Interdisciplinary Climate Leadership Training at the University of Victoria
Coastal Climate Solutions Leaders
An NSERC CREATE graduate training program
The UVic Coastal Climate Solutions Leaders (CCSL) program offers an immersive learning experience for graduate students seeking to advance climate solutions. Bridging across the sciences, engineering, social sciences, business, and law, this program delivers enriched interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral training to prepare the next generation of leaders with the knowledge, experience, and skills needed to rise to the challenge of climate change.
Gain advanced technical understanding of climate science, impacts, and policy measures
Advance your professional skills through leadership training and specialized workshops
Build your professional network and gain practical experience during your climate solutions internship
Collaborate in interdisciplinary teams and tackle a design challenge with local partners
About the program
Tomorrow’s climate leaders must be adept at working across disciplinary boundaries. CCSL trainees learn in interdisciplinary cohorts, developing high-impact leadership skills in several core areas.
Trainees enroll in two specialized climate courses, attend monthly seminars, and complete a climate internship.
Meet the trainees
Climate solutions trainees come from a range of backgrounds, from Engineering and the Natural Sciences, to Public Administration, Business, Law and the Humanities.
To date, we have trained 35 graduate students and Postdoctoral fellows, and awarded over $250,000 in traineeship funding and scholarships.
How to apply?
Applicants must be enrolled in a graduate program at the University of Victoria while conducting climate-focused research.
The program welcomes a new cohort each September. Applications for the Fall 2025 cohort are now closed. The next application cycle will open in Spring 2026.
Core Training Elements
Students gain advanced technical understanding of climate change science, impacts and mitigation through lectures from leading climate change scholars and practitioners, seminars, and interdisciplinary research clusters.
Students learn to navigate the complexities of implementing climate solutions and appreciation of their societal context. Trainees complete a real-world design challenge and a short term internship with one of our climate solutions partners.
Trainees develop skills that are highly sought out in the climate action workforce through professional development workshops.