Professor Mark Winfield speaks to Globe and Mail about local pushback to Ontario's green energy plans

Residents of Bala, located about a two hours drive north of Toronto, say they have nothing against hydro power, but fear the $23-million facility and its construction will destroy the tiny town’s main attraction: the falls that lure curious eyeballs and day-tripper cash, wrote The Globe and Mail Aug. 2: This is one local battlefield […]

Prof Gail Fraser raises new concerns for Canada's oceans after seeing Chevron's uncensored oil spill plans

The federal-provincial agency that regulates oil activity off Newfoundland is mulling changes to required oil spill plans as newly released documents raise safety questions, wrote The Canadian Press July 27: [The documents] include plans for Chevron Canada as it drills the country's deepest exploration well in 2,600 metres of water, about 425 kilometres northeast of St. […]

Professor Gail Fraser raises questions about Canadian oil spill response plans for Newfoundland-based drilling projects

Gail Fraser, a professor in York’s Faculty of Environmental Studies, spoke about concerns over an oil spill response plan for Canada’s deepest offshore well run by Chevron, on CBC TV’s “The National” and other news broadcasts across the country July 21. Her interview with the National is available on CBC.ca. It runs for approximately 2:30 […]

Professor Gail Fraser's take on polluting our natural resources

Gail Fraser, a professor in York’s Faculty of Environmental Studies, said the Canadian public has a right to know about projects that could pollute Canada’s natural resources. “We’re permitting these operators to pollute in federal waters. These are public resources, and the potential impact of these various impacts can be enormous,” said Fraser. In recent […]

Interdisicplinary symposium focuses on education and climate change

Today, the shared experiences of those working in education and climate change is the central theme of a one-day symposium taking place at York University. Organized by the Faculty of Education, the Institute for Research & Innovation in Sustainability (IRIS) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Chair for Reorienting Teacher Education Towards Sustainability, […]

Professor Peter McIsaac appointed director of Centre for German & European Studies

Peter McIsaac, a professor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies’ Department of Languages, Literatures & Linguistics, has been appointed director of the Canadian Centre for German & European Studies (CCGES) at York University. The appointment became effective July 1. "I am truly excited to be taking on the directorship of CCGES, which is both a […]

Graduate students mobilize research to benefit communities through United Way of York Region

When you’re a charitable organization in York Region seeking a research partner to inform your strategic directions and priorities, whom do you turn to? If you’re United Way of York Region (UWYR), you collaborate with York University’s Knowledge Mobilization Unit. This summer, three York University students will gain valuable experience through internships with UWYR’s Community […]

SSHRC-funded book challenges notions about 'normal' sex and the environment

Much of what informs environmental thinking springs from a view that equates nature with sexually straight and queer with unnatural. The editors of a new book Queer Ecologies: Sex, Nature, Politics, Desire, turn those notions upside down. Co-editors Bruce Erickson (PhD 09’) and York environmental studies Professor Catriona Sandilands, Canada Research Chair in Sustainability & […]

Theatre studies student wins University-wide thesis prize

Claire Wynveen (MFA ’09) is the first student on record in the Department of Theatre to be awarded a thesis prize by the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Her thesis encompassed her performance in the Theatre @ York production of Peter Barnes’ macabre satire The Bewitched (see YFile, April 7, 2009) as well as a written […]

Professor Gail Fraser: Offshore oil board members lack environmental expertise

A biologist and researcher is asking why none of the six men on the board regulating oil activity off Newfoundland lists environmental expertise as a prime credential , wrote The Canadian Press June 6: The head of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board has stressed that environmental protection is a top goal. But Gail […]