#lauriergeogenv

Interested in issues of human rights and citizenship? Laurier G&ES prof Margaret Walton-Roberts has co-edited a new book on the subject.

Check out her blog posting about the book, and the example of 'Chaos in the Caribbean’

Thermal mapping with the department drone

^ Above: A tour of the Centre for Cold Regions and Water Science

^ Above:  Graduate student research talks

^ Above:  Thermal mapping with the department drone

^ Above:  Smartphone-based citizen science data collection

^ Above:  An inspiring talk by Aboriginal Scholar-in-Residence Darren Thomas

Our faculty hosted international students from Association of Commonweatlth Universities. They came from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Europe.

The academic goal was to expose the students (all of whom are at the graduate level) to ways of collecting and interpreting environmental data.

~ Above: “The tent city prepared for the international students before their arrival”.

G&ES profs and grad students took 35 visiting international students camping at Laurel Creek CA last night. They were taken canoeing, had a campfire, and were given some insights into collecting environmental data. Here's what the tent city looks like before the students arrived. 

This course: 

- is an examination of northern ecosystems and environments in the context of resources management - is started with a "How would you describe or characterise the north?" discussion (interesting to see how discussion changes or doesn't change) - has short debates on hot topics in the north - has lots of good audiovisual resources on the north - has a primary focus on Canada and Alaska

~ Above:  “Photos are from Dr. Scott Slocombe of areas in the north that he worked”.

Students typically enjoy learning about the north, and are surprised by many things they learn (both things they expected and things they didn't).

Contact Dr. Scott Slocombe <[email protected]> for more information.

This course has been changed from Fall2015 to Winter2016. NEW course.

The destination and dates for this fall’s 3rd-year G&ES field camp have been announced: Thursday, Oct 1. to Sunday, Oct. 4, at Pinery Provincial Park, on Lake Huron. This is the second year Laurier G&ES students have done field research at Pinery, and it promises to be as awesome as last year. Research this year topics will include: - mapping with unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) - impacts of eco-passages and culverts - impacts of natural areas on human health - tornado impacts and restoration - reclamation of closed camping areas - managing park visitor complaints and conflicts - sand dune maintenance and restoration - pine tree inventory and restoration - cumulative impacts of controlled burning

~ Above: “Pinery Provincial Park”

Shailyn Drukis - an emerging leader transforming parks across Canada is among us!

She was among a group of 16 young Canadians that were an active and leading role at the International Union for Conservation of Nature's World Parks Congress in November, 2014.

~ Above: “ International Union for Conservation of Nature's World Parks Congress in November, 2014″.

With help from Parks Canada, Shailyn shared her experiences, perspectives, knowledge, skills, technologies, and ideas in innovative and creative ways.

~ Above: “Shailyn Drukis”

To learn more about what Shailyn learned/is currently doing, as well as and other young inspiring leaders check out the article.

~ Above: “Growler Lake in the Muskoka region”.

Paleolimnology is the multi-disciplinary science of lake mud – the physical, chemical and biological analyses used to reconstruct lake environmental history.

The highlight of this course will be a field trip to Growler Lake in the Muskoka region (as seen in the photos) to obtain a lake sediment core that the class will analyze and interpret results. The results will be presented to the local cottage owners at the end of the term. The local cottage owners are keenly committed to ensuring their lake remains pristine and that the project will develop a long-term history of Growler Lake that will assist them in achieving their management goals.

The class is Mondays 9:30am - 12:30pm in 2E7. There are a few spots remaining.

Paleolimnology is taught by Dr. Brent Wolfe and co-taught with his colleague Roland Hall (Biology, University of Waterloo). For additional information feel free to contact Dr. Brent Wolfe at [email protected] .