USask students leading the charge for sustainable solutions

Apr 25, 2025

For University of Saskatchewan (USask) students in the EVSC 485.3 Environmental Science Capstone and ENVS 401.3 Sustainability in Action courses, sustainability is more than just a buzzword. It’s a guiding principle for students seeking real-world solutions both on campus and in the broader Saskatchewan community.

These interdisciplinary courses bring together students from the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, SENS’s undergraduate certificate program, and the College of Arts and Science, representing the culmination of years of study and turning academic knowledge into actionable change.

“These projects can be simple in concept, but they require significant effort and creativity to execute,” said Dr. James Robson (PhD) of SENS. “It’s the thoughtful, impactful projects that truly highlight the achievements of these students.”

On April 1, students in six project groups will have the opportunity to showcase their work at the annual Sustainability Trade Show.

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Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.