A Magazine for Alumni and Friends
We live in a time defined by political, social and environmental change. The impact of global warming, refugee crises around the world, political discontent and social upheaval dominate the headlines. While tackling each of these problems will not prove easy, the good news is the challenges they present are not insurmountable. And we can take heart that Laurier’s community of faculty, researchers, students, staff and alumni are playing a significant and positive role in addressing them.
Take Canada’s North, for example, where warming temperatures are creating significant change and challenges. Working to evaluate the nature of those changes and find solutions to address them is a significant focus for a growing number of Laurier researchers making use of northern research sites to investigate subjects including permafrost, forest ecology and northern food security, among many others. You’ll read about Laurier’s northern research initiatives — including the recent opening of a Laurier research office in Yellowknife — in this edition of Campus.
John Zronik
Laurier’s work in the North is just the beginning when it comes to the university’s role in addressing global challenges. As well as having sponsored three Syrian refugee families in Waterloo and Brantford, members of the Laurier community are working to address challenges presented by refugee crises around the world. Assistant Professor Bree Akesson, for example, has been researching how Syrian families who have taken refuge in Lebanon face significant hardships. She has also offered potential solutions to ensure dignity for those families. And in this edition of Campus you’ll read about research by Associate Professor Kim Rygiel, associate director of the Laurier-led International Migration Research Centre, who is looking at what makes some communities embrace newcomers and others reject them, with her research on refugee situations in Greece and Italy.
In addition to these efforts, Laurier faculty and students across the university are working to address some of the biggest social and political challenges facing Canada and the world. They are doing so in the Department of Political Science, at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, in the Faculty of Social Work, as part of the Global Studies program, and in many other departments.
These examples just scratch the surface in revealing the contributions the Laurier community is making to help create a better future. While the challenges we face often seem daunting, it’s heartening to know Laurier is making significant and constructive contributions toward creating a better world.
John Zronik
Editor, Campus magazine