Applied Environmental Studies:
@study locally, think globally

For environmental scientists, the
whole world is a laboratory. Students in
the proposed Applied Environmental
Studies (AES) Program—planned for the
David Lam Campus in the fall of 1997—
would start here, right in their own
backyard.

“Our urban focus is a real strength,”
says Val Schaefer, Institute of Urban
Ecology Director and one of the driving
forces behind the proposed program.
“Because of our close ties to the Institute,
students would have a unique opportunity
to work with the surrounding community
on projects such as Green Links,
Streamkeepers and Naturescapes.”

Statistics demonstrate growing labor
market demand for environmental
specialists. Thanks to the concerted
efforts of activists and educators, there is
now much greater general awareness of

 

environmental issues. As awareness has
grown, so has the number of industry
initiatives to restore and preserve delicate
ecological balances.

That’s where AES comes in. A large
part of the AES program would be habitat
restoration—renewing and encouraging
biodiversity in developed areas.
According to Schaefer, indications are
that with Forest Renewal BC alone, there
will be enough work for at least the next
ten years. Other grads could work as
environmental consultants to a variety of
industries.

But Schaefer is most proud of the
work the program would be able to do
locally. “The north Fraser region has seen
a great deal of development in past years.
Together, we can improve our urban
green spaces to support the larger natural
ecosystem of this part of the world.” |

Green Links Symposium

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The Institute of Urban Ecology invites
° Students

° Teachers

* Community groups

* The general public

To learn about

* Government sponsorship

* Corporate ventures

* Grassroots initiatives

* The GVRD Green Zone

© The Green Links Project

At a Green Links Symposium to be held

at Douglas College on Saturday, October
19, from 9 am to 5 pm.

Come raise your awareness about urban
ecology and find out about biodiversity
projects past, present, and future!

For more information, call Kathleen
Grainger at 527-5522. |

The VanCity EnviroFund has
just announced a sponsorship
of $20,000 for “Ecologically
Friendly Streets,” a new Green
Links project in Burnaby. This
project, coordinated by the
College’s Institute of Urban
Ecology, will encourage street
greening between Byrne Creek
and Robert Burnaby Park.

Other 1996 Green Links
sponsors, for projects ranging
from greenway improvement to
public symposiums, have
included BC Gas and the Real
Estate Foundation.

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Quote of the Month:

"Human history becomes
more and more a race
between education and

catastrophe.”

- HG Wells