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Environmental Studies

At the School of Environmental Studies, we're a passionate community working toward a future where people and the planet thrive together. Our students are problem-solvers and future leaders ready to tackle today's biggest challenges. Together, we blend Indigenous wisdom, ecological science and social insight to confront issues like climate change head-on. 

ES undergrads cycle through nature on a field day with the Redfish School of Change

Our world, our future

Join us at UVic's School of Environmental Studies and be empowered to drive positive change for a better world, creating respectful and healthy communities. Together, we aim to find place-based solutions that honour both the planet and its diverse inhabitants.

Dive into a world where learning isn't just about books — it's about engaging and making a difference. Expand your knowledge, fuel your passion and become the change we so urgently need.

Announcements

Wave of Change - Lucas Harris

May 24, 2024

ES Alumni Lucas Harris shares his journey from a passionate surfer to a dedicated environmental advocate in this month's Torch magazine. His role as the executive director of Surfrider Foundation...

Congratulations to our 2023-24 Excellence Award recipients!

May 14, 2024

We are thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2023-24 Excellence Awards within our environmental studies community. Thank you to those graduate students below for your dedication and commitment...

Invitation to apply: New ENVI Faculty position

April 16, 2024

We are seeking a new Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies (Indigenous)! Deadline to apply is September 15, 2024 with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2025. Find more information on the...

Congratulations to our ES Rising Stars of 2024

March 11, 2024

Congratulations to our Environmental Studies Rising Stars for 2023-24! Dorothy Hodgins - President's Scholarship & Lorene Kennedy Field Course Award Sarah Mastromonaco...

TCA: Shaping a Sustainable Future

February 1, 2024

In the face of climate change, ENVI Professor Kara Shaw has created the Transformative Climate Action (TCA) certificate program at UVic. This interdisciplinary program equips students with the...

Our commitment to racial justice and decolonization

The School of Environmental Studies at UVic acknowledges that the field of environmental studies has mostly included white individuals, which Dorceta Taylor refers to as the "Green Insiders Club." This white colonial dominance has not only weakened the discipline but also the larger environmental movement. We are dedicated to changing and questioning these old ways by using new approaches focused on decolonization and racial justice. Our goal is to highlight and learn from perspectives and experiences that have been overlooked in the past.

If you believe that we are not living up to this vision, please share your thoughts with us.

News

Open A healthier ocean for all

A healthier ocean for all

Learn how one UVic graduate student's quest to build her own community and share her passion for the marine science is shaping the next generation of ocean professionals.

Open Art history passion fuels international experience

Art history passion fuels international experience

Taking online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic at 3 a.m. India-time may not have been the ideal first-year experience, but it didn’t deter Aashna Kulshreshtha from enthusiastically pursuing...

Open Distance learning helps Calgary grad balance life

Distance learning helps Calgary grad balance life

When Maddy Yonkers crosses the stage for convocation at the University of Victoria in June to receive her bachelor’s degree, it will be the first time she has set foot on the island.

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Territory acknowledgement

We acknowledge and respect the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands, and the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.