About the Faculty of Environment
Faculty of Environmental
Studies email newsletter
January 28, 2003 – Issue 4
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Studying sustainable mining
Simon Glauser, a graduate student in Environment and Resource Studies, is back on campus after a trip to southern Brazil to study sustainable mining.
"The focus of the research," says Glauser, "is on evaluating the current conditions of sustainability in the Coal Mining Region, located in the southern part of the State of Santa Catarina. Comparing the current biophysical, social, political, and economic conditions of the region to ideas of sustainability and sustainable mining provide a clearer picture of the necessary steps to be taken in order to improve the well-being of the overall region.
"Realities of the developing country, and more particularly of the coal mining region, present large obstacles for incorporating the ideas of sustainability into the management of the resource. However, this project attempts to provide a clear picture of the main barriers and opportunities that exist, and provide a better understanding of the necessary steps that need to be taken in order to move toward a sustainable mining system."
Glauser received funding from the Canadian International Development Agency for his research. "The CIDA grant gave me the chance to travel to Brazil for three months in order to complete my field research," Glauser writes. "It also gave me the chance to see the cultures, politics, and the economy of the region and the country in a clearer light." See some of Simon’s pictures of Brazil and of coal mining operations there.
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Views and lessons on Planning in Slovakia and Catalonia
Planning Professor Robert Shipley travelled to Slovakia in late December to talk about the Canadian experience with public participation in planning. Slovakia, a relatively small and newly independent country, is the eastern part of what used to be Czechoslovakia. Professor Shipley met members of the Club of Regional and Municipal Planners and members of the Institute for Regional and Municipal Development. Read more about planning in Slovakia, Catalonia, and Barcelona.
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Students consider village's future
Maryhill is a picturesque village set in a rolling pastoral landscape halfway between Kitchener and Guelph. According to growth projections, it will triple in size by 2040. How might this growth be accommodated without eroding the essential character and picturesque qualities of the village? In September, students from the School of Planning, led by professor Karen Hammond, set out to explore this question. Working in small teams, they examined the village's natural and cultural heritage, its current built form, and its social makeup. Based on their analysis and their understanding of "smart growth" principles, they developed nine future scenarios depicted in drawings and scale models. (Daily Bulletin – December 3)
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Enterprise Boot Camp seeks entrepreneurs
A workshop aimed at helping UW students and alumni find their way on the path to entrepreneurial success is accepting applications until February 15th.
The Enterprise Boot Camp, to be held April 28 to May 1, will help students and alumni to assess their technical and business skills and evaluate whether they might be ready and able to start their own ventures. It is open to students and alumni from any UW academic program. Participants will spend four days at intensive, hands-on workshops on campus. Professional speakers from UW and the local enterprise community will lead the workshops. You can register at special rate of $199 plus GST each, before Feb. 15. For details, call Renee Tremblay or Michelle Gilbert at (519) 888-4567, ext. 6065, or check http://innovate.uwaterloo.ca/bootcamp2003.htm
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Bringing home the gold “metal”
Congratulations to Andrew Lind, Anthony Round, and Ivan Ilic. The Architecture students beat 93 entries around the world to win the U.S. Metal Construction Association 2002 Student Design Competition. Students were challenged to design an outdoor band and performance pavilion by using metal construction components. An architectural firm developed specifications for the project and the Chicago Park District designated a site in Washington Park, on the city’s south side, to give the competition a real-life context. Pictures of the winning entries will be posted on the MCA Design Awards page. Cash prizes for the top three winners were awarded to the students, their advisors, and the School of Architecture.
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Co-op students still available
There are a number of the Faculty of Environment co-op students who are still looking for work terms for January to April. If you need a hand at work and can hire a student, please contact Co-operative Education and Career Services at 519-888-4026. There are many students from other areas, especially computer science, math, and engineering who are also looking for work term jobs.
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Upcoming alumni events
Alumni receptions and events are taking place in the next few weeks at the Canadian consulates in New York City and Boston, in Toronto (a special performance of the Laramie Project for Arts and the Faculty of Environment alumni), in London and Hamilton (pub nights), and in Waterloo (Fantastic Alumni and Staff Day at the PAC). Visit the Office of Alumni Affairs website for details.
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Alumni news
Devon Hutchinson and Allison Wells graduated from Environment and Resource Studies in June and have just become two of UW’s newest employees. Devon has been hired an admissions specialist for the Faculty of Engineering. She will travel to high schools in the fall to promote all UW programs and then assist with the Engineering admissions process in the winter. Allison has been hired by the School of Accountancy to promote the new Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management program within the Faculty of Arts.
Steve MacDonald
(BES ’01, Planning) sends word that in the fall of 2001, he was hired
by 
Queen’s
University as a Development Officer in the Annual Giving Office, part of the
Office of Advancement. “For approximately one year my duties were divided
between visiting Queen's alumni and asking them for annual donations, and
working with classes on class-giving initiatives (this was done primarily
with reunion year classes). Currently, I am beginning to work in a new position
where I will be in charge planning and executing the strategies for raising
maximum charitable revenues from alumni through major alumni mailing programs
(Faculty and Annual Fund mailings). I will also coordinate all other direct
mail programs in Annual Giving, such as mailings for class-giving initiatives,
sports teams, and other groups/departments. I'm very excited to be moving
into the communications facet of university fundraising!”
Veronica Tam (BES '87, Planning) has just been promoted to Principal at Cotton/Bridges/Associates, an urban and environmental planning firm with offices throughout California. She has also been elected Vice President of Professional Development for the California Chapter of the American Planning Association. Last Year, she accepted a five-year appointment to serve on the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Examination Committee.
Jeff Edward (BES '92, ERS) and Karen Edward (Queen's BNSc. '92) have settled back into Ontario after stints in Brazil and Calgary. Alec Edward was born in May 2001 and a player to be named later is expected in May 2003. Jeff has been working in various start up organizations in the telecom industry establishing Customer Service departments both internationally and within Canada.
Patrick Quealey completed his BES in Honours Co-op Environment and Resource Studies in 2002 with an international studies option and a peace and conflict studies minor. He is currently working as a policy analyst for Environment Canada, examining the international aspects of global climate change. Patrick has had a wealth of previous experience with a term at the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC, and his participation as part of the Canadian Delegation to the COP 6 II, United Nations climate conference. Patrick hopes to remain in his current position, and is considering pursuing a Master’s degree at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
James Booth (BES '02, Geography) says that after graduating in June 2002, he decided to continue his studies with a one year post-graduate certificate in the GIS-Cartographic Specialist program at Sir Sandford Fleming College. “Hello to all of you I haven't spoken to for a long time!”
Todd Pokrywa (BES '95, Planning) is in his second week of work as Vice President of Planning for Lakewood Ranch, a planned community on the west coast of Florida. He will be responsible for all liaison with local governments and agencies and will play an important role in the continuing development of the master plan. Todd was previously the Planning and Zoning Manager at the Sunterra Corporation (a worldwide resort developer).
If you are an Faculty of Environment graduate, why not share your news with fellow alumni! Share your news with us at www.environment.uwaterloo.ca/faculty/newsletter/news.html
