Student Independent Projects: Environmental Studies 2014

Curry, Brandon and Fowler, Shena and Keeling, Glen and Keresteci, Kelly and Mercer, Nicholas (2014) Student Independent Projects: Environmental Studies 2014. Research Report. Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

I am delighted to have this opportunity to introduce the 2014 collection of Environmental Studies Independent Research Projects. Environmental Studies 4950 is quintessentially a fourth-year course for seniorwith the helpful guidance of their supervisors. In this process, each student has the opportunity to research an environmental issue of their choice by applying the knowledge and methodological skills they have acquired during their undergraduate experience. The Environmental Studies Program at Grenfell Campus is an interdisciplinary program focused on the environment. It strives to demonstrate through its teaching and research endeavours that it embraces numerous disciplines and brings knowledge from these various areas together into a broad synthesis of understanding. The papers in each year’s collection of student projects are good examples of our program’s diversity and the keen interest our students have in examining environmental problems from different perspectives. The students choose topics that they want to examine, complete literature reviews, identify topical relationships and contradictions in the literature and, in many cases, conduct original research in the form of surveys and/or interviews followed by quantitative data analyses. This year’s collection of Environmental Studies student independent projects includes six research papers:  A SWOT Analysis of the Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement and Natural Disturbances in the Boreal Forest and Protected Areas, by Mr. Brandon Curry.  Social Impacts of Large-Scale Natural Resource Development in Canada’s Northern Indigenous Communities, by Miss Shena Fowler.  Green Revolving Funds and the Path to Sustainability for Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland, by Mr. Glen Keeling.  Popular Media Discourse Surrounding Issues of Labeling and the Human and Environmental Health Impacts of Genetically Modified and Non-Organic Food, by Miss Kelly Keresteci.  Wind Energy Policy in Newfoundland and Labrador: Harnessing North America’s Greatest Energy Resource. A SWOT Analysis and Policy Recommendations, by Mr. Nicholas M. J. Mercer. These research papers deal with timely and important environmental topics which are relevant either for our Province, or for Canada, or for the world in general. The research papers are scientifically sound and our students’ treatment of their topics is original and refreshing. We hope that their conclusions will be useful for informing the decision-making processes concerning various environmental issues which need attention now or in the future. Congratulations to our students for their diligent work and good accomplishment! Special thanks to Professors Stephen Decker and Ivan Savic who supervised most of the students’ work on these projects. Thanks are also due to all Environmental Studies faculty which assisted in one way or another with the successful completion of our students’ program degree. This faculty include: Lab Instructor Richard Butt, Professor Stephen Decker, Dr. Paul Foley, Dr. Morteza Haghiri, Dr. Andreas Klinke, Dr. Michael Newton, Dr. Nick Novakowski, Professor Ivan Savic, Professor Randy Skinner, Dr. Michael Van Zyll de Jong, Dr. Jianghua Wu, and Dr. Gabriela Sabau. On behalf of the Environmental Studies faculty, I wish our graduates continued success in their future careers. Gabriela Sabau, Chair Environmental Studies Program

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