The Waterloo Journal of Environmental Studies (WJES) is a peer-reviewed, academic journal consisting of original and impactful research regarding the complexities of Earth’s environment. The journal’s topics range from the impact of policies, to environmentally-relevant scientific research projects, policies, and the futures of all environmental facets.

Through the publication of insightful, credible, and well-researched academic literature, WJES provides a forum for academics, students, and the general public to discuss pertinent environmental issues.

Each issue of WJES has a specific focus to narrow the broad, multidisciplinary, and multifaceted scope of environmental study to a more manageable and calculative focus.

Areas of focus are decided upon immediately after the publication of the previous issue so as to allow the most time for research, writing, and publication regarding the focus.

Areas of focus could include:

  • Environmental law
  • Water access, management, and rights
  • Corporate interactions
  • Environmental education
  • Animal rights
  • International development
  • Climate change

WJES is published on a tri-yearly schedule, coordinating with the end of each term. Each year is a volume, 2019 is volume one; each publication is an issue. 2019 will contain volume one, issue one (December), while a normal year will contain a volume and three issues.

Our Mission

WJES‘ mission is to provide University of Waterloo undergraduate students whose studies concern the environment an opportunity to publish their work for others. This journal opens the door to making their work available for fellow students, community members, and professors to read and analyze. In this way, we hope to generate more ideas and more critical thinking about the environment and what we as students can do to help battle climate change from many different angles.

Our Vision

WJES’ vision is three-fold. It aims to:

  1. Facilitate active and participatory involvement of University of Waterloo students in discussion of environmental issues, through both student authorship and student readership;
  2. Disseminate environmental study, insight, and solutions to the forefront of the Waterloo and academic communities; and
  3. Analyze, aggregate, and extrapolate existing literature and data of environmental developments.

Photos by Justin Hammond