Sydney McIntyre (BSc ’22) has devoted her graduate studies to the potential of marine conservation designations and the problem of “paper parks.”

“Paper parks are conservation areas that are legally designated but are ineffective in their protection means,” says McIntyre. “I found that most of Atlantic Canada’s Marine Protected Areas were incompatible with the conservation of nature, as 99.64% of the total area being counted toward federal conservation efforts allow oil exploitation, oil transportation via tankers and high-impact fishing.”

Rotary Club of St. Catharines Past President Rick Evans (left) with Master of Sustainability students Sydney McIntyre (BSc ’22) and Kassie Burns (BSc ’22), ESRC Centre Administrator Amanda Smits, President of the Rotary Club of St. Catharines Oksana Fisher, and ESRC Graduate Program Director Jessica Blythe.

McIntyre was one of two Master of Sustainability students in Brock’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC) to receive The Rotary Club of St. Catharines Environmental Sustainability Graduate Scholarship, for which they were recognized at a luncheon on Thursday, March 28.

Kassie Burns (BSc ’22), also a recipient of the award, is studying the best strategies for enhancing community science to promote environmental sustainability and how to implement them.

Working in collaboration with the Excellence in Environmental Stewardship Initiative partnership between Brock University and Niagara Parks Commission (NPC), Burns analyzed different methods described in academic papers to provide recommendations for NPC and other community organizations that work to engage citizens on topics related to the environment.

“My research highlighted 16 examples of strategies for desired outcomes such as environmental education opportunities, participant engagement, connections to nature, environmental protection awareness and increased capacity in conservation-driven organizations,” says Burns. “The next step in my research involves making a summary guide for members of the NPC to use as a resource when designing community science events.”

Richard Evans, former President of The Rotary Club of St. Catharines, says that the scholarship reflects several of Rotary International’s priorities, including supporting education, growing local economies and, most recently added, protecting the environment.

“Protecting the Environment is the newest area since 2020, and was the area I chose, as President last year, to be our club’s focus for the 2022-2023 Rotary year,” says Evans. “Our club, over the years, has worked with Brock by giving donations for specific initiatives and establishing the Ted Lancaster fund, so my wish was to support the Environment area and to continue our club’s relationship with the University.”

Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director Jessica Blythe of the ESRC says that Rotary’s “incredible support for our students” can make a world of difference.

“The support that Rotary provides helps with economic pressures faced by graduate students so they can complete their valuable research and communicate that research to audiences across disciplines and outside of the University,” says Blythe. “I genuinely believe the support that these awards provide for our students allows them to thrive not only in the program but afterwards, too, as they become change agents for sustainability in the workforce.”

Both Burns and McIntyre have been hired locally to continue their work in the sustainability field after completing their degrees.