Sustainability in academics and research

• The Gustavson School of Business has been developing students' skills and awareness to do business sustainably and responsibly by building these values into core curricula for over 15 years. In that time, its importance has grown both in the world and in the minds of our students, faculty and staff, to the point that sustainability is now one of the four pillars of the school's mission and values. In 2011, the School launched the Centre for Social and Sustainable Innovation (CSSI), UVic's first intra-faculty centre, that connects teachers, researchers and community around building Gustavson's pillar of sustainability.

• The School of Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary program based on three pillars: ethnoecology, political ecology and ecological restoration. It has become one of Canada's most extensive academic programs focused on exploring and solving environmental issues in society. ES 200, an Introduction to Environmental Studies, has a unique focus on food security issues and is considered one of the largest classes in Canada focused on food issues with over 550 students enrolling annually.

• The Division of Continuing Studies offers a series of practical how-to courses and seminars on environmental sustainability for the campus and surrounding community. Courses are affordable and flexible, anddesigned for both personal and professional development. See their website for more info on their sustainably themed courses and diploma programs including the popular Ecological Restoration Professional Specialization Certificate.

The Redfish School of Change is an interactive and experiential field school designed for undergraduate students interested in food security, ecological sustainability, and social equity. Over the five week course, students participating in this interdisciplinary leadership program live and learn in some of the most beautiful places in British Columbia, while working alongside local food producers and ecological restorationists, and engaging with experts in the fields of environment and social justice. By accepting only sixteen students each year, the program provides customized instruction and support helping students to flourish and develop their capacity and confidence to lead home communities on the environmental issues.

The Department of Geography hosts a number of field schools that bring students out of the classroom into community and wilderness settings:

• Cascadia Sustainability Field School (GEOG 388 and 391)
• Coastal Field School (GEOG 424, 457 and 474)
• Hakai Field School (GEOG 453)
• Field Studies in Physical Geography (GEOG 477)

The Faculty of Social Sciences now offers an interdisciplinary service learning course,Working in the Community: Lessons in engagement (SOSC 300). Students take their learning out of the classroom as they complete 40 hours of voluntary work with a community organization. Students are expected to critically reflect on their practicum experience and its implications for social science scholarship and self development. Other classes include a community service learning component such as Personal Health, Wellness and Potential (EPHE 142).

The Enviornmental Law Clinic offers law students the opportunity to work under the supervision of a senior environmental lawyer to provide legal representation and legal assistance to community/conservation groups and First Nations, produce citizen handbooks and other public legal education materials, and advocate on a wide range of environmental law reform issues.

The UVic EcoCAR2 team is made up of UVic engineering faculty and students who are competing in the NeXT Challenge, a three year competition between universities sponsored by the US Department of Energy and General Motors. Students use a real-world engineering process to design and integrate their advanced technology solutions into a GM-donated vehicle.