Director's welcome

Tony Boydell

Welcome to the School of Environment and Sustainability at Royal Roads University. RRU is a public university offering innovative programs that link to our core values of sustainability, social development, change leadership and governance.

We learn, work and live on the traditional Lands of the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, who have lived here for thousands of years.

We believe that the environment is the backbone by which all human systems are supported and are inter-dependent and sustainability is, therefore, the greatest human imperative of the 21st century. Two of our most critical challenges are biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Our programs provide learners with a deeper understanding of the intersections between our ecological environment, our economic and our social systems, as well as the skills needed to tackle the problems modern society is currently facing. These programs are all situated within an integrated curriculum framework of learning, teaching and research.

Our school has a wonderful diversity of faculty who teach and actively research many of these issues, with a focus on topics such as climate change, sustainable community development, ecological and global processes, and legal frameworks, to name only a few.

Our programs’ graduates are trained interdisciplinary leaders, many of whom are actively applying their knowledge and skills gained at RRU in their subsequent career choices. Some of our graduates' stories can be read through the Royal Roads' Inspiring Connection's website with careers as varied as consulting biologist, natural resource manager, sustainability educator, watershed coordinator, engineering technician and many more.

At Royal Roads, we have a strong tradition of innovation. We will continue to offer our leading-edge environmental programs in the beautiful teaching and lab facilities of the Sherman Jen building with a great team of natural and social scientists and staff who believe in sharing their vision of transformative learning and scholarship designed to make a difference in the world.

Professor Tony Boydell

Director, School of Environment & Sustainability