The Sustainability Scholars Program is an innovative paid internship program. We match UBC graduate students with on- and off-campus sustainability partners to work on applied research projects that advance sustainability across the region.
Apply your research skills to real-world sustainability challenges
Get paid and gain valuable professional work experience
Develop applied skills and knowledge under the guidance of a mentor
Build your professional network and enhance your career prospects

How It Works

The program is open to full-time UBC graduate students from any program or discipline. As a Sustainability Scholar, you work under the guidance of a mentor on an applied research project that supports their organization's sustainability goals.
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Apply

UBC Sustainability Scholars work on applied research projects across a wide range of environmental, economic and social sustainability topics. See our list of current paid internship opportunities.
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Project Library

The Scholars Project Library contains hundreds of reports, charts, tool-kits, and more, documenting the applied research produced by Scholars since 2010. A useful body of knowledge to support further research around sustainability.
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Fraser Estuary Research Collaborative (FERC)

A new stream in the Sustainability Scholars Program focusing on applied research with the goal of restoring and protecting the endangered Fraser Estuary.
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Partner with us

Partner organizations are essential to the UBC Sustainability Scholars Program. Partners provide work experience for UBC graduate students and benefit from their applied research.
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Meet the scholars

UBC Sustainability Scholars come from all kinds of backgrounds and academic disciplines. Scholars stand out for being passionate about sustainability, having a strong work ethic, and for their applied research skills.
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Fund scholars

Climate change, biodiversity loss, and growing inequality are some of the most urgent issues facing our world today. Support from donors will allow scholars to make a direct impact through organizations doing the on-the-ground work needed to address climate change and other critical sustainability challenges.
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Program History

Sustainability Scholars’ projects have been helping to move the dial on sustainability across the region for over 10 years. Find out more about our history, milestones, and impact.
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Project Library

Current state of heat pump adoption in the Township of Langley

This study investigates the current state of heat pump adoption in the Township of Langley by conducting and analyzing data from two surveys (one for residents, including both heat pump users and non-users and one for HVAC contractors) to help meet the Township's Climate Action Strategy goals. Six high-level recommendations for the Township and other BC municipalities are given at the end of the report.

Partner: Township of Langley
Funder: Township of Langley
Keywords: green buildings, heat pump

Built Environment & Mobility
Climate Change & Energy
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Jannatul Ferdous

Updating the Sustainability Program and Sustainability Regulations for the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF)

World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) is the sole governing body for all DanceSport related activities recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The 2024 Olympic games will be the first Games a DanceSport discipline participates in the Medal Programme. A key priority of the Olympic agenda is Sustainability. This report serves as a recommendation and implementation schedule of sustainable practices for WDSF to adopt and a tool to amend existing WDSF sustainability policies and goals.

Partner: World DanceSport Federation
Funder: World DanceSport Federation
Keywords: leadership & behaviour change, social sustainability, sustainable development & green economy 

Climate Change & Energy
Human Well-being & Social Systems
Policy, Economics & Governance
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Celeste Pomerantz

Mitigating the Environmental Impacts of Equipment Used in Healthcare through Lifecycle Evaluation

This project developed a framework to evaluate the environmental impact of equipment purchasing in healthcare. The framework consisted of four phases: classifying equipment, literature review, impact calculation, and result interpretation. The developed framework can assist the procurement team in making informed decisions that contribute to sustainability. The framework's strengths include the classification of equipment based on its intended use duration and the use of the spend-based method.

Partner: Vancouver Coastal Health
Funder: Vancouver Coastal Health
Keywords: supply chain management & green procurement 

Built Environment & Mobility
Climate Change & Energy
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Pooya Pourreza

The Missing Third: Improving BC tenants' rights to energy efficient, climate resilient, and safe housing

This project aims to help improve tenants' rights to energy efficient, climate resilient, and safe housing through policy amendments and program activation. It considers effectiveness, feasibility, and tenant justice in its suggestions. The report includes recommendations for BC policymakers that quantify and track rental housing stock, increase transparency, improve rental housing standards, and provide supports so that retrofits are not at expense of housing stability and affordability.

Partner: Ecotrust Canada
Funder: Ecotrust Canada
Keywords: Economics & Governance, rental housing, energy poverty, tenants' rights

Built Environment & Mobility
Climate Change & Energy
Policy, Economics & Governance
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Maya Korbynn

Women's Safety in Atira Managed Single Room Occupancy Buildings

This report assessed the current climate of women's health and safety in Atira managed single residence occupancy (SRO) buildings, known for substandard living conditions, in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. A series of structured interviews and a self-reported survey by female residents indicated that many don't feel safe in SROs. Main concerns were violence resulting from illicit drug possession, sex work and partners.  Recommendations to enhance women's safety in SROs were made.

Partner: Atira Women's Resource Society
Funder: Atira Women's Resource Society
Keywords:  Women, safety, health equity

Human Well-being & Social Systems
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Maram Alkawaja

Empowering Nurses and Nursing Students to be Climate Leaders through Social Media Advocacy Skills

The purpose of this project is to provide nurses in the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment BC (CANE BC) with tools and strategies to use their trusted voices to mobilize climate action through social media with confidence, thereby directly engendering progress toward the promotion of planetary health.

Partner: Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment 
Funder: UBC
Keywords: leadership & behaviour change, sustainable development & green economy, Nurses & Planetary Health

Climate Change & Energy
Ecological Systems
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Karthik Anand Chinta

Density Transfer Policies in the Coastal Douglas-fir Zone

This report sets out to better understand density transfer mechanisms in BC and the Coastal Douglas-Fir biogeoclimatic zone, and their potential as a policy tool for conserving valuable forests and supporting affordable housing provision. Includes a scan of current density transfer policies in regional Official Community Plans, a discussion of experiences and insights from case studies, and proposed considerations and next steps for potential wider application of density transfer policies. 

Project Partner: Coastal Douglas-fir Conservation Partnership 
Funding Partner: UBC
Keywords: biodiversity, land use planning, climate change, affordable housing

Ecological Systems
Policy, Economics & Governance
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
PDF
2022
Derrick Teo

Nanaimo Climate Pledge: Encouraging household climate action

This project aims to understand how to motivate climate action from people concerned about climate change but do not change their behaviour. This report includes summaries of other household climate action projects and evaluates the first phase of the Nanaimo Climate Pledge: who took the pledge, which actions people are most willing to take, and the effectiveness of different outreach methods.

Partner: Nanaimo Climate Action Hub Society
Funder: UBC
Keywords: leadership & behaviour change, social sustainability, climate action

Climate Change & Energy
Human Well-being & Social Systems
Production, Consumption & Waste
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Michelle Hak Hepburn

The invasive plant species of Stanley Park: Leveraging citizen science to investigate the distribution of invasive plants

Invasive plant species can cause a disproportionate amount of damage to native species. Stanley Park is especially vulnerable to invasive plants, due to the cumulative pressures of climate change and urbanization. In this project, we use a data-driven approach to strategically manage the spread of invasive plants. To do so, a citizen science database is used to delineate zones of high invasive plant densities, and pinpoint areas in need of active worksites.

Partner: Stanley Park Ecology Society
Funder: UBC
Keywords: ecological systems, invasive species

Data & Technology
Ecological Systems
Natural Resources
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Sammy Alkhalifa

Benefits and Risks of Mapping Equity-Denied Groups to Inform Municipal Climate Policy

This research supports City of Vancouver's exploration into the creation of potential centralized datasets and maps that illustrate how various equity indicators (e.g., gender identity, racial identity, income, etc.) overlay with climate policy indicators (e.g., access to transit options, tree canopy, etc.). This report is intended to serve as a starting point for further interdepartmental conversations among City staff about the opportunities and risks of mapping equity-denied populations.

Partner: City of Vancouver
Funder: City of Vancouver & UBC
Keywords: equity, diversity, inclusion, land use planning, social planning, climate policy, mapping

Data & Technology
Human Well-being & Social Systems
Policy, Economics & Governance
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Alexandra Gaspar

Developing a novel pedagogical framework: Climate-Kind Pedagogy

This project aims to create a novel pedagogical framework designed to address the climate crisis through kindness and compassion for the planet and one another. By documenting successful teaching pedagogies in both climate education and kindness education, this novel pedagogy synthesizes a vast body of educational research in an effort to create actionable strategies for teachers. This novel pedagogical framework was infused into EDCP 349, a B.Ed. course at the University of British Columbia. 

Partner: UBC
Funder: UBC Sustainability Hub
Keywords: sustainability in education 

Climate Change & Energy
Human Well-being & Social Systems
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
Educational resource
pdf
2022
Henry Johnston

Climate Risk Elements for Buildings

The project's objective was to conduct research to get a better understanding of datasets, data sources, and the accessibility of climate risk data and to provide a set of recommendations to try to include climate risk data into GRID - a building energy benchmarking software. Key questions pertaining to key climate risk datasets, stakeholders, and existing gaps in climate risk data are addressed.

Partner: OPEN Regenerative Technologies
Funder: OPEN Regenerative Technologies
Keywords:  green buildings, climate risk, data

Built Environment & Mobility
Climate Change & Energy
Data & Technology
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Teresa Amiama

Exploring the Potential of a Novel Breakwater Material

This project aims to explore the potential opportunities for habitat creation for a living breakwater to be constructed from Biorock, both for biodiversity enhancement and for protecting Iona Island from sea level rise. It also seeks to offer recommendations for the design of a Biorock breakwater to support the specific habitat needs of local species, including fish, shellfish, seagrass and kelp.

Partner: Metro Vancouver
Funder: Metro Vancouver
Keywords: climate adaptation, biodiversity, ecological systems, water, sea level rise, living shoreline

Climate Change & Energy
Ecological Systems
Natural Resources
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Emma Gosselin

Introduced Canada Geese in the Fraser River Estuary: A Conservation Challenge

Introduced Canada Geese eating large amounts of vegetation in the Fraser estuary presents a conservation challenge. Loss of tidal marsh habitat caused by Canada Geese is occurring throughout the Fraser estuary, threatening salmon and ecological processes, and various cultural and economic values. This report documents the history and significance of this conservation challenge and presents findings that support the need for habitat restoration and collaborative stewardship in the Fraser estuary.

Partner: UBC Sustainability Hub
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation)
Keywords:  biodiversity, conservation, restoration

Ecological Systems
FERC Sustainability Scholar
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Dominic Janus

Research on agricultural land use regulations in the context of Indigenous food security

This project aims to understand agricultural law practices in British Columbia and how these have affected indigenous food security and sovereignty. This project examined historical land-use changes in the province as well as indigenous food systems. In an effort to rebuild an inclusive, nutritious, and resilient food system in the province, we have outlined recommendations for laws and policies. We hope this report will stimulate meaningful dialogue.
 

Partner: West Coast Environmental Law
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation)
Keywords: food security, food sovereignty, Indigenous food systems, ALR (Agriculture Land Reserve)

Ecological Systems
FERC Sustainability Scholar
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Jessica Mukiri

Evaluation of Regulations Governing Human Activities in the Lower Fraser relevant to Environmental Protection and Restoration

Over 150 years of colonial development have seriously harmed the ecological health of the Fraser estuary through destruction, harmful modification, and pollution of its lands and waters. This report focuses on one component of 'routine' planning and management in the estuary “land use plans“ by providing consolidated information about how shorelines are presently being managed in the estuary with regard to ecological health. 

Partner: West Coast Environmental Law
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation)
Keywords: biodiversity, ecological systems, sustainable development & green economy

Ecological Systems
Natural Resources
Policy, Economics & Governance
FERC Sustainability Scholar
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Audrey Irvine-Broque

Developing an Indigenous-centric cumulative effects framework to protect the Fraser River estuary

This project unpacks failings of currently-dominant (colonial) approaches to cumulative effects assessment and management and explores Indigenous-centric alternatives to support the Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA) in developing an Indigenous-centric cumulative effects framework. One that supports sustainable decision-making for the long-term holistic health of the Fraser River Estuary, in ways that center and empower the laws, ways of knowing, being, doing and valuing of member Nations. Findings are based on integrative literature review and iterative workshops with experts. 
To respect Indigenous knowledge governance the final report is confidential, but the Executive Summary is shared here and includes summaries of key shifts required, recommendations for various actors involved, and areas recommended for future research.

Partner: Salish Sea Indigenous Guardians Association (SSIGA)
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation)
Keywords: biodiversity, restoration, conservation

Ecological Systems
FERC Sustainability Scholar
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Jennifer Cutbill

Recommendations for Fine Scale Bird Monitoring to Inform the Impact of Wetland Restoration on the Fraser Delta

Worldwide, bird populations are under severe decline. Climate change, human activity, habitat loss and prey loss are the main drivers of these declines. Shorebirds, commonly called waders due to their behaviour of wading and foraging in intertidal mudflats and beaches, are also in decline. This report consists of a review of current shorebird and water bird monitoring protocols employed in the Americas and compares and contrasts their methods.  

Partner: Birds Canada
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation)
Keywords: biodiversity, conservation, restoration

Ecological Systems
FERC Sustainability Scholar
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Bretta McCall

Low carbon and climate resilient retrofit options for UBC strata residential buildings

The report explores passive and active technical options to retrofit Strata residential buildings in response to a warming climate. Split heat pumps are found to be the most appropriate to add cooling infrastructure as well as being a lower carbon form of heating. Sources of policy barriers and knowledge gaps are also explored with recommendations that ultimately reduce these barriers.

Partner: UBC Sustainability & Engineering
Funder: BC Hydro
Keyword: green buildings, climate change resiliency

Built Environment & Mobility
Climate Change & Energy
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Tsubasa Bolt

Challenges and opportunities to accelerate eelgrass and saltmarsh conservation and restoration in the Fraser River estuary

This project gathered insights from a literature review and 31 practitioner interviews about the key challenges and opportunities that exist to accelerate eelgrass and tidal marsh conservation and restoration in the Fraser River estuary. Includes summaries of challenges and opportunities that were salient to interviewees, 10 priority actions, and ideas for how an NGO like WWF-Canada could contribute to eelgrass and tidal marsh recovery in the Fraser River estuary.

Partner: WWF-Canada
Funder: UBC (Sitka Foundation)
Keywords:  biodiversity, ecological systems, ecological governance

Ecological Systems
Natural Resources
Policy, Economics & Governance
FERC Sustainability Scholar
UBC Sustainability Scholars report
pdf
2022
Anna Santo

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