Research
Visit the Institute for Research in Sustainability (IRIS), its predecessor, the York Centre for Applied Sustainability (YCAS) and Canada's most experienced Environmental Studies program, the Faculty of Environmental Studies (FES), to learn about York University's innovative sustainability research. Not to be missed are new research initiatives though the FES Business and Environment Diploma.
Interested in connecting with York University faculty and students for help with your sustainability research projects, or to learn more about theirs? Visit the sites above for details, or contact one of our 21 Research Centres.
Education
The United Nations General Assembly in its 57th Session in December 2002, proclaimed the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) for the period 2005 - 2014.
Universities and higher education institutions can contribute to sustainable development in several ways. First, by giving sustainable development a place in all university and research programs. Second, by playing an important role as local knowledge centres for sustainable development. Third, by making sustainable development a leading principle in their own logistics and management processes. These three dimensions form the core of several declarations adopted by university networks.
York University is committed to helping advance education on sustainability in its classes, operations, neighbourhood, and beyond.
Numerous sustainability courses are offered at the University. To learn about them, as well as external affiliated opportunities, visit the Learning page.
In the future, it is hoped that the sustainability concept will be an integrated component of all areas of study, and more applied course options will emerge.
In a Keele Campus sustainability survey undertaken in the fall of 2005, an overwhelming majority of all students, faculty, staff and alumni felt that having applied aspects of courses, in which students would undertake projects related to sustainability on campus- such as health and well-being, or energy audits - was an excellent idea. The vast majority of survey-takers also expressed interest in sharing the results online.
To learn more about how the university is "walking the talk" and engaging in sustainability practices in its logistics and management operations, visit the links below for development\s on campus sustainability research projects, as York University students, faculty, and staff begin to undertake the Campus Sustainability Assessment Framework .
