The Canadian Association of Geographers / Statistics Canada Student Award for Research into Human Impacts on the Canadian Environment

This award is given:

• to an undergraduate student in geography and/or environmental studies/science
• for the best paper examining impacts of human activity on Canada's environment
• by Statistics Canada and the Environment and Resources Study Group of the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG).

This award was established to:

• recognize and promote undergraduate research on Canada's environment; and
• encourage the use of Statistics Canada's data in the area of environmental analysis.

Winners

• 2004 – Catherine Drouin, Département de géographie, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, catherine_drouin@uqtr.ca, « Transport des matières dangereuses, dispersion atmosphérique des produits déversés et populations vulnérables : approche géographique pour l'analyse du risque »
• 2003 – Andrew Stegemann, Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University, andrew_stegemann@hotmail.com, "Fish Farming: Choosing the Wisest Course in the Face of Scientific Uncertainty"

The winning student receives:

• a year's membership in the CAG (including the Environment and Resources Study Group);
• an opportunity to present his/her paper in a special session of the CAG national annual conference (or one of the regional CAG conferences) at which a certificate and letter of commendation will be presented;
• a subsidy of $750 towards the cost of registration, travel and living expenses to enable attendance at the CAG national annual conference (or one of the regional CAG conferences);
• nation-wide publication of his/her name on the Statistics Canada and CAG Environment and Resources Study Group Web sites, and publication of the complete paper in the CAG Environment and Resources Study Group newsletter; and
• complimentary copies of the most recent annual and quinquennial editions of Human Activity and the Environment, Statistics Canada's flagship environmental publication.

Eligibility

All undergraduate students in departments of geography and/or environmental studies/science in postsecondary institutions across Canada may apply.

How to apply

Students must submit:

1. A cover letter; and
2. A paper (maximum of 2,000 words) that includes the following:
   • the problem or question studied
   • the design or methodology (including data sources)
   • statistical findings
   • conclusions and a statement of significance.

Students are directed to Human Activity and the Environment as a model for their papers.

See also http://geography.lakeheadu.ca/cag/ersg/student_awards.htm for examples of award-winning essays from past years.

Applications should be sent by e-mail no later than March 31 to:

Ben Bradshaw, bbradsha@uoguelph.ca
Environment and Resources Study Group
Department of Geography
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
Phone: ( 519) 824-4120 ext 58460

Selection criteria include:

• significance of the problem;
• quality of the results;
• general clarity, insight and originality of the work; and
• effectiveness in the use of Canadian environmental data.

For more information, please contact:

• Ben Bradshaw, University of Guelph, bbradsha@uoguelph.ca, (519) 824-4120 ext 58460;
• Daniel Lagarec, University of Ottawa, dlagarec@uottawa.ca, (613) 562-5704 
• Patrick Adams, Project Manager, Environment Accounts and Statistics Division, Statistics Canada, patrick.adams@statcan.ca, (613) 951-3473; or
• Joel Yan, Coordinator, University Liaison Programme, Statistics Canada, joel.yan@statcan.ca, 1 800 465-1222, (613) 951-2858