The School of Geography & Earth Sciences will be renamed the School of Earth, Environment & Society on July 1.

“The School’s new name captures our major identities as researchers and reflects our strengths in the classroom, lab and out in the field,” says Director Bruce Newbold. “The new name also uses disciplinary titles that prospective undergraduate students more closely identify with and better understand.

“The addition of ‘society’ to the School’s name reflects the complex interactions and linkages between human societies and the built, human and natural environments that we live in and recognizes the role of geographers in placing this human context within the environment.”

The School’s name change was first proposed by faculty during a 2018 retreat. A committee chaired by Mike Waddington then consulted with students and alumni and reviewed similar Schools at other universities across North America. The School of Earth, Environment & Society was unanimously supported by faculty, and approved by the Senate and Board of Governors.

The School currently has approximately 320 BSc and BA students, 90 graduate students and 29 faculty.