{"id":286726,"date":"2021-04-15T15:55:13","date_gmt":"2021-04-15T19:55:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yfiledev.uit.yorku.ca\/?p=286726"},"modified":"2025-04-02T11:50:03","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T15:50:03","slug":"student-experiences-benefit-the-planet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/yfile\/2021\/04\/15\/student-experiences-benefit-the-planet\/","title":{"rendered":"Student experiences benefit the planet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jos\u00e9 Etcheverry<\/strong>, an associate professor in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, is determined to help solve the world\u2019s current climate emergency by training students how to thrive in jobs focused on climate solutions.<\/p>\n

\"Jos\u00e9

Jos\u00e9 Etcheverry<\/p><\/div>\n

His latest federal grant from Co-operative Education Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada<\/a> is one small piece of a multi-pronged effort and he is confident that it will have a global impact. The grant provides funding to develop UNSDG Precision Agriculture, Renewable Energies & Sustainable Enterprise Training (UPARESET) and offer stipends for 55 students at York and other post-secondary institutions to participate in the training program.<\/p>\n

This extra-curricular training program runs from April 12 to May 15 and will largely be delivered online, given the current pandemic restrictions. Etcheverry, working with a number of community partners, will offer students practical training on precision agriculture, climate change solutions and local sustainable development strategies, using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs)<\/a> and the Earth Charter<\/a> as guidelines. The training will also be informed by the International Renewable Energy Academy<\/a> educational programs, Project Climate Change goals and the ArtsHelp<\/a> digital UNSDG program.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne silver lining to COVID-19 is the impact on online education,\u201d says Etcheverry. \u201cWe can now reach people in a way we never could before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another important lesson from COVID-19, Etcheverry says in reference to the rapid vaccine development, is that \u201cscience matters. When you combine science with public-private investment, miracles happen.\u201d He believes the same sense of urgency and determination can be applied to climate change, a potential tragedy \u201cwhich makes COVID-19 look like a walk in the park by comparison.\u201d<\/p>\n

Etcheverry\u2019s commitment dovetails nicely with ¿ì²¥ÊÓƵ\u2019s Academic Plan for 2021-2025, which states, \u201cOver the next five years, we will challenge ourselves as a University to deepen our collective contributions to the United Nations\u2019 seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). \u2026 This SDG Challenge will galvanize our community in coming together to engage critically with the SDGs and to take meaningful steps, both small and large, toward a more just and sustainable future.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 55 students taking part in the CEWIL grant will be working in groups with community partners on sustainability projects in a number of fields, including regenerative precision farming, Indigenous knowledge, hydroponics and aquaponics, business and mindfulness, economic development in at-risk neighbourhoods and permaculture. The community partners who are happy to share their knowledge with students include, among others:<\/p>\n