It was on my first hunt, six years ago, that a bear charged me. I was pretending to be a moose. My dad and I were crossing the Secret River, deep in Yukon Territory’s wilderness, in our motorboat. It was the first evening of the hunt, and we wanted to[Read More…]
Tag: environment
Urban greenery: The surprising common thread between sustainable cities and healthy children
To the environmentalist, urban vegetation, such as rows of trees, shrubs, or flower beds, might symbolize a small act of rebellion—a patch of nature amid a concrete jungle. Beyond enhancing a city’s aesthetics and supporting mental well-being, city greenery contributes significantly to urban biodiversity and climate resilience. However, urban vegetation’s[Read More…]
Food fuel: Waste’s wasted potential
Climate change is a pressing issue across the world: As the dramatic toll of human habits on the environment becomes increasingly evident, researchers and policymakers must find new, creative ways to address these habits’ detrimental impacts. World leaders, scientists, and even many citizens don’t lack knowledge about the causes of[Read More…]
From eco-grief to empowerment: A blueprint for environmental activism and hopeful change
There is no doubt that there is increasing urgency to address environmental challenges around the world. On Nov. 15th, the McGill Environment Student Society (MESS) hosted a lecture on climate change, with a focus on how an uncertain climate future brings about increased anxiety. Featuring Jen Gobby, an affiliate assistant[Read More…]
Trib explains: Environment degrees at McGill
What on Earth is going on with environment degrees at McGill? There are numerous programs, spread across different departments and faculties, each with their own take on one of the most critical issues humanity is facing. While students in the Bieler School of Environment share core courses, they specialize in[Read More…]
Annual Environment Public Lecture explores an economic approach to clean energy
On Oct. 5, McGill’s Bieler School of Environment hosted their annual Environment Public Lecture. For this occasion, Moyse Hall Theatre was speckled with professors and students curious to hear how Gernot Wagner, a climate economist and lecturer at Columbia Business School, would argue that the solution to the climate crisis[Read More…]
Achieving alternate futures in the Anthropocene
Eleven thousand seven hundred years ago, Earth exited the last major geological epoch—the Ice Age—entering a period of relative warmth and stability, called the Holocene. Researchers, however, believe that the planet is ready for a new term: The ‘Anthropocene,’ denoting a time during which humans drive substantial change to our[Read More…]
The journey of a microplastic: An unfolding story
From the packaging of an online order to the takeaway cup holding a morning coffee, plastic is everywhere. In 2019, humans produced 460 million tonnes of plastic, an enormous increase from the mid-twentieth century when roughly two million tonnes were produced annually. A key aspect of plastic pollution is that[Read More…]
Planting a SEED: McGill sustainability project moves forward in UN competition
Two years ago, roughly half of high school-aged Canadians did not believe that climate change could be stopped. Some of this hopelessness stems from climate education, which still revolves around causes and effects, rather than solutions. But, can climate change be stopped without spurring the next generation to action? That[Read More…]
SEDTalks showcases the wonders of McGill graduate student research
The Trottier Institute for Sustainability in Engineering and Design hosted the fifth annual edition of SEDTalks, a program where three graduate students work throughout the winter semester to present their research to the public in an accessible, engaging way. This year’s students presented a wide array of research in public[Read More…]