In the first six months of 2011, the time absolutely whizzed by. In fact, in the 5 years, since I took on the assignment of being Director of IRIS, time has accelerated ever more rapidly. I began my third 12-month sabbatical on July 1st 2011 – they happen every 7 years – but it was not until the end of July that I have finally cleared off the last of several administrative obligations. When I tell friends and family that I am on sabbatical, they generally look on with envy and quite a few sarcastic comments. This is not surprising, because not many careers have the built in idea of a sabbatical. BUT, just to give an idea of how hectic my life was in June, just before the sabbatical began: I squeezed in field work in Iceland and business meetings in Oxford University during  a 10-day family vacation to see aged relatives! Here’s some shots of grass collecting in Iceland!

The following is from the Wednesday July 13, 2011 edition of YFile

Healthy, affordable and culturally diverse food is on the menu at the Shoreham Food Market opening Thursday, July 14 and serving the York University and Black Creek communities.

The market will operate at the Shoreham Public School, 31 Shoreham Dr. in North York, every Thursday until Oct. 28, from 3 to 7pm.

In addition to food, there will be local vendors selling everything from jewelry to clothing, as well as activities for children and health nutrition education. There are plenty of opportunities for more vendors, so anyone who is interested in selling goods at the market should contact Kidist at yorkcec@yorku.ca.

The York University-TD Community Engagement Centre is one of the organizers of the market and this is one of its many outreach initiatives.

“Accessing fresh, healthy, low-cost food can be a challenge for residents in the Jane-Finch area.

The following is from the Wednesday, June 22, 2011 edition of the YFile

York environmental studies Professor Peter Victor has been named the recipient of this year’s prestigious Canada Council Molson Prize in the social sciences for outstanding lifetime achievement.

Victor, a renowned research professor in York University’s Faculty of Environmental Studies, is being recognized for his trailblazing research which has led to the emergence of a new discipline named ecological economics. The $50,000 Molson Prize is presented by the Canada Council for the Arts in collaboration with the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council.

Two awards are bestowed upon Canadian scholars annually to honour their lifetime achievements and ongoing contributions to Canada’s cultural and intellectual life. Prizes are awarded in the social sciences and humanities category, or in the arts, with one prize offered in each category.

The following appeared on the San Tan Valley Today website Wednesday June 15th 2011

June 15, 2011 — Many people think the next big job boom will happen in the area of sustainability. Research from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University shows a huge percentage of employers are already giving positive weight to job candidates with sustainability skills. However, the same research indicates these job applicants also need professional training in existing fields, to push them over the top in the hiring process.

“Right now, sustainability jobs in business are linked to existing organizational structures,” says W. P. Carey School of Business Professor Kevin Dooley, who authored the research. “You’re probably not going to find a sustainability department in many companies, but employees with skills and interest in sustainability will get assigned to related projects and move up the ladder.