Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1975-2011 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
3.20 m (8 boxes) of textual records
15 audio cassettes
4 digital video discs 1 compact disc
4 photographs; colour
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Philip H. Byer was born on January 16th, 1948 in Washington, D.C.. Byer received his Bachelor of Science (1970), Masters of Science (1972), and his Doctor of Philosophy (1975) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before joining the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto in 1975, where he lectured until 2011. Byer’s research, teaching, and professional work has focused on environmental planning and decision-making, project evaluation, environmental impact assessment, risk management, and municipal solid waste management. While at the U of T, Byer served as the Chair of the Division of Environment Engineering within the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering from 1995-2006, and also took up various visiting lecturer positions at the University of Southampton and MIT. Byer also served as the Acting Director of the Centre for Environment at the University of Toronto in 2007.
In addition to his academic work, Byer has served on numerous government and private-sector committees such as the Ontario Environmental Assessment Advisory Committee (1985-1986), the Olympic Environment Committee for the Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid Organization (1991-2001), and the City of Toronto’s New Emerging Technologies Policies and Practices Advisory Group (2003-2004). Byer also served as the Foreign Expert for the National Science Council, Prime Minister’s Office, Lao PDR in 2005.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
This fonds was donated to the University of Toronto Archives by the creator, Philip H. Byer.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This fonds consists of Byer’s work as a Professor at the University of Toronto, and his government and private-sector work for various committees and councils. The fonds includes a large collection of lecture notes, syllabi, and class materials used by Byer to deliver instruction for various engineering courses. The collection also includes Byer’s research notes for numerous committee and council projects for the University of Toronto and for various public and private-sector organizations. Many of Byer’s publication notes, talks, and conference presentations are also included in this fonds. The Philip H. Byer fonds consists of the following series; 1) Files for Courses, 2) Files for Lecture Notes and Papers/Publications and Presentations, 3) Files for Committees and Research Projects, and 4) Files for University Committees and Projects.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open.