Projects
IRIS has been a leading force in the development of knowledge that provides insight into the scientific, economic, social, environmental and cultural aspects of sustainability. For more information on our collaborative sustainability research, please explore the current and past project links below.
Campus Sustainability Projects
- Waste on Campus
During the 2009-2010 academic year, IRIS is investigating the state of waste on campus. We have conducted our survey of students, staff and faculty, and are currently analyzing the data, as well as carrying out additional research with stakeholders on campus, and secondary research. - Food Sustainability on Campus
During the 2008-2009 academic year, IRIS focused on addressing food sustainability on campus. We worked with the University, as well as independent food providers in York Lanes and the Student Centre to work towards greening choices and packaging. - UFORE – Urban Forest Effects Model
During the summers of 2007 and 2008 students completed an inventory of the University’s trees. The report “The Value of the Keele Campus Urban Forest” was launched on February 8th, 2010 at the IRIS Speaker Series. - Carbon Offsetting
During 2006-2008, IRIS, in collaboration with the University Bookstore and Zerofootprint, worked to have all the course kits offset. This program is now part of YORKW!SE. We also issued a report on students attitudes about offsetting and climate change. - Campus Sustainability Blueprint
IRIS has been doing research on campus sustainability since 2006. We have now published our report “IRIS: Campus Hub for Sustainability Research”.
Ontario/Regional Projects
- London Deer Project
IRIS has been engaged by the City of London to conduct the following study “The Effects of White-tailed Deer Browsing on different Vegetation Community Types in Three Environmentally Significant Areas in the City of London”. - Assessment of Invasive Alien Species in Ontario
Post-doctoral fellow Andrea Smith is leading this initiative in close consultation with the Ontario Biodiversity Science Forum and the Ontario Biodiversity Council. - Sustainability Courses
IRIS is currently working with other stakeholder groups at York University to develop continuing education courses in sustainability for various professional groups. - Invasive Species in the Northwest Territories
IRIS was contracted by the Government of the Northwest Territories Environment and Natural Resources Department to recommend a strategy for the monitoring of invasive alien species.
National/International Projects
- Climate Justice
IRIS has a number of climate initiatives underway:- COP15 – A delegation of York faculty and students attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.
- www.globalclimatejustice.net – Working with ECOAR, a Brazilian NGO, IRIS is creating a website for vulnerable communities to share their stories about how they are adapting to climate change.
- Ecojustice Conference – April 2009. Speakers from India, Brazil, South Africa and Arctic Canada spoke on how disenfranchised peoples will adapt to climate change.
- Gas, Arctic Peoples, and Security (GAPS) Initiative
A fully endorsed International Polar Year (IPY) project, funded through the Canadian and Norwegian IPY programs, GAPS is looking at the impacts of oil and gas on arctic peoples using the human security framework. - Sustainable Water in Mongolia (SWiM)
A Students for Development project of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) - Adaptive Visions of Water in the Middle East (AVOW)
IRIS is a supporting partner in Professors Eric Abitbol and Stuart Schoenfeld’s research into water issues in the Middle East. Please visit the main project webpage, Eric’s project profile at the University of Bradford, UK, and a letter that Eric and Stuart published in The Walrus, one of Canada’s leading magazines.
Past Research Projects
In addition to these multi-partner, multi-year research projects that IRIS has either directed or participated in over the years, IRIS has also supported individual student initiatives in various aspects of sustainability. Please see our list of Junior Fellows for more information.
