2009 Trudeau Scholar

lisa.szabo@trudeaufoundation.net

Profile

Lisa's interest in ecocriticism, the intersections between literary and environmental studies, began beside a Himalayan blackberry bush. Standing there in the winter cold, she and the other students drew "names" from the English professor's cap. Lisa hoped for English Ivy; she got the Norway rat. As she turned hopefully toward a fellow student, the professor intervened, "No swapping allowed." There was no syllabus for this course; instead, through their chosen species students compiled their own multidisciplinary reading lists, which ranged from scientific articles to poetry. Encouraged to go out into the community, Lisa observed rats in their natural habitat, interviewed parks and waste disposal managers and scientists, and scoured libraries for literature on rats. Through the Norway rat (and an unconventional English seminar), Lisa discovered a new way to read local history, ecology, and culture. Although she no longer studies rats, her current research remains rooted in exploring local/global interconnections between Canadian nature writings, bioregionalism, and ecology.

From her research, Lisa recognized that understanding people and their natural environment requires reading, getting out into the wetlands and forests, and investing time in local communities. Teaching, writing scholarly and creatively, and personally engaging with people become effective tools to educate and shift individuals toward environmental awareness, ethics of care, and community outreach. Consequently, in addition to her academic work, Lisa co-founded and edits The Goose, the online publication of the Association for Literature, Environment and Culture in Canada, and recently established Waxwings, a small press that publishes creative environmental writing. She has volunteered with international and local charities, and is active on graduate student, departmental, and university committees. Lisa's research bridges disciplines and non-academic communities to build collaborative learning practices that cultivate appreciation for literature's effectiveness in illustrating sustainable and respectful relationships with the natural world, including Norway rats.

Trudeau Foundation Themes

Responsible Citizenship »
People and their Natural Environment »