On October 15, Trent University faculty and staff welcomed the inaugural class of the new Trent-Fleming Ecological Restoration program. Forty students who started the collaborative program at Fleming in September were at Trent to receive a formal introduction to the university where they will complete the B.Sc. portion of this exciting joint B.Sc. Honours and diploma program.

“I hope we will look back on today as a great historical moment,” said Dr. Tom Whillans, professor of Environmental and Resource Studies at Trent, during a lunchtime reception for the new students.

Dr. Christine McKinnon, vice president (academic) and dean of arts and science was also in attendance at the event to personally welcome the students to Trent. In her remarks she said, “We have several collaborative programs with Fleming but this one is particularly exciting. From what I have seen, this really looks like a very exciting new program.”

This sense of excitement was shared by the students themselves. “I am so excited about so much to do with this program,” said Anne Hatton, a student from London, Ontario.

Matthew Schmidt from Woodville, Ontario agreed, and commented on the unique opportunity this first group of students has to help develop a brand new program. “It feels like we are blazing the trail,” he said.

When asked why he became interested in the Ecological Restoration program, Jacob Gill of Caledonia said that he felt it was his “duty” to get involved and ensure our natural environment will be protected for future generations. “I see how our environment and society is degrading,” he said. “We need leaders to step in and I believe we can be those leaders, the people at the forefront of these important next steps.”

The Trent-Fleming Ecological Restoration program was created in response to growing concerns globally for the environment and the resulting needs for skilled and knowledgeable employees in the environmental sector. As an emerging discipline, Ecological Restoration will be vital in helping with the recovery of damaged, degraded or destroyed ecosystems.

“In many environmental science programs, focus tends to be on the ‘bad news’,” said Prof. Whillans. “A really exciting part of this program is its focus on the positive – looking at things that can be done to make a difference. Trent offers a perfect setting for a program like this. We can use our own campus as a demonstration project, as a means of exploring ecological restoration.”

For more information about the Trent-Fleming Ecological Restoration program, visit the website.