Dear Dr. Peta Bonham-Smith:
The Department of Geological Sciences at the U of S plays an integral role in the success of Saskatchewan’s mineral exploration and natural resource industries. Our department boasts the oldest student club in Western Canada, the Ore Gangue, which has members across the world.
The Department of Geological Sciences has built a strong reputation over past decades in both academics and industry. Recently, our department has seen drastically reduced support in maintaining its fundamental research areas, and therefore putting its reputation and the reputations of both our students and alumni at risk.
Since the retirement of Dr. Renaut, the variety of sedimentary or “soft rock” courses offered and research have greatly decreased. The department no longer has the necessary disciplinary diversity to maintain its reputation as a leader in geological science education since several fundamental classes have been cut, such as limnogeology, carbonate sedimentology, sedimentary petrology, advanced sedimentology, and basin analysis. Approximately 50 percent of geology undergraduates pursue an informal specialization in petroleum geology and are now at a significant disadvantage for remaining competitive in both industry and academics and in acquiring jobs once they graduate.
In addition, the decrease in the number of classes offered has negatively impacted students’ ability to fulfill course requirements for obtaining their professional designation through the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS), which is a requirement in order to work as a professional geologist.
We as a student body demand that the College of Arts & Science consider re-establishing lost faculty positions, and in addition pursue creating more teaching positions in the sedimentary and resource geology disciplines. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Undergraduate and Graduate Students, and Recent Alumni from the Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
March 16, 2017
28 Comments
Fundamental earth science courses are required for geophysics and geology. It's unacceptable to lack these necessary courses in a U15 Canadian university.
'Higher learning' requires the opportunity to do so. Students at the U of S need to be able to compete with their peers in Alberta for job opportunities in oil and gas. Removing key teaching positions like this makes us 2nd tier.
These course are important for a well-rounded basis to start a career in geological sciences. I am a hard rock specific geologist but consider the sedimentary class I took, especially those conducted by Dr. Renaut, invaluable towards my understanding and appreciation of geology. These classes cannot be cut from the department if the school wants to continue to produce some of the world's most valued geologists.
As an undergraduate student from the Department of Geological Science at University of Saskatchewan, I strongly believe that to further advance the Geological research in every aspect, the Department of Geological Science, U of S really needs to increase the number of faculties with specialty in Sedimentology. For instance, from my personal experience, I truly want to improve my knowledge in advance sedimentology, and there are no longer "Advance Sedimentology" due to the retirement of Professor Renaut. At the present, to advance in geology, everyone needs to have good understanding in both "soft rock" and "hard rock".
Many past U of S students have gone on to work in the oil and gas industry. With the current economic climate, we have seen a large downturn in the number of students who have had this opportunity. If we lose more soft rock classes, employers will start to count U of S students and grads out when considering them for summer and full time jobs, and we will essentially become a hard rock only program. Our program needs to have both hard and soft rock options if it is going to stay competitive.
Keep this teaching position
The Department of Geological Sciences is in dire need of (one or more) professor(s) to teach courses related to sedimentary and petroleum geology. It would not only give the students a chance to have a well-rounded geology degree, but would also give relieve to current professors who are overloaded.
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Dear Dr. Peta Bonham-Smith:
The Department of Geological Sciences at the U of S plays an integral role in the success of Saskatchewan’s mineral exploration and natural resource industries. Our department boasts the oldest student club in Western Canada, the Ore Gangue, which has members across the world.
The Department of Geological Sciences has built a strong reputation over past decades in both academics and industry. Recently, our department has seen drastically reduced support in maintaining its fundamental research areas, and therefore putting its reputation and the reputations of both our students and alumni at risk.
Since the retirement of Dr. Renaut, the variety of sedimentary or “soft rock” courses offered and research have greatly decreased. The department no longer has the necessary disciplinary diversity to maintain its reputation as a leader in geological science education since several fundamental classes have been cut, such as limnogeology, carbonate sedimentology, sedimentary petrology, advanced sedimentology, and basin analysis. Approximately 50 percent of geology undergraduates pursue an informal specialization in petroleum geology and are now at a significant disadvantage for remaining competitive in both industry and academics and in acquiring jobs once they graduate.
In addition, the decrease in the number of classes offered has negatively impacted students’ ability to fulfill course requirements for obtaining their professional designation through the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS), which is a requirement in order to work as a professional geologist.
We as a student body demand that the College of Arts & Science consider re-establishing lost faculty positions, and in addition pursue creating more teaching positions in the sedimentary and resource geology disciplines. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Undergraduate and Graduate Students, and Recent Alumni from the Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
March 16, 2017
28 Comments
As a geology student at the University of Saskatchewan, I am disappointed to hear the a teaching position in the geology department will not be renewed. This limits geology course options and weakens the U of S geology reputation. A department with gaps in their courses offered cannot compete with other universities. This also puts a lot of pressure on current teaching staff to fill a gap in the department which may lead to a reduction in teaching quality as teachers become overworked. Please renew the teaching position.
Fundamental earth science courses are required for geophysics and geology. It's unacceptable to lack these necessary courses in a U15 Canadian university.
'Higher learning' requires the opportunity to do so. Students at the U of S need to be able to compete with their peers in Alberta for job opportunities in oil and gas. Removing key teaching positions like this makes us 2nd tier.
These course are important for a well-rounded basis to start a career in geological sciences. I am a hard rock specific geologist but consider the sedimentary class I took, especially those conducted by Dr. Renaut, invaluable towards my understanding and appreciation of geology. These classes cannot be cut from the department if the school wants to continue to produce some of the world's most valued geologists.
As an undergraduate student from the Department of Geological Science at University of Saskatchewan, I strongly believe that to further advance the Geological research in every aspect, the Department of Geological Science, U of S really needs to increase the number of faculties with specialty in Sedimentology. For instance, from my personal experience, I truly want to improve my knowledge in advance sedimentology, and there are no longer "Advance Sedimentology" due to the retirement of Professor Renaut. At the present, to advance in geology, everyone needs to have good understanding in both "soft rock" and "hard rock".
Many past U of S students have gone on to work in the oil and gas industry. With the current economic climate, we have seen a large downturn in the number of students who have had this opportunity. If we lose more soft rock classes, employers will start to count U of S students and grads out when considering them for summer and full time jobs, and we will essentially become a hard rock only program. Our program needs to have both hard and soft rock options if it is going to stay competitive.
Keep this teaching position
The Department of Geological Sciences is in dire need of (one or more) professor(s) to teach courses related to sedimentary and petroleum geology. It would not only give the students a chance to have a well-rounded geology degree, but would also give relieve to current professors who are overloaded.
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As a geology student at the University of Saskatchewan, I am disappointed to hear the a teaching position in the geology department will not be renewed. This limits geology course options and weakens the U of S geology reputation. A department with gaps in their courses offered cannot compete with other universities. This also puts a lot of pressure on current teaching staff to fill a gap in the department which may lead to a reduction in teaching quality as teachers become overworked. Please renew the teaching position.