sustaining our institutional future caring for our planet

Caring For Our Planet:

By Leading, Educating and Researching in Environmental Stewardship, Climate Change and Sustainability

Goal: Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability are Signature Institutional Features of Acadia University

• The public EV charging station prominently located at the entrance to Acadia’s athletic complex is an important feature of Canada’s sustainable transportation infrastructure and represents the only “filling station” within the limits of the Town of Wolfville.

• Acadia was the first university in Canada to sign the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Accord. Acadia is now committed to aligning its activities with the SDG, cooperating with other signatories, and reporting annually on its progress.

• In September 2022, Acadia became the first university in Canada to achieve Organic Campus designation from the Canada Organic Trade Association. The new Organic Campus program will help Acadia its commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, namely Goal 12, Responsible Consumption and Production.

Goal: Make Measurable Progress and Establish a Target Date for Achieving Net Carbon Neutrality

• Since Acadia’s base year of 2005/06, Greenhouse Gas Emissions have fallen by 40% in 2020/2021 to 16,088 tonnes of eCO2 from all sources. In addition, but not necessarily related to achieving carbon neutrality, Acadia’s water consumption continues to fall. In 2021/22, water consumption was at it lowest level ever with the exception of 2020/21 when the university was effectively closed for several months during the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Revitalizing Our Academic Core: Through Compelling and Impactful Programs, Experiential Learning and Inspired Teaching to Prepare Graduates for 21st Century Careers

Goal: Embrace The 21st Century Liberal Education Model That is Central to Acadia’s Mission

• Acadia’s new Master of Science in Environmental Science reflects the interdisciplinary environmental research many Acadia students undertake under the guidance of leading environmental scientists at Acadia such as Dr. Nelson O’Driscoll, Dr. Ian Spooner, and Dr. Rob Raeside.

• Led by Dr. Mark Mallory, Acadia continues to be involved in multi-stakeholder research into environmental contaminants found in Arctic seabirds harvested in Nunavut. Collaborating with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Nunavut Arctic College, and Nunavut communities, and Inuit hunters Acadia students receive hands-on experience in answering some of the most pressing problems with respect to environment impact in the Arctic.

• The new Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership, supported by a $2 million gift from the Jarislowsky Foundation, will assist in the development of an innovative program of scholarship (teaching, research, and experiential learning) that will provide a deep learning experience for students interested in politics, ethics, government and public service.

Goal: Enhanced Support For Teaching and Learning Excellence

• Dr. Lesley Frank and Dr. Emily Bremer are Acadia’s newest Tier II Canada Research Chairs. Dr. Frank’s interest in food security was recently highlighted with the release of her book Out of Milk: Infant Food Insecurity in a Rich Nation, which explores why women who can least afford to buy formula for their babies are also the least likely to breast feed. Dr. Bremer’s work will build on the exceptional work already underway at Acadia such as the Sensory Motor Instructional Leadership Experience (S.M.I.L.E.) program.

• Acadia remains in the Top 50 research universities according to the annual rankings issued by Research Infosource Inc. and is fourth in Canada among primarily undergraduate universities.

Maximizing Our Impact Regionally and Globally: Through Engaged Research, Innovation, and Collaborative Initiatives for Community Cultural and Economic Development

Goal: New Partnerships and Collaborations to Drive Regional Development and Educational Opportunities

• Partnering with the Glooscap First Nation, Acadia’s Indigenous Speakers Series is an on-line resource for faculty and students to learn more about Mi’kmaq traditional knowledge opening pathways toward truth and reconciliation.

• Acadia’s founding partnership in the Canadian Alliance for Skills and Training in Life Sciences (CASTL) creates opportunities for Acadia students to be the next generation of highly skilled bioscience and technology professionals so desperately needed to fill vacancies in the bioscience sector. Acadia is one of ten academic and industry partners located in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island who have come together to form CASTL.

• The Town of Wolfville Partnership Agreement aims to create a mutually beneficial municipal/university relationship that is not only unique in Canada but can serve as a model elsewhere.

• Glooscap MOU with Acadia to partner with four regional Mi’kmaq communities.

Goal: Leadership and Impact in Environmental, Rural and Coastal Research and Innovation

• Dr. Sandra Barr was named the 2022 recipient of the Bancroft Award by the Royal Society of Canada for publication, instruction and research in the Earth sciences that have conspicuously contributed to public understanding and appreciation of the subject.

• Dr. Nelson O’Driscoll was awarded the Maine Council on the Marine Environment 2022 Visionary Award for his innovation, creativity and commitment to protecting the marine environment through his research into the movement of mercury in the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine.

Goal: Acadia’s Research is Impactful Regionally, Nationally and Globally

• Dr. Sandra Barr was inducted into the Nova Scotia Science Hall of Fame as a pre-eminent, internationally acclaimed geoscientist with over 100 thesis students and more than 170 refereed papers who has mapped nearly one-half of Nova Scotia ad a substantial portion of New Brunswick.

• Dr. Rob Raeside was named the 2021 recipient of the J. Willis Ambrose Medal by the Geological Association of Canada for his tireless service to Canada’s geoscience community.

• Acadia Music Department members Derek Charke, Eugene Cormier, and Peter Togni were nominees for 2022 East Coast Music Awards. These nominations build upon previous ECMA and JUNO nominations and awards for each of them.

• Leah Creaser (’21), honours biology student and president of the Indigenous Student Society of Acadia was awarded a prestigious 3M National Student Fellowship in 2021 to pursue her studies in fish biology using the two-eyed seeing perspective. Leah created a first-year biology lab incorporating Mi’kmaq Traditional Knowledge that is now a required first-year lab.

• Julia Baak (’21) was awarded a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship to pursue her Arctic seabird PhD research at McGill. Julia’s research will require collaborating with several Arctic countries and numerous Canadian agencies, organizations, and communities. At Acadia, Julia received the Outstanding Master’s Research Award and the Governor Generals Gold Medal. Shew as cosupervised at Acadia by Dr. Mark Mallory.

Sustaining Our Institutional Future: Through Optimizing Enrolment, Fundraising and Campus Infrastructure Renewal