Bishop’s University is located in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, and is surrounded by forests, rivers, lakes, and a variety of wetlands. We have the perfect surroundings for environmentally focused students.
Sustainability-related courses and programs
Biodiversity and Ecology
Part of the biology program, the Biodiversity and Ecology concentration is for Students interested in wildlife biology, ecology, zoology, plant science, and/or the environment. This degree prepares students for employment or graduate studies in these varied environmental and organismal fields. See the Biology and Biochemistry website for more information.
Environment and Geography
The Department of Environment, Agriculture and Geography offers a wide variety of courses focusing on the intersection of humans and the natural environment. In order for a complete understanding of the human-environment interactions, people need to understand the science of the natural world, and the impacts humans are having on their environment, whether they be at a local, regional or global scale. We must understand how and why the environment is changing. Global warming, acid precipitation, ozone depletion, waste management and water conservation are issues which require thorough examination in or that proper decision-making processes can be implemented by leaders in government, industry and non-governmental organizations. We carefully and systematically examine all aspects of the environment so that our graduates can play an important role in the future of our environment. See the Department of Environment, Agriculture and Geography website for more information.
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS)
Do you wish to become an active participant in making a difference in the world? Change how you think globally and act locally? Acquire skills in ecological food production, a comprehensive understanding of how agroecosystems work, and earn an internationally recognized “Permaculture Design Certificate”?
All of this is offered within the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS) programs in the Department of Environment, Agriculture and Geography. The emphasis of the SAFS programs is on improving the sustainability of all aspects of agriculture and food systems – focusing on the social, economic and environmental aspects of agriculture in order to help students develop a thorough understanding of food systems from farm to table and beyond.
For more information, please visit the SAFS website.
Micro-Program in Climate Change
Finding solutions to the problems brought on by climate change requires educating a new generation of global citizens well-versed in the concepts, issues, and challenges associated with such a complex topic. Bishop’s University has responded to this need by developing a new graduate-level Micro-Program in Climate Change. The program, the first English-language program of its kind in Québec, will offer instruction from leading experts on the science of climate change, its impacts, and strategies for its mitigation.
Courses relating to Sustainable Development
Sustainability spans beyond the Environmental studies and science departments at Bishop’s. In order to understand sustainable development one must research the diversity of culture, language, resource management, plants, animals, insects, and thought.
Exposure to various areas of study allows students to meet new professors and peers while exploring different areas of interest. Take a look at the array of courses relating to sustainability offered at Bishop’s University.
Sustainability-related Research
The Educational Farm is a living land laboratory for exploring solutions to agriculture and food systems challenges. The farm provides a platform for participatory research in order to improve organic crop varieties and agroecological practices in the context of a four-season climate. The farm provides a place to experiment and drive agroecological science forward, contributing to a transition towards more sustainable agriculture and food systems both in Quebec and globally.
For more information, visit the Educational Farm website.
Working in collaboration with the Consortium de Recherche sur la Pomme de Terre du Québec, the nearly $400,000 three-year (2020-2023) research project is aimed at working with farmers to develop and test organic breeds of potatoes that are pest resilient and adapted to cold climates. Part of the project will take place at the Bishop’s University Educational Farm, and involve SAFS students.
Joining forces with biology researchers Drs. Dany Garant and Denis Réale, respectively of the Université de Sherbooke and Université du Québec à Montréal, and Dr. Denis Petitclerc, retired research scientist at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the newly-formed “Agro-Biodiversity Team” will study how agricultural practices influence environmental quality by comparing bio-indicator species development between conventional/industrial and organic farms. The campus farm is one of the test sites for this project, and B.U. students will be involved in the research.
Learning from the future: mainstreaming disruptive solutions for the transition to sustainable food systems
At the Lighthouse Lab, we believe that a radically better food future is possible. Our research demonstrates what these improved food systems could look like and identifies the transformation pathways to achieve them. ‘Lighthouses’ are innovative farms and agrifood businesses that act as ‘pockets of the future in the present,’ showcasing successful examples of sustainable and just food systems beyond the limits of conventional agriculture. These lighthouses contribute to local food diversity, practice agroecological farming, support biodiversity conservation, promote gender equity and social justice, and introduce social innovations to localize the food system.
Dr. Vivian Valencia, Dr. Bryan Dale, Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Julia Ros Cuellar, students, and interns collaborate closely with lighthouse farmers to understand their challenges and identify leverage points that could help them become enduring models of sustainable agriculture (as part of the emerging movement of Les Fermes Pérennes) and support new agroecological farmers. For more information, contact Dr. Vivian Valencia, Research Chair in Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Action.
Illustration conceptualization and creation by AGR471 students Frédérique Leblanc-Piette, Mathieu Garceau-Tremblay, and Kade Steffen.
Funding Opportunities
B.E.S.T. Project Fund
The B.E.S.T. Project Fund is the premiere experiential learning opportunity at Bishop’s. This unique fund is intended to assist students to determine their career paths and realize their ambitions. The funds are awarded to students whom the Selection Committee believes have the potential for significant achievement and impact once they graduate from Bishop’s. Find out more on the B.E.S.T. Project Fund website.
The Green Levy
Ever heard of La Tasse or Bishop’s Bees? These are just two examples of successful Green Levy Project applications. Bishop’s University offers funding through the Green Levy to help and complete sustainability projects on our campus. With the help of the Sustainable Development Action Group, we work towards the implementation and continuation of ideas and projects brought forward by students concerning sustainable development.
For more opportunities, see the Scholarships, Awards and Bursaries web page.