007 – 2012 www.usask.ca/sens
School of Environment and Sustainability University of Saskatchewan Kirk Hall, Room 323 117 Science Place Saskatoon, SK S7N 5C8 Acting Executive Director Maureen G. Reed, PhD Newsletter Editors Meagan Hinther Communications Specialist Photo above courtesy Jean Kayira, PhD candidate. She took this pho‐
to while conducting field research in Malawi. Her dissertation work is entitled “Re‐learning our Roots: Youth Participatory Action Research, Indigenous Knowledge, and Sustainability through Agriculture.” Sharla Daviduik, MRM, EPt Administrative Officer Cover photo taken at the Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve; photo courtesy Iryna Zamchevska. Iryna is a student in the MES program. Her thesis work is entitled “Sustainable Development Principles in an Ecovillage Setting: The Case Study of O.U.R. Ecovillage, British Colum‐
bia, Canada.” CONTENTS 2 Please submit your comments to sens.info@usask.ca 3 Acting Executive Director’s Message 4 Dr. Toddi Steelman, Incoming Executive Director 5 SENS Profiles 6 SENS Faculty and Students Awarded Grants and Scholarships 7 Reflections on World Water Day 8 Spring Convocation 2012 8 SENS Receives RCE Recognition 9 New Community Forestry Book 9 Hydrology Specialist Joins SENS 9 Thoughts on Rio + 20 10 And the Winners Are … 10 Upcoming Events School of Environment and Sustainability | University of Saskatchewan | Summer 2012
ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE DR. MAUREEN G. REED Happy Birthday to SENS! SENS celebrates its fifth anniversary in July 2012. When the school began in 2007, it was a proposal, approved by University Council, that needed to be implemented. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of many people, today SENS has twenty‐one core faculty, 38 associate and adjunct faculty, 75 stu‐
dents, and 41 alumni. This spring, our first PhD students graduated –
congratulations, Dr. Dennis Duro and Dr. Julia Baird! Our graduates are now employed in a variety of occupations in the environmental sector, including community engagement, government policy analysis, environmental assess‐
ment and planning, and research. We have also been blessed with strong leadership from Dr. Karsten Liber. His vision, tenacity and guidance over 3½ years has made SENS an innovative unit within and beyond the university. When he took a well‐deserved administrative leave in January, few outstanding issues remained. Now, as my term as acting executive director draws to a close, I am delighted to welcome our new executive director, Dr. Toddi Steelman, who arrives on August 1, 2012. Dr. Steelman’s research at the interface of science and policy provides her with a strategic advantage in her new position in SENS. Her enthu‐
siasm, political acumen, and superlative personal qualities secured her unquali‐
fied support both from the rank and file of SENS and from key administrators of the university. Amidst these changes, SENS has con‐
tinued to move forward. Since January, faculty numbers have grown. We wel‐
comed four new faculty: Drs. Naveed Khaliq (stochastic modelling of hydro‐
meteorological variables), Karl‐Erich Lindenschmidt (river ice processes and flood risk management), Tim Jardine (freshwater food webs and stable iso‐
tope analysis in ecology) and Jeff McDonnell (watershed hydrology and runoff processes). These new faculty members have been hired in partner‐
ship with the Global Institute for Water Security, or with the Toxicology Centre. Their expertise complements that of new faculty members hired last year. Now, SENS and the Global Institute provide a premier site for research about water security in Canada and internationally. Just as our research capacity has grown, so too has our innovation in teaching and learning. This spring, with the help of student feedback and the support of the Gwenna Moss Centre for Teaching Effectiveness, our faculty members, staff, and students committed to cur‐
riculum renewal. We are working to ensure our curriculum is problem‐
focused, issue‐driven and experience‐
based. We have established a set of core attributes against which our courses, seminars, and other initiatives will be judged and began to identify new strategies to achieve this commit‐
ment. While much planning remains, we will introduce some innovations this fall, including delivering more profes‐
sional development workshops, wel‐
coming a practitioner‐in‐residence, and introducing extended field components into two of our required courses. We seek to remain at the forefront of in‐
terdisciplinary teaching and learning to ensure we all have tools to address sustainability challenges. We are com‐
mitted to becoming a “learning organi‐
zation” – we will engage in research about our teaching practice to ensure its relevance to our mission: to enable sustainable communities and environ‐
ments. As you read this issue of the newsletter, please join me in thanking all the stu‐
dents, alumni, staff, faculty and part‐
ners who have worked so hard to make the school such a vibrant community these past five years. Please join me in celebrating our collective achievements to date, as well as those yet to be real‐
ized just around the corner. Sincerely, Maureen G. Reed, PhD Acting Executive Director School of Environment and Sustainability | University of Saskatchewan | Summer 2012 3 DR. TODDI STEELMAN, INCOMING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: INNOVATION AND INTERDISCIPLINARITY Toddi Steelman joins SENS as the school’s new executive director on August 1. Talking SENSe recently took some time to chat with Toddi as she prepares to leave her current home of Raleigh, North Carolina, for the journey to Saskatchewan. We are pleased to introduce the SENS community to our driven and visionary new leader. Toddi grew up in Kingwood, West Virginia – a small coal mining town in the Appalachians. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Affairs from Princeton University and a doctorate from Duke Uni‐
versity’s Nicholas School of the Environment. She is currently professor in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Re‐
sources at North Carolina State University. Over the years, Toddi’s research has evolved toward a specializa‐
tion in the interactions between science, policy and decision‐
making in order to improve governance of natural resources. Most recently, her research agenda has centered on understand‐
ing community responses to wildfire and how communities and agencies interact for more effective wildfire management. This research was not something she set out to do explicitly, but rather was borne out of an interest in environmental issues and policy, and a desire to effect real change in the world. Dr. Toddi Steelman takes the helm at SENS on August 1, 2012. “This is why I am so excited about coming to SENS,” explains Toddi. “The school’s prevailing ethic is to be involved in applied research. We are well‐positioned with both our faculty and with our students to be influential in the environmental decisions that matter.” Toddi is moving to Saskatoon later in July with her husband, Joe Sinsheimer, and her daughter, Lina. Their beloved black Labrador dog, Boo Radley, recently passed away, but they hope to get a new dog once settled in Saskatoon. The family is looking forward to escaping the stifling, hot North Carolina summers and plans to enjoy Saskatoon winters as well. “My husband and I took up cross country skiing while living in Colorado many years ago and we haven't had the chance to do that much in North Carolina, so it will be fun to pick that up again. We are also eager to explore the lakes in northern Sas‐
katchewan.” When discussing her plans for the future of the school she will soon be leading, Toddi’s vision is that SENS will be the destina‐
tion institution for faculty and students who want to engage in interdisciplinary problem‐oriented scholarship to promote the common good. “As a community, my hope is that SENS will make meaningful connections to places, both local and international, with our spe‐
cial brand of expertise. And, we need to have some fun while doing this.” “My hope is that SENS will make meaningful connections to places, both local and interna‐
tional, with our special brand of expertise. And, we need to have some fun while doing this.”
There is no doubt that Toddi will make a strong leader for the school, and a great teacher and mentor for SENS students, facul‐
ty and staff. This is indeed exuded in her advice for SENS stu‐
dents pursuing a career in environment and sustainability. “Work on real problems about which you are truly passionate. Don't be afraid of complexity and uncertainty – learn to em‐
brace them and work constructively within these conditions. Life is too short to work with bad people.” And perhaps her most important piece of advice: “Eat more chocolate.” 4 School of Environment and Sustainability | University of Saskatchewan | Summer 2012
SENS PROFILES: FACULTY DR. CHARLES MAULE In addition to having a good sense of humour about the photo he submitted for this newsletter, Charles served on the SENS Advisory Committee during the School’s first year. He is a founding faculty mem‐
ber of SENS and chairs the School’s Academic Programs Committee. SENS affiliation: Professor, primary ap‐
pointment with the Department of Chemi‐
cal and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, secondary appointment with SENS.
Research interests: Soil hydrology, history of the sustainability concept. Place of birth: Vancouver, BC. Most significant achievement: My most significant university‐related achievement occurs yearly with the learning of students. Favourite music: Celtic, but almost any music that has a good beat and isn’t too quiet. Influences: During my life I moved around and thus associate influences with what occurred by geographic location; being raised on Canadian Forces bases in Europe and Canada; high school and university on Vancouver Island, career development at Calgary, graduate school at Edmonton, postdoc and family at Quebec City, agricul‐
ture and engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. What impact do you hope that your re‐
search will have? That it will be used and applied by others. How do you define sustainability? ‘Sustainability’ is how we connect what we do as individuals to local and global environmental, economic, and social is‐
sues to ensure the betterment and the continuance of quality of human life. ‘Sus‐
tainability’ is a modern concept developed and in use because of increased availabil‐
ity of and awareness of global issues and resources. Although sustainability is a concept, it provides a valuable tool for management of local and global issues.
SENS PROFILES: STUDENTS JANIA CHILIMA Jania completed her MES degree at SENS in 2011. She is now working on her PhD at the school. SENS affiliation: PhD student. Research interests: I am currently work‐
ing on exploring water resources man‐
agement in partnership with the com‐
munity of water users of Lake Diefenba‐
ker. Generally, my research interests include water resources management utilizing a community‐based participa‐
tory research approach; water resources management (environmental social sci‐
ences); watershed cumulative effects assessment and environmental impact assessment; and, human and ecological risk assessment. Place of birth: Donetsk, Ukraine. Most significant achievement: I would say going to Trent University with a partial scholarship for my undergraduate degree. Without it, the chances of me studying abroad were nil. Favourite music: I have been exposed to a variety of genres. It really depends on my mood, I think, so it changes all the time! Now I am particularly enjoying the music coming out of East Africa and from Nige‐
ria. Influences: I think being a “third culture kid” has definitely influenced me in the ways that I view things and others. I would say at every stage in my life I have been influenced by a number of different people who have left some imprint on me: my family (parents, sis‐
ter and my partner), my friends and the environment. As Pollock and Van Reken put it, “I have grown up among the worlds!” What impact do you hope your research will have? The world of water/water resources management in Canada and Saskatchewan, in particular, is very complex. When I reflect on my current research project, I hope it will add some valuable components to the future management practices of Lake Diefen‐
baker and its water sources. School of Environment and Sustainability | University of Saskatchewan | Summer 2012 5 SENS PROFILES: ALUMNI CHELSEA DALE, CLASS OF 2012 Chelsea graduated with her MES degree in May 2012. Her thesis was entitled “Investi‐
gating Cowichan River Collaborative Salmon Management Institutions: The Cowichan Harvest Roundtable and the Traditional Cow‐
ichan Fish Weir.” Chelsea Dale put her MES degree to good use before she had even officially received it – having defended her thesis in Sep‐
tember 2011, she entered the environ‐
mental workforce in October 2011 as a contractor for DMCS Ltd. Based on south‐
ern Vancouver Island, with clientele in BC, Alberta, and NWT, DMCS Ltd. focuses on cultural services, including traditional use studies, traditional ecological knowledge studies, treaty negotiations, and an‐ thropological/historical research. Most of the work involves consulting with First Na‐
tions, government, and industry about nat‐
ural resource development projects. Perhaps it was inevitable that Chelsea would someday have a job like this. “Grow‐
ing up on Vancouver Island, I spent most of my time outside, and all of my summers were spent camping on the Cowichan River. My parents raised us to always be con‐
scious of our impact on the environment, and to be appreciative of where we live,” says Chelsea. She became aware of the often negative changes happening in the Cowichan Valley due to development. As a result, Chelsea decided to try to protect the valley – this led her to pursue a BA in an‐
thropology at Malaspina University and an MES at SENS. Of partial Mi’kmaq descent, Chelsea believes that traditional ecological knowledge systems hold the key to a more environmentally sustainable future. Regarding the environmental labour mar‐
ket, Chelsea sees many opportunities for those skilled at conducting traditional use studies. As government and industry tran‐
sition to more sustainable practices, more jobs will be available. “Those of us who have chosen to study at the School of Envi‐
ronment and Sustainability and similar pro‐
grams will have an advantage over others when it comes to securing employment in the field,” she concludes. Perhaps it’s not surprising that Chelsea’s most memorable moment at SENS involves her family: her parents and 90‐year‐old grandmother drove to Saskatoon for her defence. Those camping trips on the Cowi‐
chan River have had a lasting impact. SENS FACULTY AND STUDENTS AWARDED GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Awards have been plentiful at SENS lately!  Geoff Cunfer, associate professor, jointly appointed with the Department of History and SENS, was awarded nearly $2.5‐M in a SSHRC Partnership Grant, entitled “Sustainable farm systems: long‐term socio‐ecological metabolism in western agriculture.”  Marcia McKenzie, assistant professor, jointly appointed with the Department of Educational Foundations and SENS, also received a SSHRC Partnership Grant. Dr. McKenzie will use the $1.9‐M grant to launch the Sustainability and Education Policy Network.  SENS faculty Helen Baulch, Andrew Ireson, and Markus Hecker were all successful in the latest NSERC Discovery Grant competi‐
tion.  Associate Professor Paul Jones received the Premier's Award for Collaboration from the Northwest Territories for his participa‐
tion in The Slave River and Delta Partnership.  PhD student Felicitas Egunyu was awarded the John Bene Community Forestry Fellowship from the International Development Research Centre to study in Uganda.  MES student Shannon Dyck received the Appel Global Citizenship award for her commitment to volunteer work and community involvement.  MES student Kari Amick will be spending a term studying in Norway in 2013 as she has received a High North Fellowship.  Incoming PhD students Edward Bam and Razak Abu have been awarded University of Saskatchewan Dean’s Scholarships.  Incoming PhD students Razak Abu and Ayodele Olagunju, along with continuing PhD students Felicitas Egunyu, Colleen George, and Anson Main, have received Saskatchewan Innovation Awards.  PhD students Lisa White, Colleen George, and Jean Kayira were awarded University of Saskatchewan Teacher‐Scholar Doctoral Fellowships. 6 School of Environment and Sustainability | University of Saskatchewan | Summer 2012
REFLECTIONS ON WORLD WATER DAY: THINKING CRITICALLY ABOUT PERSONAL WATER USE Contributed by Colleen George, PhD Candi‐
date. Colleen’s research focuses on envi‐
ronmental governance. World Water Day is held on March 22 to emphasize the importance of managing freshwater resources justly and sustainably. Each year, this day highlights an aspect of fresh water. In 2012, the United Nations addressed virtual water via a water and food security theme. SENS participated in World Water Day 2012 in two ways. Better than Bottled, a group of SENS students, organized an on‐campus booth with the Office of Sustainability and the USSU. The booth had information about Canadian water consumption, inter‐
national water shortages, the importance of water in food production, and how to conserve water through dietary choices. Started in 2009, Better than Bottled is a student initiative working to improve sus‐
tainable water practices at the U of S. Bet‐
ter than Bottled collects information about environmental and social impacts of bot‐
tled water and makes efforts to minimize some of them. The group has focused on finding ways to provide better access to clean, safe, public drinking water at the U of S through improving access to water fountains and fill stations and promoting awareness about the quality of municipal drinking water. Recently, Better than Bot‐
tled conducted a survey, and found that 80% of staff, students, and faculty pre‐
ferred tap water to bottled. Mostly, those who liked tap water preferred its conven‐
ience. For more information, visit better‐
thanbottled.jimdo.com. SENSSA also challenged the SENS communi‐
ty to participate in the 25 L/Day Water Challenge. Participants were encouraged to use only 25 litres of water per day during March. This includes water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, washing, and sanitation. The average Canadian uses 363 L of water per day. SENSSA asked the SENS commu‐
nity to commit to the challenge for at least one day in March to raise awareness about water consumption practices. Joe Schmutz, an adjunct faculty member, originally agreed to participate for 10 days, but, as he explains, “I soon realized that I’d fall woefully short of my promise and decided instead to try to measure my normal water usage and reflect on how I could conserve water most effectively over the long‐term.” Joe estimated his daily usage to be about 132 L/day, but admitted this did not include washing his car, watering vegetables, or the water for his dogs. Joe also looked into the quality of his wastewater. “My wife and I have tried, in our own way, to be responsible water users. We were prompted by a World Wildlife Fund Canada campaign in 1989 to use vinegar and water and baking soda for much of our cleaning. I’d in‐
stalled a valve in my shower and have used intermittent flow ever since. Also, living in the country, our water does not get chlorinated, nor does it enter surface waters. It gets pumped out of a settling tank into the woods near our house.” Joe is conscious of the wastewater he pro‐
duces because he gets his water not far from where this wastewater is expelled. a guideline to monitor water consump‐
tion. He investigated how much water he used for washing, cleaning, bathing, and flushing and tried to minimize use without sacrificing too much time or convenience. As he explains, “On laundry day I use more than 25 litres. I decided not to do my laundry by hand, although I have done this many times, mainly to save time. I believe that the convenience of and the time saved by using machines is one reason why conservation is difficult.” Dylan measured how much water he uses for bathing and sanitation and adjusted his habits. “I discovered that my shower head dispenses 8 liters of water per minute if I have it turned on all the way. To stay un‐
der 25 L/day, this doesn't allow for a long shower.” Dylan noted that his toilet uses 6 litres of water per flush. He saved water by letting the “yellow mellow” and using water displacement to reduce the amount of water used. He took a bottle filled with water to displace that amount of water in the tank. Every time the toilet was flushed, he saved the amount of water that was in the bottle. You can also use bricks for this water‐saving trick. Joe and Dylan acknowledged how difficult it was to meet the 25 L/Day Challenge. Dylan suggests this is a testament to how over‐consumptive our lives are. Changing consumption patterns requires that every‐
one think critically about how they can most greatly reduce water use. This in‐
cludes behavioural changes – letting the yellow mellow, shorter showers, rewear‐
ing clothing before washing it and using environmentally‐friendly cleaners. Up‐
grading to more efficient appliances and fixtures, including energy and water effi‐
Dylan Beach, a Master of Environment cient dishwashers, washing machines, and Sustainability student, also commit‐
showerheads, and low‐flow toilets (or ted to the challenge. Originally, he signed using water displacement) helps. Both Joe up for the entire month. Dylan has spent and Dylan were pleased that they took extended periods of time in water‐
part in the 25 L/Day Challenge because it stressed countries, such as Thailand and gave them a better understanding of their Kenya, where he learned ways to reduce water use. There, water is acknowledged own patterns of water consumption (and over‐consumption). The infrastructure in as a precious, scarce resource that should Saskatoon makes fresh water seem abun‐
be conserved and protected. Dylan has dant, but it is a scarce, precious resource witnessed conditions where people must choose where limited water resources are that must be valued and conserved. Keep this in mind the next time that you turn on allocated. Dylan did not strictly adhere to the challenge; rather, he chose to use it as the tap. School of Environment and Sustainability | University of Saskatchewan | Summer 2012 7 SPRING CONVOCATION 2012: CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES!
Degrees were conferred upon twelve SENS graduates at Spring Convocation on June 5, 2012. The School congratulates them on their achievements. Doctor of Philosophy in Environment and Sustainability Julia Baird ‐ Performance‐based Approaches to Agri‐environmental Water Quality Policy in Canada Dennis Duro ‐ Remote Sensing and GIS in Support of Sustainable Agricultural Environments Master of Environment and Sustainability Chelsea Dale ‐ Investigating Cowichan River Collaborative Salm‐
on Management Institutions: The Cowichan Harvest Roundtable and the Traditional Cowichan Fish Weir Vijayalakshmi Kalagnanam ‐ Land Cover/Land Use Change: Ex‐
ploring the Impacts on the Shahariya Tribe of Rajasthan, India John Kearns ‐ The Igalirtuuq Conservation Initiative: An Explora‐
tion of Collaborative Multi‐level Environmental Governance Formation Skye Ketilson ‐ Regional Strategic Environmental Assessment Roles and Stakes in Arctic Oil and Gas Development Master of Sustainable Environmental Management Graham Barber ‐ Eye Spy: Researching Technological Options to Capture Polar Bear Activity within Wapusk National Park Liu Cao ‐ Oil Sands Development and Strategic Adjustment in Northwestern Saskatchewan SENS congratulates its graduates. From left: Maureen Reed, Liu Cao, Jostein Misfeldt, Darcy Paslawski, Julia Baird, Chelsea Dale, and John Kearns. Evelyn Cerda Acosta ‐ The Impact of Environmental Risk on a Firm’s Specific Risk and Organizational Decision Making: Influ‐
encing Investors’ Decisions Jostein Misfeldt ‐ Urban Water Security Assessment in the South Saskatchewan River Basin Natalie Nikiforuk ‐ Agricultural Pesticide Use and Changes in the Abundance of Grassland Birds in the Canadian Prairies Darcy Paslawski ‐ The Strengths of Cumulative Effects Assess‐
ment in the Alberta Oil Sands: A Foundation to Improve Practice SENS RECEIVES RCE RECOGNITION
The Wascana Centre in Regina was abuzz with sustainability talk on June 7, as RCE Saskatchewan held its annu‐
al Education for Sustainable Develop‐
ment recognition awards. RCE Sas‐
katchewan is a Regional Centre for Expertise for Education in Sustainable Development, part of a global initia‐
tive of the United Nations University. Each year, it recognizes local organiza‐
tions for promoting innovative activi‐
ties in education for sustainable de‐
velopment. SENS was recognized for its contribution to sustainability edu‐
cation in the province. The U of S Sus‐
tainability Learning Community, the Office of Sustainability, and the Col‐
lege of Agriculture and Bioresources were also recognized. Charles Hopkins, York University pro‐
fessor, UNESCO chair and environ‐
mental education expert, opened the 8 awards by highlighting the importance of recognizing the recipients’ dedication to advancing sustainability in local commu‐
nities. “This is a beautiful example of communi‐
ties working together to educate and increase public awareness and under‐
standing of sustainability,” said Charles. “By continuing to work together on pro‐
jects such as these recognized today, a sustainable future is on the horizon.” Maureen Reed accepted the award on behalf of SENS and gave a short presenta‐
tion. She highlighted SENS programs, students, and initiatives such as the El‐
der‐in‐Residence visit and the Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve field trip. “It was very encouraging to see so many innovative and ground‐breaking sustain‐
ability initiatives recognized today. And, they are all happening in Saskatchewan,”
Acting Executive Director Maureen Reed receives SENS’ award of recognition from Lyle Benko, RCE Saskatchewan. said Dr. Reed. “SENS is thrilled to receive this recog‐
nition and is pleased to be honoured among the recipients.” Other projects receiving recognition included the Edible Campus Garden at the University of Regina, Riverstone Studios from Craik, and the Fruit For Thought urban fruit‐sharing project. To see the full list, visit www.saskrce.ca. School of Environment and Sustainability | University of Saskatchewan | Summer 2012
BOOK EXAMINES THE PROMISE OF COMMUNITY FORESTRY The new book Community Forestry: Local Values, Conflict, and Forest Governance is now out from Cambridge University Press. Co‐authored by SENS postdoctoral fellow Dr. Ryan Bullock and Dr. Kevin Hanna from Wilfrid Laurier University, the book examines local forest governance and community sustainability. Forestry management can be contentious – think Clayoquot Sound in the 1990s – and this book of‐
fers an examination of the potential of community forestry to address these types of issues, using examples from Canada, the United States, Finland, and Sweden. Dr. Ryan Bullock and the cover of his new book, co‐authored with Dr. Kevin Hanna. HYDROLOGY SPECIALIST JOINS SENS
On July 1, SENS welcomed world‐renowned isotope hydrology specialist, Jeffrey McDonnell, as its newest faculty member. Prior to joining SENS, Jeff was distin‐
guished professor of hydrology and Richardson Chair in watershed science at Ore‐
gon State University (OSU). His research specialties include watershed hydrology, runoff processes, and modelling and isotope hydrology. He was also the director of the Institute for Water and Watersheds at OSU and ran a lab dedicated to develop‐
ing new ways of measuring, understanding and predicting runoff generation. Jeff has been recognized for attracting high‐quality students and for providing excellent mentorship and graduate student supervision. He is the latest faculty hired through the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Water Security program, and is affiliated with the Global Institute for Water Security. THOUGHTS ON RIO + 20 – STEPHEN STEC VISITS SENS In mid‐April, Stephen Stec, Senior Re‐
searcher, Center for Environment and Security, Central European University and MESPOM scholar, visited the U of S cam‐
pus, spending some time at SENS, the College of Law, and the Johnson‐
Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy (JSGS). The U of S recently joined the MESPOM consortium of universities – this program, a Master’s in Environmen‐
tal Sciences, Policy and Management, is managed jointly by four universities in Europe and two in North America. As part of his visit, Mr. Stec delivered the SENS Earth Day Lecture, co‐sponsored by Law and JSGS. Entitled “Rio + 20: Choos‐
ing the Future We Want,” the presenta‐
tion outlined the complex process of poli‐
cy development used at the United Na‐
tions Conference on Sustainable Devel‐
opment, held in Rio in June. One hundred fifty heads of state attended the confer‐
ence. While the official outcomes spoke about the eradication of poverty and the pursuit of the green economy, non‐
governmental organizations were dissatis‐
fied with the results of the conference. Stephen Stec spoke about the Rio + 20 conference at the U of S in April. School of Environment and Sustainability | University of Saskatchewan | Summer 2012 9 AND THE WINNERS ARE … Perhaps not surprisingly, many SENS students are also avid photographers, documenting their environment with thought‐provoking images. The School’s first photo contest concluded recently; the winning photographs are shown here. Thank you to all the students and alumni who submitted entries, and congratulations to the winners. At left: Overall Winner and Winner in the Research and Student Life Category: Oral Histories at the Border, by Tobi Jeans, MES student. Tobi wrote that this photograph was “taken at the now abandoned Rampart House on the Porcupine River, Yukon Territory, just 50 feet from the US/Canada bor‐
der (Alaska). This is when Gwitchin Elder Donald Frost's memories of living at the Rampart House in the 1930's were brought to life.” Clockwise from above: Winner in the Sustainable Community Category: Salmon Counts on the Porcupine River, by Tobi Jeans – “Taken down river from Old Crow, Yukon Territory, local Vuntut Gwitchin youth participate in fish counts to aid in the sustainable management of an essential resource.” Winner in the Natural Environment Category: Kathleen Lake, Yukon Territory, by Dylan Beach, MES student. “Stand there too long and you will fall in love with the Yukon. Not a bad thing.” Winner in the Urban Environment Category: Saskatoon Vista, by Arcadio Viveros‐Guzman, PhD student. This photo reflects “nature being transformed.” UPCOMING EVENTS •
August 28 – September 14, 2012 – Laszlo Pinter, MESPOM Scholar visit •
September 5, 2012 – Orientation for new SENS students •
October 18 – 20, 2012 – Annual Institute – Society of Policy Scientists – Diefenbaker Building, U of S campus 10 School of Environment and Sustainability | University of Saskatchewan | Summer 2012