2001 Carol A. Ratza Memorial Scholarship
To recognize outstanding achievement and vision in electronic communications technology

Kevin Yam, a master's student in Planning in the department of Environmental Studies at York University (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), is the winner of the 2001 Carol A. Ratza Memorial Scholarship.

"As a future planner, I see the importance of communication and participation in the planning practice. The problem we are facing at present is the lack of understanding of our own communities, issues and problems we have in our backyards. Citizens should take full responsibility for the life-supporting natural systems. However, what hinders their abilities to do so is the lack of access to information and a social 'space' to fully participate in the process.

"In the quest for developing trust with citizens, we need to educate citizens about their community and develop a process of participation that allows all citizens to have an opportunity to influence a decision. I strongly believe planning work should come out of the office and engage with citizens at the community level.

"My research interest is to explore various information and communication technologies in managing and monitoring the natural and built environment. I am particularly interested in the integration of geospatial technologies with urban and environmental models; building of planning support systems, and facilitating communication and participation in the planning process."

Yam holds a bachelor's degree in Urban Geography from the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, B.C., Canada). Previous work includes positions with the United Chinese Community Enrichment Service Society (SUCCESS), a multicultural service organization in Vancouver, as a program coordinator; and with Telus Mobility, a wireless telecommunication company in Canada, as a network assistant. At York University, Yam is working as a research assistant for the York Center of Applied Sustainability in Toronto and a web site administrator for the Faculty of Environment Studies.

About the Carol A. Ratza Memorial Scholarship
The scholarship is in memory of Carol A. Ratza, a veteran employee of the Great Lakes Commission and a dedicated advocate for the protection of the Great Lakes. With unique vision, Carol created and led numerous influential communications projects, the most notable being the Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN) and the Great Lakes Regional Air Toxic Emissions Inventory. These groundbreaking initiatives applied the latest information technology to Commission priorities, changing forever the way our region communicates and does business. Although Carol's career was cut short by her death in 1997, the Great Lakes Commission, and the region as a whole, continues to benefit from her creative thinking, high standards and human grace.