Lotic Environmental’s Mike and Corinna Robinson believe in giving back to their community. When the opportunity arose to contribute to the Deans’ Equipment Fund for Environmental Science during the College’s December 2020 Giving Tuesday campaign, it fit all the criteria that Mike and Corinna value.
Established to help science faculty acquire specialized lab equipment and field tools for the newly updated Associate of Science degree (ASc) in Environmental Science, the Dean’s Equipment Fund will help to prepare students for careers in the environmental sciences, including at companies like Lotic.
For the past decade, Lotic Environmental has offered a collaborative, practical, and scientifically sound approach for addressing challenging environmental issues. They provide consulting and research services for private, public, and industrial organizations, primarily in the East Kootenay but also in the Yukon, Alberta, and Montana. Their team specializes in aquatic ecological research, ecosystem restoration, hydrologic modelling, GIS analysis, environmental effects studies, environmental assessment and permitting, hydrology studies, and environmental monitoring.
Mike and Corinna’s generous $5,000 donation will help to fund the purchase of a variety of industry-standard tools and equipment that will help expand the scope of lab and field activities for Environmental Science students. Their desire to support students at the College comes, in part, from their connections to the institution.
“I am a College of the Rockies alumnus myself,” said Mike. “And we have also employed students from the College. Some have been in the ASc program and others have been our employees who have attended the College to upgrade. We are also eager to hire a College student for a summer term this year.”
The Robinson’s see their contribution to the Dean’s Equipment Fund as a way to support College of the Rockies Environmental Studies students, but to also give back to the region they love.
“The College provides a strong, solid foundation for new (and mature) students and sets them up for success in their post-secondary careers,” added Corinna. “It provides an engaging, vibrant, welcoming environment in our community and if students continue on to other institutions, their time at the College will be impactful enough that they may choose to return to the East Kootenay and bring their worldly experiences with them.”