2015
IES Annual Report
Improving environmental sustainability through scholarship that integrates diverse academic disciplines, student learning and community engagement
A Message from the Director
Dr. Michael Quinn Compiling annual reports is always an exciting way to look back over the accomplishments of another year. The Institute for Environmental Sustainability (IES) has been very busy throughout the reporting period. I hope you will read through this report to learn more about the valuable work we are doing at the IES and MRU. If you are interested in more information, I invite you to visit the Web site: www.mtroyal.ca/ies. There are a few activities that I would like to highlight at the outset to illustrate the breadth and depth of the work being conducted through the IES. First, we were a key sponsor and participant in the third Under Western Skies Conference held at MRU in September 2014. Despite occurring during the worst ever September snowstorm, the conference was a huge success. The IES was instrumental in bringing Justice Thomas Berger as a keynote speaker and arranging for the dynamic and interactive ‘Thunder in our Voices’ exhibition on the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline hearings of the 1970s. We also coordinated efforts with the Miistakis Institute to offer a parallel 2-day workshop on citizen science and sponsored the closing event to honour Dr. David Schindler. We are already well into the planning process for Under Western Skies IV to be held at MRU in fall 2016. The IES was the lead organization for a national project funded by the Canadian Water Network to examine information gaps and approaches associated with the landscape effects of hydraulic fracturing. This work resulted in a comprehensive report authored by 17 researchers from across the country, including 5 from MRU. This is one of five reports that will be officially released in fall 2015. Related work is being continued by two Post Doctoral Fellows at the IES and ongoing work by MRU faculty and students. This year we strengthened and expanded our bi-weekly seminar series. Attendance and interest continues to grow across campus. We also held our annual Earth Day public lecture with guest speaker Edward Burtynsky, drawing an audience of over 500 to hear about water and environmental photography.
2
2015 Annual Report
The Parks and Protected Areas Research Group, under the direction of Barb McNicol, held two meetings with researchers and practitioners from across the region. This is another promising area of research and practice for the IES. Mount Royal University faculty and students were supported through grants and employment opportunities across the curriculum. Most of these projects are described in the report that follows. The IES makes a strong contribution at enhancing the experiential learning environment for MRU undergraduates. Finally, we are very fortunate to have enlisted the participation of an advisory committee comprised of industry leaders and non-government agencies. The committee is already engaged in helping explore the feasibility of a professional development program in environmental sustainability. This report marks the end of my role as Director of the IES. I have very much enjoyed working with faculty, staff and students at Mount Royal University to launch this great initiative. I am also very excited to announce that Dr. Connie Van der Byl has taken over as director effective July 1, 2015. Connie brings a wealth of enthusiasm and relevant experience to the role and I know that she will continue to build and expand the activities of the Institute. I will continue to hold the Talisman Energy Chair in Environmental Sustainability in my new role as Associate Vice President - Research, Scholarship and Community Engagement at MRU.
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
3
Table of Contents Message from the Director
2
Message from the Incoming Director
5
About the Institute
6
Scholarship
8
Externally Sponsored Research
8
IES Research Grants
12
IES Summer Research Assistants
24
Parks and Protected Areas Research Group
25 26
Learning
4
2015 Annual Report
Student Engagement & Support
26
Professional Development
28
New Course Development
30
Community Engagement
32
IES Seminar Series
32
WATER with Edward Burtynsky
34
Special Events
36
Under Western Skies Conference Series
38
IES Team
40
Financial Statement
42
Annual Highlights
43
Publications and Presentations
44
A Message from the Incoming Director
Dr. Connie Van der Byl It is my distinct pleasure to take on the role of Director of the Institute for Environmental Sustainability. I look forward to sustaining and expanding the tremendous work that Mike and his team have accomplished to date. Many exciting initiatives are planned for the year ahead including continued support of research in environmental sustainability, our successful speaker series, the launch of a new website with even more interesting sustainability news, enhanced student and community engagement, and the development of programs and a certification in sustainability. Our marquis event this year will feature renowned author Naomi Klein on March 10, 2016. Environmental sustainability continues to be a critical issue in business, politics and society in general and we see a valuable role for IES. It is our goal that the Institute continues to facilitate collaborations between MRU faculty, students and external partners in both research and discussions of important environmental sustainability issues.
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
5
About the Institute The institute for Environmental Sustainability (IES) was established in January 2013 with the support of generous gifts from Encana and Talisman Energy. The Institute’s mission is to improve environmental health and sustainability through scholarship that integrates diverse academic disciplines, student learning and community engagement.
A Forum for Collaboration The IES is a forum where faculty, students and other stakeholders come together to build knowledge and develop viable solutions that will contribute to the overall welfare and security of society. The Institute strengthens, coordinates and facilitates collaborative research and other scholarly, artistic and academic activities which are not undertaken within Mount Royal’s departmental structure.
6
2015 Annual Report
Enhance Undergraduate Opportunities The academic activities of the IES are geared to providing maximal benefits for Mount Royal students. The increase in research activity as the Institute grows will provide many additional opportunities for students to experience primary research directly supervised by IES investigators. This will occur mainly through summer research opportunities, independent study research project courses and honours research projects. Due to the nature of the work on environmental sustainability, most research students will also have the opportunity to interact with communities and organizations, and thus begin to build the interpersonal networks that are so critical to career success.
Across the Disciplines Research in the IES builds upon established expertise in applied environmental science, addressing practical goals such as improving water quality, mitigating the environmental impact of fossil fuel extraction, and restoring damaged environments. In addition, scholarship in the IES explores economic, cultural and societal issues that are often overshadowed by the “hard� science, but equally critical to achieving environmental sustainability.
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
7
Scholarship “Overall, my experience as a research assistant within the IES was extremely valuable. It allowed me to explore research and not only use my existing skills, but form new ones. As a student in business, this opportunity gave me different perspective and insights. I gained a high appreciation for sustainability and realized research in this area is something I enjoy and am passionate about. I may not have realized this through my business degree courses alone. The paper I wrote for this project was accepted to Mount Royal University student research days as a presentation and also to the 2015 ASAC conference in Halifax.” Miranda Mountain, BBA Human Resources 2015, Research Associated to the CWN project
Externally Sponsored Research Landscape Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing Development and Operations on Surface Water and Watersheds. Prepared for the Canadian Water Network (CWN) and the IES. Research Team: Quinn, M.S., M.E. Tyler, E. Ajaero, J. Arvai, M. Carlson, I. Dunmade, S. Hill, J. McCallum, D. McMartin, D. Megson, G. O’Sullivan, R. Parks, D. Poulton, B. Stelfox, J. Stewart, C. Serralde Monreal, S. Tomblin, C. Van der Byl. 2015 Beginning in April of 2014, IES supported a team of researchers led by Dr. Michael Quinn, IES Director, and Dr. Mary Ellen Tyler, Associate Professor of Environmental Design at the University of Calgary, that considered knowledge integration and research opportunities to address landscape impacts of hydraulic fracturing development and operations on surface water and watersheds. This research study was one of five projects funded by the Canadian Water Network (CWN) as part of their Hydraulic Fracturing program.
8
2015 Annual Report
IES provided a unique opportunity for researchers to visit and tour both a hydraulic fracturing site and a stakeholder ranch. This experience gave researchers a greater appreciation for the topic of study and enabled understanding of the complexity of associated issues.
The five projects were designed to examine the priority knowledge gaps of decision makers in Canada, and to assess the various research approaches that could be used to address them. The IES supported team was made up of researchers from across Canada including Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Trent University in Ontario, the University of Calgary and a number of Mount Royal University faculty. A theme that emerged in all chapters of the report was the variability in physical, social and regulatory conditions that exist across the country requiring flexibility in approach. Generally, the team was struck by the complexity of the issues and by the need for better integration and coordination in approaches to address knowledge gaps, particularly the need to move away from silos and the polarization of social and natural science perspectives. To that end, there is a need for more frameworks or processes for effective collaboration between academia and the industry. A move in that direction could help address issues of public acceptance. The full CWN report including material from all five research projects is targeted for public release in the first week of October, 2015.
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
9
The Place of Parks and Nature at End-of-Life Principal Investigators: Dr. Sonya Jakubec (School of Nursing and Midwifery) Dr. Don Carruthers Den Hoed (School of Nursing and Midwifery) Other MRU Collaborators: Dr. Heather Ray Dr. Michael Quinn Parks and nature are known to influence quality of life in a number of different ways, but little is known about the role of parks and nature for those experiencing the end-of-life or for their caregivers. Researchers with Mount Royal University’s Institute for Environmental Sustainability, funded by the Alberta Parks Research Fund, are exploring views and beliefs on this topic. Anyone who is at the end-of-life, or receiving palliative care, as well as any caregivers or family members of loved ones who have experienced the endof-life, were invited to share their views in a short online survey. Respondents were also asked if they were interested in being interviewed about the topic.
Water Extraction and Use in Hydraulic Fracturing Operations Principal Investigator: Dr. Carlos Serralde (Institute for Environmental Sustainability) Carlos Serralde co-authored Chapter 5 on the Canadian Water Network research project, “Water Extraction and Use.” Among the topics covered in this section were reviews of literature and emerging technologies/practices for the reduction of fresh water use in hydraulic fracturing operations and definition of knowledge gaps. Carlos is continuing this work as Post Doctoral Fellow through the Institute and MRU.
10
2015 Annual Report
Groundwater-Surface Water Interaction Under the Effects of Hydraulic Fracturing Principal Investigator: Dr. Gopal Saha (Institute for Environmental Sustainability) Gopal Saha is investigating groundwater-surface water interaction under the effects of hydraulic fracturing and its associated activities (i.e. construction of roads, well pads, pipelines, seismic lines, and power transmission lines) in northwestern Alberta. His current research will quantify how the combined effects of water withdrawals for hydraulic fracturing and development of its associated activities affect monthly, seasonal, and annual groundwater discharges, surface water flows (i.e. stream flow), groundwater levels, and groundwater contributions to stream flow using a hydrologic model (MIKE-SHE) and also a land-use simulator model (ALCES).
Understanding User Motivations, Knowledge, and Service Expectations in an Urban Provincial Park, and Building a Foundation for Evaluating Public Engagement with Alberta Parks Principal Investigators:
Dr. Michael Quinn; Dr. Don Carruthers Den Hoed and Travis Sjvold (Alberta Parks - Kananaskis Country) The three research investigators have been awarded a grant from the Alberta Parks Research Enhancement Fund to conduct a project in Fish Creek Provincial Park. The project will develop and implement a survey to address questions about who is coming to the park, what brings them to the park, and how they access it. The survey will also determine if visitors know they are in a Provincial Park when they attend Fish Creek – and what that might mean to them. Further elements of the survey will explore levels of awareness of services offered by Alberta Parks, and what visitors expect and want out of the parks. Furthermore, as a foundational study, the researchers will consider: “What research methods are effective in understanding these users? What questions help inform management decisions?”
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
11
IES Research Grants The IES provides research funding on a competitive basis to MRU researchers pursuing projects with an environmental sustainability focus. For more information about these projects, visit the research section of the IES website: www.mtroyal.ca/ies/IES_SUPPORTED_PROJECTS
12
2015 Annual Report
Completed Projects Contributions to Ecosystem Health Assessments in Calgary’s Urban Natural Areas Through Technology-enabled Citizen Science Principle Investigator: Dr. Lynn Moorman (Earth and Environmental Sciences) Dr. Dorothy Hill (Biology) Undergraduate Research Assistants: Alice Liboiron Jessica Paquette Kendra Garbutt Based on a needs analysis with City of Calgary personnel, an application was developed to aid in monitoring the health of ecosystems within natural area parks. Further discussions with the City of Calgary led to the development of the HabitAPP - a Disturbance App, which allows citizens to directly upload georeferenced park incursion observations. The app was delivered to the partners at the City of Calgary.
“This IES grant has enabled us to provide three MRU students with meaningful, career-related work experience, as well as engage the Biology 2213 students in this research project. This spring (2015) we will deliver the HabitAPP (disturbance app) to our community partners at the City of Calgary.” – Dr. Dorothy Hill
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
13
Transformative Learning Experience of Participants in Cross-Cultural Management: Empirical Study on Students’ Conceptualization of Intercultural Business Environment Principal Investigator: Anna Korwin-Kowalewska (International Business) Undergraduate Research Assistant: Kenton Marshall This project was initially developed around participants’ learning experiences, but it grew within a broader framework that could be described as the intersection of intercultural learning and environmental sustainability. In this context, socio-cultural and natural environment are approached holistically. Research participants were interviewed about specific issues that have strong impacts on International Business, such as ethics, and the meaning of natural environment across cultures.
A Study on the Potential Climate Change Impact of Commuting to Mount Royal University Principle Investigator: Dr. Israel Dunmade (Earth and Environmental Science) Undergraduate Research Assistants: Braden Etzerza, Stephanie Bayancela, Lindsay Devison, Wigdan Elmardi, Amas Egbe, Liam Turley, Spirit River Striped Wolf, Phoenix Prince, Ifedola King, Larissa Jimenez, Rosario Rivera Barrantes Campus commuting is one of the processes that generate unwanted environmental releases that affect human health and the environment. This study examined various factors affecting MRU commuting and its potential climate change impact.
14
2015 Annual Report
Geological Bumble Bee Program Principal Investigator: Dr. Katherine Boggs (Earth and Environmental Science) The Geological Bumble Bee Program is designed to provide elementary students with the complete research experience with a series of hands-on activities designed to empower the students as citizen scientists. In June 2015, 150 students from grades 3 and 4 attended the first annual conference where they presented their projects and participated in science activities.
Found in Alberta: Environmental Themes for the Anthropocene Principal Investigator: Dr. Robert Boschman (English) Dr. Mario Trono (English) IES provided subvention funding for the publication of the book, Found in Alberta: Environmental Themes for the Anthropocene. The book is now published and in circulation, from Wilfrid Laurier University Press.
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
15
“The funding for this project was invaluable to me for making huge steps forward in my scholarship both in connections to other scientists and in publications. I was very grateful to get the funding and I have at least two, but likely three more publications that will come from it, so this has been by far my most successful project.� - Dr. Sarah Hewitt
Field Report: Telling the Stories of Science from the Ground Level Principle Investigator: Dr. Sarah Hewitt (Earth and Environmental Science) Sarah Hewitt is a freelance science reporter who travels with scientists in the field to tell their stories to the general public through a variety of mediums written, audio, and photography. The goal is to make science, the researchers, and their stories more accessible to a general audience.
16
2015 Annual Report
The Effects and Implications of Environmental Disasters on the Family and Communities, and Ensuring Environmental and Social Sustainability: Communicating, Coping, and Caring Among Families Impacted by the 2013 High River Principal Investigator: Dr. Caroline Harker (Sociology) Dr. Tim Haney (Sociology) Undergraduate Research Assistants: Alexander Christison, Emilie Bassi, Imogene Roulson, Zachary Cox, Sylvia Ulatowski, Kathryn Wells, Kaylea Schwengler This research study examines the social effects of environmental disasters, particularly in relation to individual and societal coping strategies. The study looks at assistance programs, flood prevention strategies, and environmental and social sustainability issues of the High River area following the 2013 Alberta flood. The goal of this research is to assist communities who have experienced, or may experience environmental disasters in order to best prepare for, respond to, and cope from a social and environmental standpoint.
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
17
On-going Projects Crowd-sourced Monetization of Environmental Risk: Frontier Market Sovereign Debt 2 year study Principal Investigator: Dr. Allan Dwyer (Business) Undergraduate Research Assistants: Sohail Shakeel, Nicole Pepin, Sariah Seaborne, Caroline Fyvie Frontier markets are the smallest and least developed of the emerging market nations and include such issuers as Nigeria and Pakistan. This interdisciplinary project will analyze the prospectus documents of all the Eurobonds contained in the JP Morgan NEXGEM Index. This information will be triangulated against media reports of environmental crisis in the nations in question as well as the bond market performance (daily) of the bonds of the 29 countries in question.
The Alberta Oil Sands: A Critical Exploration of Sustainability Metaphors in Industry, Government, Not-for-profit and Media Principal Investigator: Dr. Amanda Williams (Journalism) Janice Paskey (Journalism) Undergraduate Research Assistant: Megan Berry The primary focus of this joint research project was to investigate the following research question: how are the mass media and other discursive communities (business, not-for-profit, and government) understanding and experiencing the Alberta oil sands via different sustainability metaphors from 2008 until the present year.
18
2015 Annual Report
Photo of Kylie Roberston
Water Sustainability Curriculum Project Principal Investigator: Janice Paskey (Journalism) Terry Field (Journalism) Undergraduate Research Assistants: Zoe Choy, Alex Werier The project involved researching water journalism curriculum, undertaking a literature review of academic articles about environmental journalism and curriculum, piloting water journalism assignments with MRU journalism students, and producing a Wordpress site dedicated to Water issues in Alberta that can be used by journalism students and professors.
Geospatial Citizen Science for Sustainable Management and Monitoring of Ecosystems and Wildlife Populations Principal Investigator: Dr. Dorothy Hill (Biology) Dr. Lynn Moorman (Earth and Environmental Sciences) Undergraduate Research Assistants: Alice Liboiron, Kendra Garbutt The project aim was to develop a data collection application for the Mountain Bluebird Trails Conservation Society (MBTCS) using Esri’s GIS-based collection tool, Collector App. For almost 30 years, MBTCS volunteers have monitored
Above: Elaine R. Wilson, NaturePicsOnline
nest box occupancy rates and success making this one of Alberta’s longest running citizen science projects. By georeferencing the bluebird boxes, ecological questions can be addressed at the landscape level.
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
19
New Projects Commercial Tour Operator’s Conceptualization of Environmental Supply in Banff and Jasper National Parks Principal Investigator: Dr. Barbara J. McNicol (Earth Sciences) Undergraduate Research Assistant: Molli Bennett This project defines quality success indicators used to define and evaluate commercial tour operator and clientele demand for environmental experiences in Banff and Jasper National Parks. The development of quality success indicators that measure demand against environmental supply will initiate a quality movement within environmental management that proposes to switch the measurement of consequences from those that focus on the negative to those that place emphasis on the environmental quality and success of the visitor experience in national parks.
20
2015 Annual Report
Planting Seeds for Ecologically Sustainable Community Engagement (Phases 1 & 2): An Inclusive Community Garden Development Project Principal Investigator: Dr. Joanna Szabo Hart (Nursing) Co-investigators: Genevieve Currie, Alana- Dawn Eirikson, Sonya Flessati, Judy Gleeson, Sonya Jakubec, Janet Melrose, Elaine Schow Based at MRU, this collaborative project will involve a broad community consultation process with a focus on the needs of an identified high-priority population. This two-phased participatory action research (PAR) study will attend to the following: first, it will assess the needs and interests of community stakeholders, and second, it will follow-up with the implementation of a horticultural therapy intervention.
Developing a Sense of Place Through Environmental Sustainability in Education: School and Community Partnerships Principal Investigator: Dr. Kevin O-Connor (Education) This pilot project seeks to create a strong research partnership among notfor-profit organizations (Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area and Tim Hortons Children’s Foundation), Aboriginal communities (Kainai First Nation) and our post-secondary institution (Department of Education and Iniskim Centre) around place-based environmental education. The particular focus of our inquiry is to better understand the particular ways in which Aboriginal communities value place-based knowledge.
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
21
Alberta Creative Sentencing Accountability Study Principal Investigator: Janice Paskey (Journalism) Alberta has chosen to use creative sentencing as a method of penalty for some environmental crimes. This project will examine creative sentencing in Alberta and detail how creative sentencing recipients are chosen.
Reconstruction of the Paleoflood History in the High River Area Principal Investigator: Dr. Mathew Swallow (Environmental Sciences) While flooding is not unknown to the community of High River, the events of 2013 were of such a magnitude that previous flood mitigation measures built to deal with past floods proved ineffective. Is the flooding of 2013 unprecedented or have such large magnitude events occurred in the past? This project aims to answer this question by creating a paleoflood history of the High River area - A paleoflood history is a record of floods not found in the historical documents of the region.
Sustainability and Indigeneity: Building a Fieldschool in Chile Principal Investigator: Liam Haggarty (Indigenous Studies) Building on the growth of sustainability initiatives at MRU, this full semester field school will take students to southern Chile. Students will learn about and participate in environmentally sustainable food production projects being implemented by local Indigenous communities.
From Field to Cup: Sustainable Coffee Production Principal Investigator: Roberta Lexier (General Education) Melanie Rathburn (General Education and Biology) Consumers are moving towards purchasing coffee that claims to be sustainable. Numerous certification programs have been established to aid consumers in making their choices. This research project examines these issues in Honduras, the largest coffee producer in Central America, to assess whether certification programs, upon which consumers rely to make informed and ethical purchases, in fact contribute to healthy social structures and environments.
22
2015 Annual Report
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
23
IES Summer Research Assistants Lauren Cross (English) Lauren conducted an environmental scan and gap analysis of professional development programs in sustainability, and provided support in the preliminary development process of a new adult education program in sustainability at MRU. She also completed a literature review for the Alberta Parks project, “Understanding and evaluating user motivations and expectations in Fish Creek Provincial Park”.
Nimra Amjad (Environmental Science) Nimra prepared an academic paper outline on the subject of compensation programs for wildlife depredation loss. She also contributed to two other academic papers while exploring the motivations of teachers and volunteers who take students on nature-based trips to Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area.
Winston Jamieson (Environmental Science) Jessica Hazelwood (Business Administration)
Winston provided research and report writing assistance on a number of projects, including
24
Jessica investigated sustainability projects in post-
a literature review report on “Compensation
secondary institutions in North America and then
Programs for Carnivore Depredation Loss” and a
prepared a cost analysis case study report for
literature review as part of the “Understanding and
Mount Royal University. This report will benefit
evaluating user motivations and expectations in
Mount Royal’s future sustainability projects by
Fish Creek Provincial Park” project. He also worked
determining whether it is beneficial to engage in
with members from Miistakis Institute to develop a
similar projects as those found in the case studies,
paper for academic publication from a report they
on the basis of cost and efficiency.
had previously released.
2015 Annual Report
Parks and Protected Areas Research Group
The PPARG has established as a working group of twenty-five researchers and practitioners with interests in parks and protected areas, especially in Alberta and the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains. PPARG is committed to promoting research initiatives that answer important questions about protected spaces. This group provides a forum for discussion and dissemination of research and seeks to raise awareness about protected areas. Issues about environmental and/or human use management, biodiversity and conservation, environmental education, park interpretation, and sustainability initiatives are a few areas of interest. The group, Chaired by IES Assistant Director, Dr. Barbara McNicol, is presenting an ongoing series of talks at group meetings. Talks presented in 2015 are as follows:
Carol Patterson, Travel Writer and Tourism Entrepreneur. February, 2015. “Think Like an Explorer”. Don Carruthers Den Hoed, Alberta Parks and Sonya Jakubec, School of Nursing and Midwifery, MRU. June 22, 2015. “Nursing in Nature: Research on the health and parks/environment connection”.
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
25
Learning Student Engagement & Support Sustainable Green House System The IES provided support to cover half of a full-time summer student position to conduct a feasibility project for a sustainable greenhouse system. Sustainable Green House System is an innovative project to explore the potential of using heat generated from composting to warm greenhouse soil. The intent is to implement the results in conjunction with the MRU Community Garden. MRU students Alicia Jackson and Lucas King conducted this feasability analysis project.
Fuse Collective Networking Gala IES sponsored eight MRU students and eight faculty members at FUSE Collective Gala in January 2015. FUSE (formerly known as ISEEESA), is a vibrant multi-disciplinary organization at the University of Calgary. The event included a dinner and world-class guest speakers including Charles Montgomery and Chris Turner. In addition, the event provided a great opportunity for students to network with industry leaders.
Unconventional’s 101 The IES joined with an MRU student group LEAP (Leaders in Environmental Awareness and Protection) to host an Unconventional’s 101 (Hydraulic Fracturing) workshop offered to MRU students and instructors. The workshop was delivered by the Canadian Society for Unconventional Resources (CSUR). The workshop served as an introductory four-hour course on unconventional resources. All the 28 participants received a Certificate of Participation from the CSUR.
26
2015 Annual Report
Project STOKE (Striving Together Over Kenya’s Empowerment) Project STOKE is a student initiative to enhance the sustainability of rural communities in Kenya through the provision of efficient biomass stoves. Working with the Calgary company Airterra, MRU student Paisley Dressler traveled to Kenya to assist in the implementation of the project. The IES contribution covered the costs of buying materials to build the stoves. Local metal workers were trained on the construction, use, and maintenance of the stoves.
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
27
Professional Development ALCES Online Workshop ALCES Online is a web-delivered landscape and
workshop provided training in the key values and
land use simulator that is highly effective in
functions of ALCES Online and was open for free
supporting research and land-use decision-making.
to post-secondary institutions, research institutes,
The ALCES Workshop was delivered by landscape
and environmental agencies which sent 25
ecologist and founder of ALCES Landscape &
representatives to the training workshop.
Land-Use Ltd., Dr. Brad Stelfox. The one-day
Sustainability Education Last year, the IES began exploring the potential
sustainability had recently been discontinued in
to launch a suite of sustainability courses at the
Canada and the U.S.
professional development level, through the Faculty of Continuing Education at MRU. An initial
The findings of this year’s literature review and
literature review and gap analysis was completed
gap analysis were shared with a focus group of
by the PKZ Group Inc., which found the existing
interested internal and external partners. The
professional development programs in sustainability
participants provided feedback and suggestions
did not meet the scan’s criteria in either delivery
about the different potential niches for MRU’s
methods or course content. Many programs
program. The IES then came up with three
were lacking in the areas of social or strategic
potential frameworks for sustainability education
sustainability, and it was concluded that there
and will soon proceed with the steps necessary
was potential for MRU to develop a program that
to make informed decisions about appropriate
would fill these gaps and that could be targeted
course content and delivery methods. This process
primarily at the petroleum sector.
will include further research into the possibilities and logistics of potential collaborative options and
Building off of the 2014 project, a second,
different course delivery options, as well as a more
more in-depth literature review and gap analysis
in-depth and far-reaching survey and a market
were conducted to identify new programs and
feasibility assessment.
challenges to current programs, as well as to
28
collect more details about the top competitive
If the IES decides to move forward with launching
programs that might appeal to MRU’s target
courses in sustainability, selected subject matter
audience. The latest scan also found that a number
experts will help develop the curriculum for the
of relevant professional development programs in
program, which would be launched in 2016.
2015 Annual Report
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
29
New Course Development Scotland Field School Cairngorms National Park, Scotland In summer 2014, IES conducted the feasibility assessment of developing an interdisciplinary field school in the Scottish Highlands. In May 2015, IES and General Education partnered to offer two courses under the banner of “Sustainability in a National Park Context”, a key element being the Scotland field school. The field school was led by Dr. Mike Quinn; Dr. Celeste MacConnachie, Associate Professor for Mount Royal’s Department of General Education; and Dr. Kathy Rettie, Adjunct who earned her PhD at St. Andrews. The Scottish field guide was George McQuitty, an associate of the St. Andrews Sustainability Institute. Students in two General Education Courses, GNED 3301 and 3101, spent two weeks before and after the Scotland field school studying sustainability in Canada’s and Alberta’s park systems in class and during visits to Banff National Park, Glenbow Ranch, and the Cross Conservation Area. The Scotland field school got underway in St. Andrews, where students met with Dr. Charles Warren, Professor in Geography, and several staff and graduate students from the St. Andrews Sustainability Institute. Students also had a tour of the Falkland Estate before heading north to the Cairngorms National Park. Once in Cairngorms, students met estate managers, rangers, national park ski staff, ski area staff, community representatives, and numerous other people who play key roles in park and landscape management. Throughout the course, the group undertook a hands-on investigative contrast-and-comparison study of sustainability between Scotland and Canada’s national parks systems.
30
2015 Annual Report
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
31
Community Engagement IES Seminar Series IES organized 14 seminars during its seminar series in the 2014-2015 academic year. Sustainability professionals were invited to speak about their research and practices to MRU students, faculty, and the wider community. In addition, MRU faculty and students were invited to share some of their most recent research projects. The seminar presentations – held every second week and which included free refreshments – hosted an average of 30 people throughout the year. The 2014-2015 seminar series presentations are as follows: Sustainable Development: Addressing the Challenges Peter MacConnachie, Suncor Energy
Applying the Ecosystem Services Approach to Land and Resource Management in Alberta. Guy Greenaway, Miistakis Institute
The Business of Environmental Site Assessment and Remediation Wendy Thorne, Biophilia, Inc
Assessing variability in the carbon isotope record of Eocene global warming: a 50 million year old analogue for 21st century climate change Dr. Jenni Scott , Department of Earth Sciences
Sustainability and the Future of Transportation Fuels Dr. Jessica Dillabough, Imperial Oil
Journalism: Water Sustainability Janice Paskey and Terry Field, Journalism
Building a Nature Legacy: The Role of the Nature Conservancy of Canada in Alberta Dr. Marie Tremblay, Nature Conservancy of Canada
32
2015 Annual Report
Sustainability, Hygiene, and Your Health Dr. Liza Abraham, Mount Royal University; Neal’s Yard Remedies Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability in Calgary Mark Van Engelen, NYA Sustainability
A Lab in the Canopy: Studying the Impact of Pollution on the Rainforest Dr. Sara Hewitt, Mount Royal University
Undergraduate Research in Environmental Sustainability Miranda Mountain, Bissett Scholl of Business; Megan Berry Journalism; Amara Snively, Environmental Science
Sustainable Food in Calgary - Panel Discussion Calgary Eats, Leaf Canada, and Amaranth Market Representatives; Blue Mountain Biodynamic Farm Founder Lessons from the 2013 Floods in High River Dr. Tim Haney and Dr. Caroline McDonald-Harker, Mount Royal University
Saving Endangered Species in Canada and Beyond Dr. Axel Moehrenschlager, Calgary Zoo
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
33
WATER with Edward Burtynsky Earth Day Presentation 3: Each year the IES organizes a special communitywide event to celebrate Earth Day. In March 2015, Edward Burtynsky, renowned Canadian photographer, was invited to present his photography projects to a full house of 550 people. Through his poetic images, Burtynsky revealed water to be the vital component of life on Earth, and foreshadowed the extent to which our future depends on how we deal with this increasingly scarce resource. He also presented his other thought-provoking projects, namely Oil, Mines, Quarries, China, Tailings, etc.
34
2015 Annual Report
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
35
Special Events IES organizes numerous events throughout the year. Some of the events are co-organized with other MRU institutes, departments, or student groups. Almost all of the events organized this past year were free to the members of the MRU community and also to public. “Recognize yourself in social change and become change makers.“ - Jill Andres, Change maker in residence at Institute for Community Prosperity
Sustainability for Breakfast: Collaboration for Sustainability Through Research and Community Engagement. Sustainability for Breakfast is a series of networking breakfast events that has become a city-wide tradition among sustainability actors and enthusiasts. The event series generates minimum waste by using compostable and recyclable materials. The series is organized by the sustainable business organization REAP Calgary (Respect for Environment and All People). IES partnered with REAP Calgary and the Institute for Community Prosperity at MRU to host a Sustainability for Breakfast event featuring a number of research and community projects around the theme of socioeconomic sustainability on campus including MRU Community Service Learning certificate, a student startup, “UrbanAg” and a student sustainability project in Kenya, “Project SOKE”. The event hosted 100 participants.
Environmental Humanities Seminar IES is collaborating in partnership with the Faculty of Arts to host a series of seminars on the environmental humanities. The initiative is in support of developing a new Major in Environmental Humanities at MRU. The first seminar took place on April 28 with guest speaker Dr. Greg Garrard, University of British Columbia Okanagan. Dr. Garrard’s presentation was titled, “What Good are the Environmental Humanities?”
36
2015 Annual Report
Talking Canada’s War on Science with Chris Turner As part of 2015 Freedom to Read Week, IES partnered with the MRU Library to host award-winning author and journalist Chris Turner on February 23, 2015. Freedom to Read Week is an annual national event encouraging and celebrating freedom of expression. Christ Turner delivered a talk to a full room of 60 faculty and community members about environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and intellectual freedom.
Brain Drain for Social Gain Challenge IES partnered with other MRU institutes and the student association (SAMRU) to initiate a student challenge named Brain Drain for Social Gain in February 2015. The Brain Drain for Social Gain challenged students from across campus to tackle four identified issues on campus: improving communication on campus, transportation, campus waste, and better use of space. Four teams were formed from the 19 participants to develop and present their solutions. Competing for cash prizes, the teams generated excellent ideas, many of which will be implemented to the betterment of the MRU campus.
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
37
Under Western Skies Conference Series Under Western Skies lll Co-Convenors: Dr. Robert Boschman Liam Haggarty Undergraduate Student Assistants: Victoria Anderson Emy Ulloa Braden Etzerza Craig First Rider Sarah Nason The IES is mandated to participate in a national-level conference on environmental sustainability. The Under Western Skies series is a biennial interdisciplinary environmental conference that is also engaged in student enhancement and community outreach. Under Western Skies lll was the third conference held at MRU from Sept 9-12, 2014. This iteration saw a grand total of approximately 650 participants and attendees, many of whom were students, despite one of the worst September storms in Calgary history. The IES provided organizational assistance, financial support, and sponsorship of the closing reception. In May 2015, Under Western Skies lll was recognized as the winner of the 2015 Environmental Studies Association of Canada Eco-award. The IES was also successful in securing a SSHRC grant with the Miistakis Institute to conduct a citizen science conference hosted in conjunction with Under Western Skies lll – exploring Public Participation in Scientific Research. For more information see www.skies.mtroyal.ca, and www.rockies.ca/ citizenscience.
38
2015 Annual Report
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
39
IES Team Assistant Directors, Staff and Collaborators The Institute Team
Assistant Director: Barb McNicol (Earth and Environmental Sciences) Barb is an Associate Professor and past Chair of Earth Sciences. Her research and teaching interests are in socio-environmental geography with a focus on behavioral aspects of geography such as decision-making and the evaluation of sustainable human actions. Barb is the chair of Protected Areas Research Group at the IES.
Paris Afshordy Paris is the Administrative Assistant for the IES team. In addition to providing administrative support, she coordinates the communications and events for the institute. This year she facilitated the IES 2014-2015 Seminar Series and took a major role in promotion of the institute and its events on campus and beyond.
Dr. Gopal Saha Gopal joined the IES team in January 2015 as a research assistant. He is currently investigating groundwater-surface water interaction under the effects of hydraulic fracturing and its associated activities. His research interests are groundwater-surface water interaction, numerical modeling of groundwater and surface water, and water quality analysis and modeling.
Dr. Carlos Serralde Carlos was the first research assistant to join IES in October 2014. This year, Carlos provided research support to the Hydraulic Fracking Impacts research project. He is currently conducting a review paper on Current Practices Implemented in Western Canada as a Means to Reduce the Use of Fresh Water in Shale Developments. His main research interests are the identification and evaluation of environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing such as fresh water availability and potential risk for contaminant release.
40
2015 Annual Report
Advisory Committee
Research Associates
Alan J. Kennedy
Allan Dwyer
Ann Marie Syslak
Amanda Williams
Anna Murray
Anna Korwin-Kowalewska
Ashley Nixon
Ashok Krishnamurthy
Bob Demulder
Barbara J. McNicol
Christina J. Fuller
Caroline McDonald-Harker
Christyann Olson
Don Carruthers Den Hoed (co-PI)
Clint Dockens
Dorothy Hill
Dave Lye
Heather Ray
Keltie Manolakas
Israel Dunmade
Leor Rotchild
Janice Paskey
Leslie Taylor
Jenni Scot
Mark Bennet
Katherine Boggs
Mark Fitzgerald
Liam Haggarty
Peter MacConnachie
Lynn Moorman
Robbin Dawe
Mario Trono
Rosalynn Dodd
Melanie Rathburn
Stephanie Gagnon
Robert Boschman
Sunny Sehgal
Roberta Lexier Sarah Hewitt Sonya L.Jakubec PI Terry Field Timothy Haney
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
41
Financial Statement Consolidated Financial Statement of Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2015
June 2015 Year-end Actual Donations Other Revenue
643,556
Faculty - Instructional Salaries
158,963
Support Staff - Salaries
Honorarium Benefits Labour Cost Recovery Total Labor
31,539 145,174 100 41,435 5,161 382,372
Supplies - Office, Instructional and Lab
10455
Other Supplies
7,500
Materials
1,992
Publications, Subscriptions and Memberships Text, Book Purchases, and Photocopying Printing Freight and Delivery Scholarships, Bursaries, Grant-In-Aid Telecommunications Contracted Services Non Instruction Non-Employee Honorarium
887 608 4274 13,614 1,863 1446 19,122 350
Computer Software
35,738
Conference - Attended
17,530
Conference - Hosted
69,679
Department Meeting / Activity
18,171
External Meeting
25,625
Field Trips
12,253
Cost Recovery
6,405
Operating Equipment
4,772
Capital Expenditures
8,901
Total Direct Expenditures
261,185
Total All Expenses
643,557
Total Revenues Less Expenses and Transfers
2015 Annual Report
1,429
Total Revenue
Casual & Other
42
642,128
0
Annual Highlights 2014-2015
2013-2014
2014–2015 Summary
2013–2014 Summary Students Engaged
35
Students Engaged
53
Researchers Engaged or funded
22
Researchers Engaged
27
IES supported projects
16
Total supported projects
21
Completed projects supported
4
Completed projects supported
7
New Projects Supported
5
New Projects Supported
6
On-going Projects Supported
7
On-going Projects Supported
7
Externally funded or partner projects
4
Externally funded or partner projects
5
Events
9
Events
18
External Guest Speaker Events
3
Student projects supported
2
Collaborative Events
2
External Guest Speaker Events
15
Internal speaker Events
3
Collaborative Events
8
Undergrad Research Positions
29
Internal speaker Events
8
Publications
12
Training Events
2
Presentations
12
Undergrad Research Positions
54
Publications
14
Presentations
25
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
43
Publications & Presentations Publications Baird, J., K. Belcher and M.S. Quinn. 2014. “Context and capacity: the potential for performance-based agricultural water quality policy.” Canadian Water Resources Journal 39(4):421-436. Boschman, R & Trono, M. 2015. Found in Alberta: Environmental Themes for the Anthropocene. Wilfrid Laurier University Press. Carlson, M., M.S. Quinn and B. Stelfox. 2015. “Exploring cumulative effects of regional urban growth strategies: A planning scenario case study from the Calgary Region of western Canada.” ISOCARP Review 11:[in press]. Haddock, R. and M.S. Quinn. 2015. “An assessment of public engagement for access management planning in southwestern Alberta, Canada.” Journal of Environmental Planning and Management [in press]. Haddock, R. and M.S. Quinn. 2015. “Recreational access management planning: understanding perceptions regarding public forest lands in SW Alberta.” Open Journal of Forestry 5(4):387-401. McNicol, B. “The Concept of Environmental Supply in National Parks”. In S. McCool & K., Steven McCool and Keith Bosak (Eds.), Chapter 11. Reframing Sustainable Tourism, Environmental Challenges and Solutions Series, Springer [in press]. McNicol, B. 2014. “Influencing the Sovereignty of States toward Conservation of the Amazon Rain Forest.” World Geography: Understanding a Changing World”. On-line Essay, ABC-Clio. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. McNicol, B. 2015. “Environmental Supply”,“Amenity Tourism”, “Growth Management”. In C. Cater & B. Garrod (Eds.) The Encyclopedia of Sustainable Tourism. CABI International, Wallingford, United Kingdom. McNicol, B. 2016. “Precautionary Principle and Tourism” In Jafar Jafari and Honggen Xiao (eds.) Encyclopedia of Tourism, pp.1200. Springer (ISBN 978-3319-01383-1): [in press, Jan. 8th, 2016].
44
2015 Annual Report
McNicol, B. and R. S. Glorisso. 2014. “Second Home Leisure Landscapes and Retirement in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Community of Canmore, Alberta”. Annals of Leisure Research, 17:1, 27-49. Quinn, M.S., M.E. Tyler, E. Ajaero, J. Arvai, M. Carlson, I. Dunmade, S. Hill, J. McCallum, D. Van der Byl, C. & Vredenburg H. The challenge of mission drift through growth in the hybrid organisation. International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management. Special Issue: Sustainability in Business Managing Organisational Continuity; [in press] Van der Byl, C., and Slawinski, N. 2015. Embracing tensions in corporate sustainability: A review of research on win-wins and trade-offs to paradoxes and beyond. Organization & Environment. 28(1): 54-79. Special Issue: Review of the Literature on Organizations and Natural Environment: From the Past to the Future. Van der Byl, C. & Vredenburg H. (in press). The challenge of mission drift through growth in the hybrid organisation. International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management. Special Issue: Sustainability in Business Managing Organisational Continuity.
Report Quinn, M.S., M.E. Tyler, E. Ajaero, J., Arvai, M. Carlson, I. Dunmade, S. Hill, J. McCallum, D. McMartin, D. Megson, G. O’Sullivan, R. Parks, D. Poulton, B. Stelfox, J. Stewart, J., C. Serralde Monreal, S. Tomblin, & C. Van der Byl. 2015. Landscape impacts of hydraulic fracturing development and operations on surface water and watersheds, submitted to the Canadian Water Network (CWN).
Magazine Articles Hewitt, SA. 2015, Winter. A Lab in the Canopy. Colgate Scene. URL: http://news.colgate.edu/scene/2015/02/a-lab-in-the-canopy-cat-cardelus.html Hewitt, SA. 2015, February. Extreme Measures. UBC Trek. URL: http://trekmagazine.alumni.ubc.ca/2015/ february-2015/features/extreme-measures/ Williams, A., M., Berry, M., Sutton, Z., Choy. 2015, May/June. Sustainability Research Supplement: Communicating Sustainability. Calgary Journal, pp. 27-34.
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
45
Conferences & Public Presentations Donelon, S., E. Halpenny, G. Hvengaard and M. Quinn. 2015. “How can Alberta be a leader in implementing the outcomes of the 2014 World Parks Congress?” Paper presented at Parks Forum. (Alberta Recreation and Parks Association), Canmore, Alberta, 12-14 March 2015. Hill, D., L. Moorman, A. Liboiron, J. Paquette. 2014. “Contributions to ecosystem health assessment in Calgary’s urban natural areas through technology-enabled citizen science.” Oral and Poster presentations at Under Western Skies Conference session: Exploring PPSR. Calgary, September 2014. URL (retrieved August 2015): http://www.rockies.ca/project_info/Exploring_PPSR_Under_Western_Skies_Proceedings.pdf Jakubec, S.L., D. Carruthers Den Hoed, C. McAllister, H. Ray, and M. Quinn. 2014. “The impact of inclusion in nature for people experiencing end of life: a narrative review.” Poster presented at the FHCS Research and Scholarship Showcase, Mount Royal University, 3 December 2014 [selected as best poster]. Liboiron, A. “Mapping community bluebird survey trails in the Cross Conservation Area.” Poster Presentation at the 2nd Annual Faculty of Science and Technology Research Day, 27 March, 2015 [won the Environmental Sustainability Prize]. Mountain, M. 2015. “Addressing uncertainties in hydraulic fracturing: A review of hydraulic fracturing management literature. Presentation at Administrative Sciences Association of Canada (ASAC)”. Halifax, Nova Scotia. 2015, June 15. Paquette, J., Moorman, L., Hill, D., Liboiron, A. 2014. “Creating a HabitAPP to spatially enable citizen science. Presentation at Exploring PPSR session at Under Western Skies Conference. Conference Proceedings URL (retrieved August 2015): http://www.rockies.ca/project_info/Exploring_PPSR_Under_Western_Skies_ Proceedings.pdf Quinn, M.S. 2014. “Can we trust their data? Evaluating a citizen science program to monitor wildlife along a highway.” Paper presentation at Exploring Public Participation in Scientific Research. Under Western Skies Conference, Calgary, 9-10 September 2014, Calgary, AB. Quinn, M.S. 2014. “Hydraulic fracturing: a multidisciplinary perspective.” Session chair at Under Western Skies Conference. Calgary, Alberta, 9-12 September 2014, Calgary, AB. Quinn, M.S. 2015. “Connectivity and conservation design.” Invited public presentation for Rocky View County, Cochrane, 17 June 2015. Quinn, M.S. 2015. “Cumulative landscape effects on cutthroat trout - evidence from Western Canada.” Presentation at Cutthroat Trout Workshop, Chain Lakes, AB, February 24, 2015. Quinn, M.S. 2015. “Environmental risks and policy implications of fracking.” Keynote presentation at Memorial Presents. Tuesday, Corner Brook NL, February 10, 2015. Quinn, M.S. and C. Van der Byl. 2015. “Fracking: What is it and should I be concerned?“ presentation at Create a Better Now, Student’s Association of Mount Royal University (SAMRU), Mount Royal University, 14 January 2015.
46
2015 Annual Report
Scherger, N., J. Hamilton, K. Boggs. 2014. “The Geological Bumble Bee Project: A Citizen Science Program Examining 70 Million Years of Climate Change.” Poster at Western Canada Citizen Science Conference 2014 Abstract. Scherger, N., J. Hamilton, K. Boggs. 2015. Calgary Geological Bumble Bee Study. Poster presentation at Annual Geological Society of America (GSA) Conference in Vancouver. Slawinski, N. and C. Van der Byl. 2015. Managing the coopetition paradox in alliance formation, full paper submission, Presenter and Facilitator at European Group for Organizational Studies (EGOS) Colloquium, Athens, Greece, 4 July 2015. Van der Byl, C. 2015. Collaboration for sustainability through research and community engagement. Introduction to the Institute for Environmental Sustainability. REAP Calgary Sustainability for Breakfast Speaker Series, Calgary, Alberta, April 24, 2015. Van der Byl, C. 2015. Enhancing the New Science of CSR, Business School Parallel Workshops, Workshop 1: Employee expectations in terms of executive compensation, employee satisfaction, customer empowerment and experience, and supportive attention to career development and international placement opportunities. Moderator at Ethicscan Upmanship Mount Royal University, 5 June 2015. Van der Byl, C. 2015. Hydraulic fracturing policy and regulation: Knowledge gaps regarding landscape impacts. Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada (PTAC) Hydraulic Fracturing Forum, Calgary, Alberta, May 21, 2015. Van der Byl, C. and H.Vredenburg. 2015. Capability reconfiguration challenges: A process study in Canada’s oil sands, full paper submission, Presentation at 7th International Symposium on Process Organization Studies, Kos, Greece, 26 June 2015. Van der Byl, C. and R. Parks. 2014. The Rhetoric of Fracking. Co-presenter at Dialogue Series. Bissett School of Business, Mount Royal University, 28 November 2014. Van der Byl. C. 2014. CSR 101, CSR Panel. Presenter and Moderator at Soul of the Next Economy Forum 2014, St. Ambrose University, Calgary, Alberta, 4 October 2014. Van der Byl., C. and N. Slawinski. 2014. Innovating for environmental performance: Managing the tension between competition and collaboration in alliance formation. For CMC (Carbon Management Canada) Conference, Banff, Alberta. 28 May 2014. Weckman, S., J. Wagar, K. Boggs, 2014. Spring waters characteristics; Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area; Calgary, Alberta. Poster presented at 2015 Annual Geological Society of America (GSA) Conference in Vancouver. Williams, A. 2015. Understanding the politics of sustainability and the Alberta Oil Sands: Metaphors of practice, processes, paradigms and things. 2015. Congress presentation at Canadian Sociological Association. Ottawa, June 2015.
Institute for Environmental Sustainability
47