The Solutions Scholars Program connects graduate students with scholarly research projects on climate change mitigation, adaptation, and/or education.
The UBC Climate Solutions Research Collective (the Collective) established the Solutions Scholars program in 2023 to encourage interdisciplinary research in the areas of climate change mitigation, adaptation and education. The program supports graduate students to spend part of the academic year working on a solutions-oriented research project while also connecting climate researchers across UBC and receiving mentorship in interdisciplinary research and knowledge exchange.
2025-2026 Program
For the 2025-2026 Solutions Scholars program, the two-stage process is again being implemented.
- First, climate solutions-oriented projects are submitted from researchers through an NOI and pitch process. Researchers across all disciplines, including arts, humanities, education, medicine, science etc. are encouraged to submit research project ideas. The call for Project Proposals is now open with the deadline for submissions of February 28, 2025.
- Second, students are invited to apply to work on the selected research projects throughout a ten-month term from September 2025 to June 2026. Learn how students submitted applications for the Solutions Scholar program here. Note: this will be updated following the completion of the first stage.
2024-2025 Program
For the 2024-2025 Solutions Scholars program, a two-stage process was implemented. First, climate solutions-oriented projects were solicited from researchers across campuses. Second, students were invited to apply for the selected research projects. Selected students were matched to projects to work on throughout their ten-month term from September 2024 to June 2025.
- Stage 1 - April 2024: UBC Faculty members, Research Associates, or Postdoctoral Researchers proposed projects for Solutions Scholars to work on.
- Stage 2 - June 2024: Graduate students applied to work on one of the selected projects.
Learn about the 2024-2025 cohort and their projects.
2023-2024 Program
In the 2023/24 academic year, graduate student applicants submitted proposals to apply their scholarly research in the two theme areas of 1) wildfires and/or extreme heat, and/or 2) urban transformations. Students received a stipend for one-year and a modest amount for research expenses, as well as professional development opportunities.
Learn about the 2023-2024 cohort's projects.