USask students tackle sustainability beyond the classroom

Across the EVSC 485.3 Environmental Science Capstone and ENVS 401.3 Sustainability in Action courses, 50 students came together to explore eight unique projects and applied their learning to real-world sustainability challenges. These interdisciplinary projects go beyond environmental science to include community engagement, culture, and systems thinking, showing how social, cultural, and economic factors shape long-term sustainability. Together, they showcase the range of sustainability efforts on campus, and the impact students can have in creating practical, community-focused solutions.

“It’s the determination of this group that has really sparked some unique solutions to growing challenges,” said Dr. Colin Laroque (PhD), AgBio and EVSC 485.3 instructor. “We’re seeing students revisit and reimagine past work while also bringing forward entirely new ideas shaped by systems thinking.”

“Sustainability isn’t just a physical thing. It’s about how everything connects, from environmental systems to social and cultural realities,” said Dr. Vladimir Kricsfalusy (PhD), SENS and ENVS 401.3 instructor. “What’s encouraging about the work of this year’s capstone projects is seeing students recognize those connections and apply them in thoughtful, practical ways that can make a difference in local communities.”

Food waste remains a significant environmental and social challenge, yet awareness of its scale is often limited. The Food Loops project began with a campus-wide survey that revealed gaps in students’ understanding of how much food is wasted and the broader environmental and economic impacts associated with it.

In response, the group developed a website featuring recipes, educational materials, and data from outreach initiatives. Their work also includes community engagement through school visits and social media, helping to broaden the conversation beyond campus. While the group recognizes they cannot solve food waste on their own, they hope their efforts will create small, meaningful shifts that build over time.