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Co-op, Resource and Environmental Management
Chase Goals
Forget sleeping late and beach days, second-year SFU student Brennan Strandberg-Salmon spent his summer chasing green city goals while working with the City of Vancouver.
Armed with an electric bike and a tool box, Brennan, a resource and environmental management student (REM), completed his first co-operative education placement as a water efficiency advisor at the city.
To help Vancouver reach its goal of becoming the greenest city in the world, Brennen visited neighborhoods and residents to assess automatic irrigation systems and offered technical advice on how to water lawns and gardens more efficiently.
During his four-month co-op term he helped reduce outdoor water use by an impressive 30 per cent.
“I learned how local governments operate and how broad city aspirations translate into concrete action through public engagement," says Brennan. "It’s incredible to witness the power of public engagement.”
It’s not the first time Brennan has chased green goals. He started advocating for environmental sustainability in 10th grade. In 2018, he received the City of Burnaby’s Environmental Award and the Gordon Smith Youth Environmental Stewardship award.
He says SFU’s REM program is the perfect fit for his career aspirations thanks to its hands-on learning approach and interdisciplinary focus.
“Rather than concentrating on superficial solutions and analysis, SFU’s REM program focuses on cutting-edge, equity-based environmental solutions,” says Brennan. “It’s helped me uncover my interests and better understand the world we live in.”
Resource and Environmental Management: more than you think