Sustainable Development Teaching and Research

1. Sustainable DevelopmentTeaching and Research David Gauthier Professor of Geography and Executive Director, Canadian Plains Research Center Tel.: 585-4758 Fax: 585-4699 Email: David.Gauthier@uregina.ca

7. Examples of University-Affiliated Sustainability Research Initiatives Sustainability Communities Initiative (SCI): University of Victoria Sustainable Development Research Initiative, UBC TCPL International Institute for Resources Industries and Sustainability Studies , University of Calgary Sustainability Reporting Program (SRP): York University York Centre for Applied Sustainability (YCAS): York University Environment and Sustainable Development Research Centre (ESDRC), University of New Brunswick

8. University of Regina Examples of Courses Related to Sustainable Development

10. Institutional and organizational behaviour as a component of sustainable development – undergraduate courses from the Faculty of Administration, e.g. Admin 306: Ethical Issues in Business, Admin 307: Legal Institutions and Processes, Admin 344: The Planning and Evaluation of Public Policy, Admin 441: Public Policies for Northern Development. Examples of graduate courses: Administration 830: Social Issues in Business, Administration 835: International Business. University of Calgary's Haskayne School of Business offers various programs in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development. MBA with a specialization in Global Energy Management and Sustainable Development (GEMS) . MBA with a specialization in Environmental Management/Sustainable Development . PhD in Management with a focus on Environmental Management/Sustainable Development. Interdisciplinary MSc in Energy and the Environment for Latin America & the Caribbean (U of C/OLADE), in Quito, Ecuador and Couva, Trinidad and Tobago. Interdisciplinary MA/MSc (thesis-based) in Resources and Environment Graduate Program.

11. The way that people perceive and express their environment as a component of sustainable development – Fine Arts, e.g. Arth 324: Canadian Art and Cultural Identity, Arth 372: Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Painting. Resource and Environmental Studies Degree Program - The First Nations University of Canada, the University of Regina and SIAST

12. University of Regina Research Emphases Culture and Heritage Energy and the Environment Informatics Health Social Justice University of Regina Research Chairs Public policy and economic history – Dr. Gregory Marchildon (Administration) Social Justice - Dr. Shadia Drury (Political Science) Energy and Environment - Dr. Guo (Gordon) Huang (Engineering) Environmental Change and Society - Dr. Peter Leavitt (Biology)

13. Research Centres and Institutes • Canadian Institute for Peace, Justice and Security • Canadian Plains Research Center • Centre for International Education & Training • Centre for Sustainable Communities • Centre on Aging and Health • Dr. Paul Schwann Applied Health and Research Centre • Humanities Research Institute • Indigenous Peoples Health Research Centre (IPHRC) • Sample Survey and Data Bank Unit • Saskatchewan Instructional Development and Research Unit • Saskatchewan Institute of Public Policy • Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit • Social Policy Research Unit

14. The International Test Centre on CO2 Capture in partnership with the • International Energy Agency, SaskPower, TransAlta, EnCana Energy Ltd, • Nexen Energy, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Governments of • Canada, Alberta and Saskatchewan; • • The Greenhouse Gas Technology Centre in partnership with Saskatchewan • Industry and Resources and Natural Resources Canada; • • The Petroleum Technology Research Centre in partnership with the • Saskatchewan Research Council, Natural Resources Canada and a number • of industry partners including Nexen Energy, Petrovera, Husky Oil, • TransGas Ltd, and Dakota Gasification Company; • • The Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative in partnership with the • Governments of Canada, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the • Saskatchewan Research Council, and the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation • Administration; • • Saskatchewan Population Health and Evaluation Research Unit with the • Saskatchewan Regional Health Authorities, University of Saskatchewan, • Saskatchewan Health Services Utilization and Research Commission • and Government of Saskatchewan; • • Indigenous Peoples Health Research Centre is supported by the • Aboriginal Capacity and Development Research Environments (ACADRE); • Centre for Sustainable Communities in partnership with the City of Regina, • the National Research Council, and the Regina Regional Economic • Development Authority

15. Examples of University of Regina Research Related to Sustainable Development • Administration – Aboriginal Communities and Sustainable Rural Development • Arts – Institutional Adaptations to Climate Change • Arts - TERRA (The Environmental Research and Response Applications Lab) • Engineering – Energy and Environmental Research Laboratory • Education – Enhancing Awareness and Understanding of Climate Change in Saskatchewan • Engineering – Regional Scale Climate Change • Kinesiology and Health – Health Impacts of Organizational Practices in Saskatchewan • Luther College – Sustainable Forest Management • ORS-PARC – Understanding the Impacts of Climate Change • Science – Atmospheric Transport Studies of Insecticides and Herbicides • Science – Green Chemistry Conference • Science – Laboratory of Environmental Change and Society • Science – Transportation and Accumulation of Potential Toxic Metals • A cross-cultural study of health care decision-making: culture, ethics, and religion • Population health determinants • Social cohesion and rural sustainability • Weyburn CO2 monitoring project • Hydrogen fuel research • Sustainable Agriculture in Western Canada: Planning for Droughts Using the Past

16. University Presidents’ Workshop: Learning and Sustainability The universities have the necessary capacity to develop the intellectual framework to support practical applications of sustainable development concepts. Academic leaders have the capability to convene academic disciplines on large, complex issues, mobilize resources, create incentives and programs for faculty development and, most importantly, to lead by example, thereby moving their institutions toward interdisciplinary teaching and research. Universities can show leadership through innovation in curriculum design and pedagogy and faculty development. Universities can expand their scope through outreach and partnerships for sustainable development. By minimizing their own impact on the environment, universities can lead by example through ecologically sound institutional policies and practices. Universities can generate funds to further interdisciplinary research and teaching efforts. Universities can show leadership in stimulating debate that involves the environment and the economy, not one to the exclusion of the other.

17. Organizational Structure Organizational structure refers both to disciplines as they are organized and to the allocation of space. The discipline-centred structure of universities is a challenge for moving towards sustainable development. Visible top-down leadership encouraging a supportive climate for identifying, advancing and implementing solutions and mirrored by grass-roots support. Senior leadership in university must be visible, including acting as champions within individual faculties. Deans can create and maintain a supportive climate and encourage faculty buy-in in terms of grass-roots spontaneous actions. Organize graduate departments along research and teaching theme lines as distinct from traditional organizational structures. Renovate existing spaces in older buildings and make use of downtown areas rather than building new structures as a more sustainable means of increasing space, e.g. Harbour City Centre Campus of Simon Fraser University.

18. Resource Issues Universities should seek large increases in the funding of interdisciplinary environmental research and teaching from non-traditional sources. Research funds are often earmarked for traditional disciplines, which results in the continuing compartmentalization of problems and solutions. Establish a proactive office of research to identify opportunities for cross-disciplinary research and funding from alternative sources such as foundations or the private sector. Create private sector spin-offs of sustainable technologies that will increase employment, provide research jobs for students, and generate income. Increased collaboration among universities on sustainable development research activities. Establish cooperative programs on sustainable development themes and private sector apprenticeships. These initiatives would allow students to get concrete work experiences related to sustainability as part of their education. Student exchanges among institutions in Canada to further expand students' learning experiences and to give them an understanding of sustainable development. Institute a surcharge on tuition to generate funds for specific teaching and research projects that focus on sustainable development, e.g. UBC.

19. Recognition for Interdisciplinary Teaching and Research Policy support from the administration to recognize the value of outreach, partnerships and collaborative work when evaluating tenure and promotion. Cross-appointments for faculty members. Granting Councils can be encouraged to value interdisciplinary teaching and research. Funding agencies can demonstrate leadership by encouraging more applied research that addresses real world problems in the community where the university is located, that is, building on local needs and expertise. Universities can foster support for interdisciplinarity and sustainable development by requiring interdisciplinary team projects and research from students and faculty. Universities can examine their internal reward system and remove disincentives. Staff reward committees with individuals experienced in interdisciplinary work and outside experts.