Dr. Douglas Evans, professor emeritus at Trent’s School of the Environment and director of the International Institute for Environmental Studies (IIES), has been honoured by the Chinese province of Jiangsu for his work facilitating international collaboration on environmental research.

Nominated by colleagues at Nanjing University, Professor Evans is the recipient of the Jiangsu Province International Science and Technology Cooperation Award – the highest honour available to an international scientist in Jiangsu.

“It is certainly an honour to receive this award, but although it has been directed to me personally, it is only possible through the collective efforts of the many partners of the IIES,” Prof. Evans says.

The award, presented annually, honours outstanding international scientists or companies that have achieved scientific or technological success and have contributed to the local socio-economic development of the region.

IIES fosters international collaboration

Trent University and Nanjing University are founding members of the IIES, which now has 21 member institutions from across the globe who have leading programs in environmental science, engineering and policy. The IIES brings together faculty and students from around the globe, including China, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Korea, Finland and the United States, to facilitate joint research and foster an environment in which they can collaborate.

“While every institution recognizes the importance of internationalization, and especially of providing opportunities for students and faculty to be involved in research of an international scale, most institutions also recognize there is room for improvement in how this experience is delivered,” Prof. Evans says. “The Institute is a response to this need.”

IIES goes virtual through pandemic

Through the IIES, Trent graduate and undergraduate students are able to travel abroad for meetings, specialized workshops, graduate courses, group research projects and forums, which facilitate both research and networking.

Innovating through the pandemic, IIES continues to offer virtual options for faculty and students to present research and make professional connections.

“When the pandemic ends, we will resume our important in-person meetings,” Prof. Evans says. “In the meantime, through virtual activities, we continue to facilitate exciting and progressive research and an exchange of ideas through international collaboration.”

Learn more about IIES and Trent’s prestigious School of the Environment.