York University’s Organized Research Units come together to fight against climate change

image shows a forest and stream

This March, York University celebrates the first-ever Climate Change Research Month with more than a dozen events, films and panels aimed at generating awareness of climate change research and mobilizing the University community to take action.

The events are hosted by York’s Organized Research Units (ORUs), which are synergistic hubs that stimulate interdisciplinary and collaborative research around a range of topics including feminist research, Indigenous knowledge and languages, refugee studies, space and science and more.

Each of the events demonstrate how climate change impacts every facet of life – including child development, mental health, faith, employment, equity and the economy. The events are open to the public. To learn more, click here.

“Climate change has consequences for every aspect of life and York University researchers are at the forefront of disciplinary and interdisciplinary investigations into what climate change means today and how to create a more sustainable future,” says Elaine Coburn, director of the Centre for Feminist Research and associate professor, International Studies at York University’s bilingual Glendon Campus.  

“By collaborating, the ORUs, including the York Centre for Asian Research, aim to bring together York University researchers with scholars and artists from across Canada and the world to showcase innovative research solutions, while generating awareness of and mobilizing action for climate change,” adds Abidin Kusno, director of the York Centre for Asian Research and professor in the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. 

In June 2020, York launched its University Academic Plan 2020-2025, which included a pan-University challenge to elevate York’s contributions to the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“Taking action against climate change is one of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and arguably the major crisis of our times,” says Yvonne Su, assistant professor in the Department of Equity Studies. “Our aim is to mobilize the community to recognize their individual and collective responsibility to mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis.”

Initiated and coordinated by the Centre for Feminist Research, Climate Change Research Month at York University involves the Centre for Indigenous Knowledges and Languages, the Centre for Refugee Studies, the Centre for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean, the City Institute at York University, the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, the Global Labour Research Centre, the Institute for Research on Digital Literacies, the Israel and Golda Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies, the LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Research, the Risk and Insurance Studies Centre, Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies, the Sensorium: Centre for Digital Arts and Technology, the York Centre for Asian Research, and the York University Centre for Aging Research and Education.

For more information and to learn about how to join an ORU, visit https://www.yorku.ca/research/organized-research-units/.