What does sustainability look like in practice? At Mount Royal University, it's not defined by a single project or discipline, but by a range of efforts happening across campus and beyond.
To mark Earth Day 2026, we're taking a look at different ways the MRU community is contributing to a more sustainable future. Aligned with this year's theme, Our Power, Our Planet, these efforts point to a common thread: lasting change is built through shared responsibility and everyday action.
Global research and local resilience
A look at some of the MRU scholars who are documenting our changing world and informing the policies that protect it.
Dr. Ranjan Datta, PhD
Associate professor in the Department of Humanities, Canada Research Chair in Community Disaster Research (Tier 2)
With 17 years of experience working alongside Indigenous communities worldwide, Datta, recently contributed to the UN Environment Programme's landmark publication, Global Environment Outlook 7. As one of 287 scientists involved in this comprehensive global assessment, Datta provided critical insights on Indigenous water sovereignty and the essential role of land-based knowledge in the climate crisis.
In Canada's Arctic, he collaborates with Indigenous communities to integrate traditional knowledge into research addressing climate threats. This work is supported by interdisciplinary partnerships at MRU, including collaboration with Dr. Felix Nwaishi, Canada Research Chair in Ecosystem Science (Tier 2).
Dr. Caroline MacDonald-Harker, PhD
Associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
As a sociologist, MacDonald-Harker examines the social, psychological and environmental impacts of disasters on families and communities. Her work explores how events like floods and forest fires shape mental health and perceptions of risk, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and adolescents.
By demonstrating how disaster experiences can shift our understanding of human-environment relationships, her research informs policies and community strategies that strengthen resilience. Ultimately, her findings promote adaptive and socially responsive approaches to environmental change, highlighting the protective benefits of sustainable practices.
Dr. Trevor King, PhD
Associate professor in the Department of Health and Physical Education
As Canadian summers grow longer and hotter, forest fire smoke has become an unavoidable reality for outdoor workers and recreationalists alike. To understand the risks of this sweltering haze, King, an expert on the cardiovascular system, investigates how the body is impacted by exercising in heavy smoke.
He specifically studies blood vessel function and how physiological factors such as blood flow and artery stiffness are affected during periods of smoke. Through his research, King aims to develop strategies to mitigate the impacts of forest fire smoke on human health.
Miistakis Institute
As Mount Royal's only affiliated research institute, the Miistakis Institute advances environmental sustainability by connecting academic research with real-world conservation. Working with faculty, students and external partners, the institute supports informed land-use decisions and develops practical solutions for resilient ecosystems. Its work focuses on ecological connectivity, biodiversity and nature-based solutions to address challenges such as habitat fragmentation and climate resilience.
Perspectives on progress
Sustainability is a campus-wide conversation with countless contributors. We caught up with a few more members of the MRU community to get their take on how their specific areas of focus from biology to business fit into the larger puzzle.
Dr. Beth Richardson, PhD
Assistant professor in the Department of Biology
How does your work with environmental DNA contribute to long-term environmental monitoring and sustainability?
Environmental DNA sequencing is a technology where we can analyse all of the living things found in samples from anywhere on Earth, from agricultural soil to lake sediment to ocean water to Arctic permafrost. By monitoring what species are living in different environments and how they change over time, we can better understand how humans impact the environment directly, or through global processes like climate change.
In my research, we are especially interested in how microbes in polar and other Northern environments respond to exposure to additional environmental stresses like oil spills and road salt runoff.
Dr. Paul Varella, PhD
Professor in the Bissett School of Business
How do environmental and institutional forces shape corporate decision-making? And why is responsible management important for advancing sustainability?
Businesses don't operate in isolation, they're shaped by regulations and the expectations of the communities around them. My research explores how these pressures influence corporate decision-making on sustainability, and how the right responsible managers can turn those pressures into genuine sustainable development.
For MRU students, this research matters directly. I bring real-world cases into the classroom, showing how companies and environmental NGOs have collaborated to produce green innovations that go beyond compliance. Students learn not just what responsible management looks like, but why it's essential for tackling today's environmental challenges. For society, the stakes are even higher. When organizations move sustainability from symbolic policy to substantive action, the benefits extend far beyond the boardroom, fostering cleaner industries and stronger sustainable communities. My goal is to help form graduates who understand this, and who are equipped to lead environmental action from the get go.
Dr. Mauricio Latapí, PhD
Assistant professor in the Bissett School of Business
Why is it important for institutions and organizations to make their sustainability work visible? How does this contribute to broader environmental progress?
Institutions and organizations play a critical role in addressing today's interconnected challenges, including climate change, global geopolitical instability and social inequality. In this context, making sustainability practices visible is not only a matter of accountability but also of leadership. Transparency allows others to learn from successful practices and common mistakes.
Achieving meaningful environmental impact, particularly reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, is a complex and long-term challenge that requires collective action. By showcasing their initiatives, institutions can provide concrete examples of how progress can be made, helping inspire future leaders. After all, visibility fosters inspiration and momentum. It signals that change is possible, encourages collaboration and helps align efforts across sectors.
Jamie Dardarian
Sustainability specialist, Facilities Management
How do MRU's campus operations contribute to sustainability?
Facilities Management (FM) operations are focused on continuous improvement, responsible stewardship and implementing best practices for asset management on campus. The current development of FM's Energy Management Plan and Facility Condition Assessment provides us with critical building and building system lifecycle data, allowing us to make strong, data-driven and sustainable decisions. Work done prioritizes more efficient or lower carbon replacements in building maintenance schedules.
The Grounds department within FM works hard to ensure vast biodiversity on campus grounds, is phasing out synthetic fertilizer usage and maintains a healthy tree canopy on MRU's greenspaces. Increasingly, FM is working to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students on campus regarding sustainability initiatives with educational tours, class "Campus as a Living Lab" project opportunities and summer student positions.
