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 to broaden 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…
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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
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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 communicate the 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.
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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 active in 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 resource systems, 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 on January 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
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build on our student-centred legacy to broaden 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.
stephen.murphy@uwaterloo.ca. 519-888-4567 x35616. Location: EV2 2034.
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