November 16 • 2026

Join us for our final hybrid ClimateTALK seminar of 2026, featuring Dr. Tara Troy, Associate Professor in UVic's Department of Civil Engineering.

Dr. Troy will discuss how human activities, including infrastructure development, water extraction, and climate change, are altering the hydrologic cycle. Drawing on hydrological modelling, her research examines the direct and indirect impacts of human activity on water systems and identifies hotspots of hydrologic change.

September 21 • 2026

For our first ClimateTALK seminar of the 2026-27 academic year we assembled a panel of some of the BC-based contributors to the Canada’s Changing Climate Report 2026, the latest national assessment of how Canada’s climate is changing.

Moderated by CCSL Program Director and UVic Special Advisor Climate, Dr. Julia Baum, the panel explored the report at large as well as some of its key findings. We took a closer look at the topics covered by our panelists, including the carbon cycle, changes in the ocean, and climate services.

September 8 • 2026

The CCSL community came together to welcome our 2026 cohort and kick off another year of learning, collaboration, and climate leadership. The program orientation brought trainees together through interactive workshops focused on interdisciplinary collaboration, team-building, and moving from climate anxiety toward agency and action.

The day was an opportunity for our newest cohort to connect across disciplines, reflect on their roles in addressing complex climate challenges, and begin building the relationships and skills that will shape their experience in the CCSL community.

August 19 • 2026

We would like to congratulate our second class of alumni! Congratulations to the PhD students of the 2023 cohort, Siyang Liu, Shahrzad Monshet, Brian Timmer, Niloofar Gilani Larimi, Forood Azargoshasbi and Vahid Gholamzadeh, and the Masters students of the 2024 cohort, Nadiya Shore, Sofie Ohrling, Rachel Orr, Fateme Salehi, Donovan Faraoni, Leif Douglass, Matthew Hetherington, Zoe Leech, Rekha Marcus, and Ridhee Gupta.

May 21 • 2026

In collaboration with CCSL and the UVic Climate Connector, the second annual event brought together CCSL trainees as well as climate solutions seekers across local and provincial government, universities, industry, small local businesses, non-profits and think tanks, climate advocates and First Nations to celebrate interdisciplinary collaboration and relationship building amongst climate leaders.

May 20 • 2026

CCSL was invited by the Office of Global Engagement (OGE) to participate in showcasing CCSL to Heads of Mission from 12 EU member states as part of UVic’s programs in Climate and Sustainability. Some of CCSL’s trainees were given the opportunity to connect with EU Ambassadors, and to share more about their research and experience in the CCSL program. We are grateful for the opportunity to represent Climate and Sustainability at UVic, n the global context, and across disciplines.

April 28 • 2026

We are thrilled to announce that the David and Dorothy Lam Foundation has generously awarded CCSL with a pilot award of $80,000 to financially support incoming and existing trainees with needs-based financial support. The amount is allocated for four eligible trainees who are newly recruited to CCSL, CCSL Entrance Awards, and to Masters students in their second year of the program or for PhD students in their second or third year of the program for CCSL Emerging Leaders Awards. We are incredibly grateful to provide this opportunity to our trainees!

April 15 • 2026

Our CCSL trainees took part in a Professional Development training session in Project Management Essentials with supply chain expert, Kimberly Tholl. Kimberly went over the basic principles of project management with the example of a wedding being the project the trainees needed to manage in different scenarios.Thank you so much for your passion and knowledge, Kimberly!

April 8 • 2026

Dr. Madeleine McPherson, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering and Principal Investigator of The Sustainable Energy Systems Integration & Transitions Group (SESIT) at UVic. Dr. McPherson will explore how stronger inter-provincial collaboration and expanded transmission can support a more reliable, affordable, and low-carbon electricity system. She will also highlight key barriers—like regulatory misalignment and governance challenges—and offers a practical policy blueprint to help unlock a clean, connected energy future.

February 27 • 2026

Dr. Bryson Robertson is a professor in Mechanical Engingeering and the new Director of the Institute of Integrated Energy Systems (IESVic) at UVic. Dr. Robertson provided an overview of context and drivers for ocean renewable energy in the US-context, as that is where he most recently joined UVic from. He detailed efforts by academia to support the responsible advancement of the sector and highlight a series of research projects from technical, environmental and social perspectives.

January 23 • 2026

Dr. Mark Zacharias is an adjunct professor in the School of Public Administration at UVic. Dr. Zacharias shared about his work in global shipping, specifically in the shadow fleet, to outline key international agreements that govern human use of the oceans, and how these agreements are being tested in a world of eroding multilateralism and increased use of economic sanctions.

November 21 • 2025

For our third ClimateTALK seminar, Dr. Jiaying Zhao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia. She shared a happy climate approach: A fusion of happiness science and climate science designed to ignite widespread climate action by tapping into the power of joy.

November 10 - 21 • 2025

We sent CCSL 2024 Cohort student, Rekha Marcus to take part in the COP30 proceedings in Belém, Brazil. Rekha attended various seminars, panel discussions, and outdoor pavilions. Focuses at this year’s COP were on how to achieve equitable and sustainable energy transitions, how to acquire and sustain funding for climate initiatives, and the inclusion of women and gender diverse people in climate spaces. Thank you for being our representative, Rekha!

November 6 • 2025

Incoming and existing trainees complete this critical training on foundational information about the colonial context, historical and current, of Indigenous peoples in Canada. This training serves to support the ongoing work of making UVic a better place for Indigenous students and community members, and, by extension, for all students, faculty and staff. It comprises a response to the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Final Report.

October 17 • 2025

Our second ClimateTALK seminar welcomes Dr. Zuomin Dong, a Professor in the Faculty of Engineering and a member of the Institute for Integrated Energy Systems (IESVic) at the University of Victoria. Him and his research team explore innovative approaches to modelling, simulation, design and control optimization for hybrid electric vehicles and marine vessels, hydrogen fuel cell systems, and advanced manufacturing.

September 19 • 2025

For the first of our ClimateTALK seminar series, we welcome Dr. Sarah Marie Wiebe, an Associate Professor and Graduate Advisor at the University of Victoria’s School of Public Administration. Her research interests include Climate CARE (Community Actions and Responses to Extreme weather events), public engagement, participatory governance, and environmental justice.

September 2 • 2025

Welcome 2025 trainees! We are delighted to have an additional 20 students joining our third cohort. At our annual orientation, incoming trainees meet their fellow cohort and the instructional team for a day of icebreakers, interactive workshops and team building.

July 29 • 2025

We are proud to celebrate the very first class of CCSL graduates! Congratulations to the Masters students from the 2023 Cohort, Brendan Danaher, Bryan Woodward, Sophie Janke, Luke Seybold, Eliza Batchelder, Luke Friedl, Rowan Hargreaves and Tessa Rehill.

April 24 • 2025

Co-hosted by UVic’s Vice-President Research and Innovation and CCSL, this sold-out evening brought together 100+ researchers, CCSL trainees, community leaders, and policymakers to celebrate cross-sector collaboration in climate solutions.

April 11 • 2025

Dr. Krosby works closely with policy makers to advance understanding of climate risks facing human and natural communities, and to support science-based action for addressing those risks.

March 14 •  2025

Dr. Minet leads the Clean Air (CLAIR) lab at the University of Victoria. The CLAIR lab is motivated by the need to improve urban air quality and minimize population exposure to air pollution to reduce the burden of air pollution on our health.

February 18 - 19 & 20 - 21 • 2025

We welcomed expert facilitator Margaret Krebs, Director of Stanford’s Leading Interdisciplinary Collaborations Program, for a two-day professional development workshop with our trainees. The training explored the Collective Leadership model, fostered skills for collaborative thinking, self-reflection and creative problem-solving.

February 7 • 2025

Cole Sayers plays a pivotal role at Clean Energy BC, in fostering collaboration between industry, government, and First Nations, with a focus on economic reconciliation and Indigenous self-determination.

January 30 • 2025

Kate Harland (Mitigation Research Lead with the Canadian Climate Institute) reviewed Canada's changing energy landscape as we move to decarbonize Canada's electricity grid, and the progress we're seeing so far.

November 29 • 2024

Indirect, unexpected and unintended: How do we predict and adapt to climate impacts? Dr. Gerald Singh presented methods for characterizing climate outcomes in a world of uncertainty.

October 4 • 2024

The first speaker in the Fall 2024 ClimateTALK Series: Dr. Simon Donner is a professor at UBC whose research lies at the intersection of climate science, marine science and public policy.

September 3 • 2024

Welcome 2024 Trainees! We are delighted to have 14 new students joining the second cohort. At our annual orientation, incoming trainees meet their fellow cohort and the instructional team for a day of icebreakers, interactive workshops and team building.

April 25 • 2024

50+ UVic Faculty, grad students and local climate professionals attended our inaugural Connections event for an evening of networking and panel discussions on Careers in Climate Action.

April 12 • 2024

CCSL trainees showcased their climate-smart designs to provincial policymakers. Trainees spoke with several MLAs, including the Honourable Ministers George Heyman (Environment & Climate Change Strategy) and Pam Alexis (Agriculture and Food).

February 13 • 2024

Students engaged with developers & community planners from UVic, Saanich, Victoria, and the CRD, as well as two Victoria City Council members, to develop ideas for the Ian Stewart Complex redesign.

Nov 30 – Dec 12 • 2023

Researchers across UVic organized a strong virtual presence at COP28, the UN Climate Change Conference held in Dubai. PhD Candidate and CCSL trainee Siyang Liu (Mechanical Engineering) represented UVic and joined a number of side events.

November 6 • 2023

Dr. Jon Foley is a world-renowned environmental scientist, sustainability expert, author, and public speaker. His work focuses on understanding our changing planet and finding new solutions to sustain the climate, ecosystems and natural resources we all depend on.

October 6 • 2023

Incoming program trainees complete this critical training on foundational the colonial context (historical & current) of Indigenous peoples in Canada. This training comprises a response to the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

September 3 • 2023

The annual program orientation welcomes new trainees to the program at the beginning of the academic year. The students participate in workshops on interdisciplinary communication, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) training, and ways to transform climate anxiety to agency.