Executive Summary
Overview:This strategic plan, the first in a decade, is the roadmap for the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences for the next five years. Developed through extensive discussion in thematic groups (research, teaching and learning, and community) and broader departmental engagements, the plan outlines our commitment to developing and sustaining research and teaching excellence while deepening our sense of community.
Vision and Context:Our overarching vision is: (1) to enhance our reputation for research and teaching excellence in ways that parallel student, Canadian job-market, and institutional priorities, and (2) to continuously strengthen an inclusive, collaborative environment for faculty, staff, students, research associates and postdoctoral scholars. In a time of significant economic, societal, and environmental challenges—from climate change and sustainable resource management to fiscal constraints and staffing hurdles—our plan is both ambitious and pragmatic. It recognizes that quick wins (the “low-hanging fruit”) and strategic, longer-term initiatives will be essential in a budget-constrained environment currently marked by several recent and upcoming faculty retirements, enrollment challenges, and hiring freezes.
Strategic Priorities:
- Research
- Sustain and Enhance Strengths:Preserve and strengthen the Department’s established research excellence in our core research areas (e.g., Groundwater, Biogeochemistry, Earth Surface Systems, Isotope Geochemistry, and Engineering Geology) —especially considering recent and anticipated retirements.
- Innovate Through Strategic Initiatives:Develop a strategic hiring and implementation plan to seize emerging research opportunities and address future Grand Challenges (Water Security, Climate Change, Low-Carbon Energy Transition, Critical Minerals for a Green Economy), integrating new faculty expertise to bolster mission-critical areas and highlight our research to attract highly qualified personnel (HQP).
- Integration and Infrastructure:Optimize research programs through effective utilization of existing research infrastructure, pursuing opportunities to acquire new infrastructure, incorporating cutting-edge research topics into both undergraduate and graduate education, and increasing undergraduate student participation in research.
- Teaching and Learning
- Foundational and Advanced Curriculum:Continue to offer courses essential for Professional Geologist and Professional Engineering licensure while ensuring robust core undergraduate and graduate-level offerings that prepare students for modern challenges.
- Experiential and Professional Skill Development:Emphasize best pedagogical practices—including experiential learning, technical writing, law, and ethics—to equip our students with the skills needed for successful careers and to foster a strong geoscience community among undergraduate and graduate students.
- Curricular Evolution and Outreach:Continuously evolve our undergraduate and graduate programs, including professional course-based MSc programs, to meet job-market demands and student interests, supported by service courses and outreach initiatives that both introduce Earth Sciences to a broader audience and improve enrollment.
- Community
- Inclusive Environment:Commit to creating a safe, equitable, and engaging departmental culture where every member feels included, appreciated, and empowered.
- Student Community: Create student spaces and experiences to enable greater opportunities for students to gather, collaborate, and discuss shared interests
- Collaboration and Communication:Enhance community engagement and collaboration through transparent communication and initiatives that build strong interpersonal and professional networks within the department.
Alignment and Implementation:Our departmental goals are carefully mapped to the Faculty of Science’s “Future of Science Strategic Plan 2024-2029,” ensuring consistency with broader institutional priorities across innovative teaching, world-class research, and a safe and inclusive community. Accountability for each goal will be clearly assigned to specific leaders and stakeholder groups, ensuring that our strategic initiatives are both actionable and measurable.
Future Impact: By leveraging our established strengths, addressing budgetary and operational challenges, and nurturing a vibrant academic community, the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences is poised to remain a national and international leader in fundamental geoscience research and teaching. We are prepared to address critical Canadian and international societal concerns regarding water security, climate change, and the sustainable development of energy and mineral resources to support the transition to a low carbon economy. This strategic plan is our blueprint for ongoing research and teaching excellence, fostering innovation, and ensuring that our community is both resilient and ready to meet future challenges.