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  3. Sustainable Development Goal 15

Life On Land

Sustainable Development Goal 15 is about conserving life on land, including to protect and restore terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and stop biodiversity loss.

At the University of Regina, we organize events aimed to promote conservation and sustainable use of the land, including forests and wild spaces. We work directly to maintain and extend existing ecosystems and their biodiversity, of both plants and animals, and especially ecosystems under threat. Additionally, we include local biodiversity into planning and development process and follow land-sensitive waste disposal practices.

Related Courses

ART 820AS - Eco Art & Intermedia Research

This class will employ an intermedia approach to creating work that investigates critical place inquiry and environmental crisis. Focusing on processes which involve a minimal environmental impact, the student will explore intersections of 2D and 3D, performance, and photo documentation.

BIOL 276 - Environmental Biology

This course discusses the biological basis for environmental change and its impacts on human society and will review the patterns, causes and consequences of human-induced and natural environmental change. Topics will include: global warming, acid rain, ozone depletion, fisheries collapse, sustainable forestry, agriculture, biodiversity, and conservation. For Biology, Environmental Science and Environmental Studies Majors.
*** Prerequisite: BIOL 100 and 101, or BIOL 150 and ENST 200 ***

BIOL 316 - Conservation Biology

This course will examine processes that affect biodiversity. The goal of the course is to apply principles of ecology and evolution to understand the importance of biodiversity and the significance of recent human-induced changes. ***Prerequisites: BIOL 100 and 101, BIOL 275, STAT 100***

BIOL 335 - Limnology

Physical and chemical characteristics of lakes and streams. Nutrient cycling. Ecology of aquatic organisms. Food-web interactions in lakes. Human impact on freshwater ecosystems. History of lakes. Includes field work.
***Prerequisite: BIOL 275 or BIOL 276.***

BIOL 356 - Ecosystems Since Glaciation

Long-term ecosystem structure and dynamics provide the context for present day global change. This course examines ecosystem dynamics in the last 10,000 years, focusing on the last few centuries. Paleoecological methods and results of reconstructing such phenomena as acid rain, range changes, island biogeographies, and fire histories will be studied.
***Prerequisites: BIOL 275***

BIOL 399AC - Terrestrial Ecosystems

This course will examine factors regulating distribution and functioning of major temperate terrestrial ecosystems, and some tropical ecosystems, as well as their ecosystem processes. Factors: climate, geology, surficial deposits, soils, microorganisms, flora, fauna. Processes: disturbances (fire, wind, anthropic), succession, productivity and biomass, carbon capture and sequestration. Field trip (2 days) on 2nd weekend of semester. Laboratories.
***Prerequisite: BIOL 275 or permission of the dept. head***

BIOL 835AP - Natural Vegetation and Ecological Processes in Riparian Ecosystems

Natural vegetation and ecological processes occurring in riparian ecosystems (temperate zone and Prairies of Canada, adjacent US) will be described and discussed. Topics: natural vegetation, occurrence (current vs. historical), disturbance and succession, C and nutrient capture, soil processes (N, P, etc.), water movement, upland and aquatic interface interactions, plantations.

CHEM 491AH - Ionic Solutions

his reading course studies Volume I (Ionics) of Modern Electrochemistry (2nd edition, print 1998, e-book 2002), by Bockris and Reddy; e-book available via our Archer Library. The student will learn more about ionic solutions: solvation structure and energies, activity coefficients, ion diffusion and conductivity, and ionic liquids.

CHEM 857AH - Ionic Solutions

This reading course studies Volume I (Ionics) of Modern Electrochemistry (2nd edition, print 1998, e-book 2002), by Bockris and Reddy; e-book available via our Archer Library. The student will learn more about ionic solutions: solvation structure and energies, activity coefficients, ion diffusion and conductivity, and ionic liquids.

ECON 274 - Ecological Economics

A study of the economy as a system embedded within earth systems. The course explores questions like: What are the key energy and material flows in the economy? Can economic activity be decoupled from environmental impact? How should we define and achieve sustainability?
***Prerequisite: ECON 100 or 15 credit Hours.***
*Note: Students may receive credit for one of ECON 274 or ECON 296AH.*

ECON 275 - Energy Economics

A study of basic economic concepts underlying energy production and consumption. Topics include: the structure of the energy sector including ownership structures and regulation; conventional and emerging energy resources; environmental impacts, economic development, and geopolitics surrounding energy production and consumption.
***Prerequisite: ECON 100 or 15 credit hours.***
*Note: Students may receive credit for one of ECON 275 or ECON 296AL.*

ECON 372 - Natural Resource Management on the Prairies

Problems in the prairie oil/gas, timber, uranium, potash, power generation and water management sectors; preservation of prairie ecosystems; application of theory to determine how best to deal with these problems.
***Prerequisite: ECON 201***

EMBA 860 - Business, Government & Society

This course focuses on the complex ecosystem within which firms operate, including stakeholder relationships and the societal, political and legal arrangements and expectations that condition firm behaviour. Cases deal with governmental bodies, activists and interest groups, and other constituencies of the firm across a wide spectrum of issues and public policy.

ENEV 421 - Environmental Design and Impact

Environmental factors and their assessment with particular reference to engineering projects. Topics include mitigation measures and standards.
*** Prerequisite: ENEV 321***

ENEV 801 - Environmental Systems Engg

Systems engineering and mathematical modelling concepts. Application of systems approach to ecological systems (aquatics), natural transport systems (aquatic), water resources systems, terrestrial systems and engineering planning including environmental impact assessment. Surface water pollution by toxic substances.

ENEV 862 - Environmental Decision Making

Optimization modelling for environmental management systems. Linear programming, separable and integer programming, transportation models, dynamic programming, and their application to a variety of environmental engineering problems.

ENEV 886DC - Multivariate Cluster and Discriminant Analysis for Environmental Planning

A series of cluster analysis (e.g., stepwise cluster analysis) and discriminant analysis (e.g., Bayesian discriminant analysis) methods will be included in this graduated level directed reading course. Combined multivariate cluster and discriminant analysis methods for climate-change adaptation and environmental management planning will be further introduced in this course.

ENGG 303 - Engineering Economics and Project Management

Fundamentals of engineering economics and project financials.Social and environmental design making, time value of money, cash flows, interest, equivalence, cost estimation and comparative costing, replacement analysis, capital projects, sensitivity analysis, balance sheets. Project management concepts, skills, tools and techniques including cost, scope, quality, resources, communication, risk, procurement and stakeholder management.
***Prerequisite: STAT 289 and ECON 201.***

ENIN 455 - Energy Systems

Examination of a variety of existing and potential systems involving production, consumption, and environmental impact of chemical, electrical, and mechanical energy. Energy systems. Heat transfer and thermodynamic analysis. Economic analysis.
*** Prerequisite: ENIN 253 ***

ENPC 880AS - Advanced Topics in Carbon Finance

This course will explore the economic and environmental impacts of using carbon-based energy resources. The financial tools and techniques that can be applied to combat climate change will be investigated. The class will also discussed venture capital to develop low emissions technologies and project finance to build clean energy projects.

ENSE 485 - Data Systems Engineering

The course focuses on big-data models for discovering knowledge. The course showcases big-data workflows, tools, algorithms and ecosystem and explains SQL and NoSQL databases.
***Prerequisites: ENSE 374 and CS 340***
*Note: Students may not receive credit for both ENSE 496AF to ENSE 485*

ENVS 100 - Introduction to Indigenous Environmental Science

This course will introduce students to the conceptual framework of the environment by examining its physical, biological, and social components with Indigenous perspectives. General topics will include: ecological principles and the responses of ecosystems to disturbance, population growth, biodiversity and conservation, and environmental sustainability.

ENVS 200 - Indigenous Environmental Law

This course provides students with a comprehensive overview of environmental law, regulation and policy at the provincial and federal levels. Students will also be introduced to land use and environmental protection, natural resource development, rights associated with hunting, fishing and gathering, and approaches to Indigenous lands and resources.
***Prerequisite: 15 credit hours***

GBUS 841 - International Marketing

This course will introduce the student to environmental factors affecting international marketing and the similarities and differences versus domestic marketing; the knowledge and skills in administering the international marketing function; and evaluation of the impact of recent environmental changes on international marketing.

GEOL 201 - Internal Processes of the Earth

Internal earth processes and materials composing the earth. The geological time scale. Deformation and structures of earth materials. Plate tectonics, continental drift and mountain building. Earth resources.
*** Prerequisite: Students must pass GEOL 102 with a minimum grade of 60%. ***

GEOL 270 - Earth Resources and the Environment

An intermediate course focused on origin, global distribution, use and environmental impact of earth resources, metallic minerals, energy resources, industrial minerals, and the social, economic and political implications of mineral resources.
*** Prerequisite: GEOL 102 ***
* Note: GEOL 270 may not be taken by students who have passed GEOL 472 and/or GEOL 470. *

GEOL 890AC - Directed Readings in Earth Systems Evolution

Advanced readings will focus on how the Earth's surface environments have evolved over time, the advent and acceptance of plate tectonics, and how geological processes underly the biogeochemical cycling of elements. The student will gain a more complete understanding of the Earth system and gain valualbe skills in presenting and grant writing.

GEOL 890AE - Precambrian Tectonic Processes

Overview of Precambrian geology with emphasis on possible differences in tectonic processes in the Archean versus Proterozoic/Phanerozoic, and related discussion of important evolutionary changes in the earth system.

GES 232 - Geography of Recreation and Tourism

Employing multiple analytical approaches, this course examines the economic, social, cultural, and environmental factors and processes of recreation and tourism, and their implications on the environment, space, and place, at a variety of geographical and temporal scales.
***Prerequisite: GES 100 or GES 120, or permission of the Department Head.***
*Note: Students may receive credit for only one of GES 232, GEOG 232, or GEOG 332.*

GES 297AB - Environment and Society

This course introduces students to sociological perspectives on the relationship between society and the natural environment. The course examines the environmental impact of the actions of individuals, businesses and governments. Specific topics might include climate change, environmental degradation, sustainability and environmental movements and conflicts.
***Prerequisite: Completion of 12 credit hours or GES 120 or GES 121 or permission of department head.***
*Note: Students may receive credit for one of GES 297AB or SOC 230.*

GES 329 - Soil Geography

Introduction to the properties and classification of soil. The geography of soil at local, regional, and global scales. Relationship of soil to geomorphology, climate, water, vegetation, and environmental change.
***Prerequisite: 30 credit hours including GES 121 or permission of the Department Head.***
*Note: Students may receive credit for only one of GES 329, GEOG 329 or GEOL 329.*

GES 396AN - The Place of Craft Beer

Is craft beer a sustainable practice for building local community? Topics include the geography of craft beer, environmental impacts, economic development, labour market, gender, and relationships to the local.
***Prerequisite: 30 credit hours including one of GES 100 or GES 120, or permission from the Department Head.***
*Note: Students may receive credit for only one of GES 396AN and GEOG 396AN.*

GES 409 - Advanced Spatial Analysis and Visualization (GIS)

Advanced topics in geomatics exploring the coupling and integration of computer-assisted cartography, geostatistics and analysis, GIS, and remote sensing. Students will work in small groups to design geomatics solutions addressing selected planning, environmental management or research problems.
***Prerequisite: GES 303, GES 307, and GES 309 or permission of the Department Head.***
*Note: Students may only receive credit for one of GES 409 and GEOG 409.*

GES 421 - Topics in Climatology and Meteorology

Weather and human activities. Response to weather hazards: hurricanes, thunderstorms, droughts. World climate regions. Climate change. Human impact of weather, weather forecasting and climatological information. Anthropogenic effects on the atmosphere.
***Prerequisite: GES 321 or permission of the Department Head.***
*Note: Students may receive credit for only one of GES 421 and GEOG 421.*

IS 390AL - Indigenous Human Rights

Current developments at the international level with respect to rights of Indigenous peoples, particularly at the level of the United Nations is the focus. It reviews the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous peoples (UNDRIP) with special attention to issues of violence against women, child removal and environmental degradation.
***Prerequisite: IS 100 (formerly INTL 100) or 30 credit hours***

PSYC 890BQ - Environmental Psychology

Climate change and biodiversity loss may be the central problems of our era, and are central factors underlying many global human problems. Human behaviour is both a cause and an important solution to these issues, so this course will examine how psychological knowledge can contribute to solving environmental problems.

SOC 230 - Environment and Society

This course introduces students to sociological perspectives on the relationship between society and the natural environment. The course examines the environmental impact of the actions of individuals, businesses and governments. Specific topics might include climate change, environmental degradation, sustainability and environmental movements and conflicts.
***Prerequisites: Completion of 12 credit hours or SOC 100 or permission of department head.***
*Note: SOC 100 is required for all majors in Sociology.*
*Note: Students may receive credit for one of SOC 230 or GES 297AB.*

WGST 421 - Feminism, Women, and Globalization

An examination of the conditions of women's lives in a global context. Engaging feminist theoretics within postcolonialism, anti-racism and civil rights locations, this course examines women's issues such as poverty, environmental degradation, labour, power, and so forth and subsequent feminist responses generated from a variety of geo-political locations.
***Prerequisite: WGST 100 and WGST 200, or the Department Head.***