Sustainability Fellows span a wide range of disciplines and areas of expertise from architecture to poetry, and civil engineering to medicine. Meet some of the current fellows, and discover how they are pushing the boundaries of sustainability curriculum by learning about their Interdisciplinary Education projects.

 

PROJECT: SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS FIRST-YEAR CORE CURRICULUM: THE LAND ONE EXPERIENCE

 

LINDSAY CUFF

Applied Biology, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, and Forest Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry

Dr. Cuff is working with Dr. Athena McKown (Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry), Dr. Karen Taylor (Food and Resource Economics, Faculty of Land and Food Systems), and Dr. Fernanda Tomaselli (Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry) on a project called Sustainability Across First-Year Core Curriculum: The Land One Experience. The goal is to enhance four Land One courses to fully integrate sustainability topics into the program. The aim is to create new content and pedagogical innovations that will be shared among courses including an open online textbook exploring real-world case studies related to sustainability; joint lesson plans using interactive pedagogies to co-teach sustainability topics; assignments and reading lists on sustainability; writing prompts that stimulate interdisciplinary and holistic thinking; and redevelopment of an existing field trip to create a sustainability-focused experiential retreat.

 

athena mckown

Forest Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry

Dr. McKown is working with Dr. Lindsay Cuff (Applied Biology, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, and Forest Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry), Dr. Karen Taylor (Food and Resource Economics, Faculty of Land and Food Systems), and Dr. Fernanda Tomaselli (Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry) on a project called Sustainability Across First-Year Core Curriculum: The Land One Experience. The goal is to enhance four Land One courses to fully integrate sustainability topics into the program. The aim is to create new content and pedagogical innovations that will be shared among courses including an open online textbook exploring real-world case studies related to sustainability; joint lesson plans using interactive pedagogies to co-teach sustainability topics; assignments and reading lists on sustainability; writing prompts that stimulate interdisciplinary and holistic thinking; and redevelopment of an existing field trip to create a sustainability-focused experiential retreat. 

 

karen taylor

Food and Resource Economics, Faculty of Land and Food Systems

Dr. Taylor is working with Dr. Athena McKown (Forest Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry), Dr. Lindsay Cuff (Applied Biology, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, and Forest Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry), and Dr. Fernanda Tomaselli (Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry) on a project called Sustainability Across First-Year Core Curriculum: The Land One Experience. The goal is to enhance four Land One courses to fully integrate sustainability topics into the program. The aim is to create new content and pedagogical innovations that will be shared among courses including an open online textbook exploring real-world case studies related to sustainability; joint lesson plans using interactive pedagogies to co-teach sustainability topics; assignments and reading lists on sustainability; writing prompts that stimulate interdisciplinary and holistic thinking; and redevelopment of an existing field trip to create a sustainability-focused experiential retreat.

 

fernanda tomaselli

Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry

Dr. Tomaselli is working with Karen Taylor (Food and Resource Economics, Faculty of Land and Food Systems), Dr. Athena McKown (Forest Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry), and Dr. Lindsay Cuff (Applied Biology, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, and Forest Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry) on a project called Sustainability Across First-Year Core Curriculum: The Land One Experience. The goal is to enhance four Land One courses to fully integrate sustainability topics into the program. The aim is to create new content and pedagogical innovations that will be shared among courses including an open online textbook exploring real-world case studies related to sustainability; joint lesson plans using interactive pedagogies to co-teach sustainability topics; assignments and reading lists on sustainability; writing prompts that stimulate interdisciplinary and holistic thinking; and redevelopment of an existing field trip to create a sustainability-focused experiential retreat.

 

PROJECT: APPROACHES TO STEWARDING FORESTED FOODLANDS IN LÍL̓WAT FIRST NATION

 

rob vanwynsberghe

Educational Studies, Faculty of Education

Dr. VanWynsberghe is working with Dr. Tonya Smith (Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry) on a project called Approaches to Stewarding Forested Foodlands in Líl̓wat First Nation. The goal is to co-create an interdisciplinary summer course in Líl̓wat First Nation on the themes of Indigenous land-based pedagogies, food security and sovereignty, forest stewardship and restoration, Indigenous land rights and ecology. This course aims to provide experiential, place-based learning to prepare scholars for facing complex issues related to creating climate-just futures, as part of responding to the climate emergency.

 

tonya smith

Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry

Dr. Smith is working with Dr. Robert VanWynsberghe (Educational Studies, Faculty of Education) on a project called Approaches to Stewarding Forested Foodlands in Líl̓wat First Nation. The goal is to co-create an interdisciplinary summer course in Líl̓wat First Nation on the themes of Indigenous land-based pedagogies, food security and sovereignty, forest stewardship and restoration, Indigenous land rights and ecology. This course aims to provide experiential, place-based learning to prepare scholars for facing complex issues related to creating climate-just futures, as part of responding to the climate emergency.

 

PROJECT: CAMPUS DETOURS: LAYERED HISTORIES AND INSTITUTIONAL MEMORY AT UBC

 

sara jacobs

School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Applied Science

Dr. Jacobs is working with Dr. Desiree Valadares (Geography, Faculty of Arts) on a project called Campus Detours: Layered Histories and Institutional Memory at UBC.The goal is to develop a new graduate course in Geography (Faculty of Arts) and Landscape Architecture (SALA/Faculty of Applied Science) focused on the UBC Point Grey campus and University Endowment Lands. Drawing on critical university and critical sustainability studies, the project considers the dual role of the university as an educator and land developer.

 

desirée valadares

Geography, Faculty of Arts

Dr. Valadares is working with Dr. Sara Jacobs (School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Applied Science) on a project called Campus Detours: Layered Histories and Institutional Memory at UBC. The goal is to develop a new graduate course in Geography (Faculty of Arts) and Landscape Architecture (SALA/Faculty of Applied Science) focused on the UBC Point Grey campus and University Endowment Lands. Drawing on critical university and critical sustainability studies, the project considers the dual role of the university as educator and land developer.

 

PROJECT: ACCOUNTING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE: EXPANDING CIVIL ENGINEERING, WOOD SCIENCE AND ACCOUNTING COURSES FOR CLIMATE RELEVANCY BY ADDING CASE-BASED CARBON/SUSTAINABILITY ACCOUNTING COURSE MODULES

 

caren lombard

Finance Division, Sauder School of Business

Dr. Lombard is working with Dr. Tamara Etmannski (Civil Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science), and Dr. Qingshi Tu (Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry) on a project called Accounting for Climate Change: Expanding Civil Engineering, Wood Science and Accounting Courses for Climate Relevancy. The goal is to increase carbon/sustainability accounting literacy across commerce and engineering courses as well as in wood science courses, by adding modular content that expands beyond the traditional boundaries of financial accounting to also include concepts of sustainability accounting. Modular content in the form of case studies and interactive experiential learning exercises will cover climate reporting, embodied carbon calculations, life-cycle analysis (LCA) and carbon/GHG accounting (basic and advanced).

 

tamara etmannski

Civil Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science

Dr. Etmannski is working with Dr. Caren Lombard (Finance Division, Sauder School of Business) and Dr. Qingshi Tu (Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry) on a project called Accounting for Climate Change: Expanding Civil Engineering, Wood Science and Accounting Courses for Climate Relevancy. The goal is to increase carbon/sustainability accounting literacy across commerce and engineering courses as well as in wood science courses, by adding modular content that expands beyond the traditional boundaries of financial accounting to also include concepts of sustainability accounting. Modular content in the form of case studies and interactive experiential learning exercises will cover climate reporting, embodied carbon calculations, life-cycle analysis (LCA) and carbon/GHG accounting (basic and advanced).

 

qingshi tu

Wood Science, Faculty of Forestry

Dr. Tu is working with Dr. Tamara Etmannski (Civil Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science) and Dr. Caren Lombard (Finance Division, Sauder School of Business) on a project called Accounting for Climate Change: Expanding Civil Engineering, Wood Science and Accounting Courses for Climate Relevancy. The goal is to increase carbon/sustainability accounting literacy across commerce and engineering courses as well as in wood science courses, by adding modular content that expands beyond the traditional boundaries of financial accounting to also include concepts of sustainability accounting. Modular content in the form of case studies and interactive experiential learning exercises will cover climate reporting, embodied carbon calculations, life-cycle analysis (LCA) and carbon/GHG accounting (basic and advanced).

 

PROJECT: ENGINEERING CRITICAL DESIGN PRACTICE: ENGAGING ENGINEERING STUDENTS FOR RADICAL CHANGE

 

paul lusina

Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science

Dr. Lusina is working with Dr. Christoph Sielmann (Mechanical Engineering, Applied Science) and Dr. Angele Beausoleil, (Marketing & Behavioural Science Division, Sauder School of Business) on a project called Engineering Critical Design Practice: Engaging Engineering Students for Radical Change. The goal is to confront engineering students with the environmental and social implications of their profession. Through the modules that will be developed, students will internalize their ethical responsibilities and be able to incorporate these into every aspect of their engineering design practice. Module themes include Environmental and Social Ecosystems, Ethical Decision-making, Critical Engineering Design and Critical Hope.

 

christoph sielmann

Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science

Dr. Sielmann is working with Dr. Paul Lusina (Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science) and Dr. Angele Beausoleil, (Marketing & Behavioural Science Division, Sauder School of Business) on a project called Engineering Critical Design Practice: Engaging Engineering Students for Radical Change. The goal is to confront engineering students with the environmental and social implications of their profession. Through the modules that will be developed, students will internalize their ethical responsibilities and be able to incorporate these into every aspect of their engineering design practice. Module themes include Environmental and Social Ecosystems, Ethical Decision-making, Critical Engineering Design and Critical Hope. 

 

angele beausoleil

Marketing & Behavioural Science Division, Sauder School of Business

Dr. Beausoleil is working with Dr. Christoph Sielmann (Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science) and Dr. Paul Lusina (Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science) on a project called Engineering Critical Design Practice: Engaging Engineering Students for Radical Change. The goal is to confront engineering students with the environmental and social implications of their profession. Through the modules that will be developed, students will internalize their ethical responsibilities and be able to incorporate these into every aspect of their engineering design practice. Module themes include Environmental and Social Ecosystems, Ethical Decision-making, Critical Engineering Design and Critical Hope. 

 

PROJECT: BUILDING COMMUNITY IN SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION IN THE FACULTY OF ARTS

 

anne stewart

Coordinated Arts Program, Faculty of Arts

Dr. Stewart is working with Dr. David Tindall (Sociology, Faculty of Arts) and Dr. Moberley Luger (English Language and Literatures, and Coordinated Arts Program, Faculty of Arts) on a project called Building Community in Sustainability Education in the Faculty of Arts. The goal is to fill a structural need regarding interdisciplinary sustainability studies in the Faculty of Arts by connecting the Coordinated Arts Program and the Environment and Society Minor, two units in First Year and Interdisciplinary Programs, providing a coherent interdisciplinary pathway that students can follow throughout their BA program.

 

david tindall

Sociology, Faculty of Arts

Dr. Tindall is working with Dr. Anne Stewart (Coordinated Arts Program, Faculty of Arts) and Dr. Moberley Luger (English Language and Literatures, and Coordinated Arts Program, Faculty of Arts) on a project called Building Community in Sustainability Education in the Faculty of Arts. The goal is to fill a structural need regarding interdisciplinary sustainability studies in the Faculty of Arts by connecting the Coordinated Arts Program and the Environment and Society Minor, two units in First Year and Interdisciplinary Programs, providing a coherent interdisciplinary pathway that students can follow throughout their BA program.

 

Moberley Luger

English Language and Literatures, and Coordinated Arts Program, Faculty of Arts

Dr. Luger will be working with Dr. David Tindall (Sociology, Faculty of Arts) and Dr. Anne Stewart (Coordinated Arts Program, Faculty of Arts) on a project called Building Community in Sustainability Education in the Faculty of Arts. The goal is to fill a structural need regarding interdisciplinary sustainability studies in the Faculty of Arts by connecting the Coordinated Arts Program and the Environment and Society Minor, two units in First Year and Interdisciplinary Programs, providing a coherent interdisciplinary pathway that students can follow throughout their BA program.

 

PROJECT: THE SUSTAINABLE CITIES CERTIFICATE - A NEW UNDERGRADUATE ACCREDITATION PROGRAM FOR ASPIRING PRACADEMICS AND URBAN SUSTAINABILITY PROFESSIONALS

 

Melissa McHale

Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry

Dr. McHale is working with Dr. James Connolly (School of Community and Regional Planning, Faculty of Applied Science) on a project called The Sustainable Cities Certificate - A New Undergraduate Accreditation Program for Aspiring Pracademics and Urban Sustainability Professionals. The goal is to create an undergraduate certificate that helps students from various majors such as engineering, planning, architecture, forestry, and geography to work across disciplines and prepare for careers in fields like urban planning, urban hydrology, city forestry, and transportation engineering. It will focus on core sustainability principles, creating pracademics who apply scientific knowledge to urban solutions. 

 

james connolly

School of Community and Regional Planning, Faculty of Applied Science

Dr. Connolly is working with Dr. Melissa McHale (Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry) on a project called The Sustainable Cities Certificate - A New Undergraduate Accreditation Program for Aspiring Pracademics and Urban Sustainability Professionals. The goal is to create an undergraduate certificate that helps students from various majors such as engineering, planning, architecture, forestry, and geography to work across disciplines and prepare for careers in fields like urban planning, urban hydrology, city forestry, and transportation engineering. It will focus on core sustainability principles, creating pracademics who apply scientific knowledge to urban solutions.