Renowned Canadian environmentalist, broadcaster and author David Suzuki recently hosted a celebration for nine young, outstanding environmental leaders for Canada.
The David Suzuki Fellowship program empowers emerging scholars to tackle complex environmental problems. It fosters leadership, provides mentorship and reduces financial barriers. Over the past three years, nine fellows have been researching everything from Indigenous knowledge applied to the climate crisis to renewable energy models that can be replicated in communities throughout Canada.
The David Suzuki Fellowships reception took place at the Art Gallery of Ontario on November 5, 2019. The event featured Suzuki and the various fellows: Nicole Davies, Brett Dolter, Maxime Fortin Faubert, Melina Laboucan-Massimo, Jérôme Laviolette, Tara Mahoney, Eric Miller, Priscilla Settee and Annabel Webb.
Together they shared their most effective and creative ideas to solve the greatest environmental challenges. Suzuki also spoke to their research, the collective challenges ahead and the solutions to create.
“Climate change is the most serious and urgent issue we face,” Suzuki said. “To help chart our path and tackle the impending climate crisis, we must develop the next generation of scientists who not only excel at science in laboratories and in the field, but who can also tell stories and communicate effectively to engage masses of people in the global shift toward a clean energy economy.”
Front, left to right: Eric Miller, Ecological Economics; Annabel Webb, Environmental Rights; David Suzuki; Maxime Fortin Faubert, Climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Cities; and, Tara Mahoney, Climate Change Communications. Back, from left to right: Priscilla Settee, Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Change; Jérôme Laviolette, Transportation and Climate Change; and, Nicole Davies, Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Change.
Photo courtesy of David Suzuki Foundation.
The David Suzuki Foundation is a leading Canadian environmental non-profit organization, collaborating with all people in Canada, including government and business, to conserve the environment and find solutions that will create a sustainable Canada through evidence-based research, public engagement and policy work. The Foundation operates in English and French, with offices in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.
Fellowships for 2019-2020:
Eric Miller, MES – Ecological Economics Fellow
Eric Miller has a master’s degree in environmental studies from York University, a bachelor of arts in economics (honours) from McMaster University and bachelor of science in biology from Carleton University. As a course director and researcher at York University, he’s leading a global initiative on the ecological footprint.
In his fellowship, Miller will focus on enhancing the public’s ecological economics literacy. This form of literacy is about understanding concepts, measures and perspectives that relate economies to ecosystems and to the conservation of nature.
Priscilla Settee, PhD – Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Change Fellow
Priscilla Settee has a PhD from the University of Saskatchewan, a master’s degree in education from the University of Manitoba, bachelor of education from the University of Saskatchewan and a bachelor of arts from the University of Guelph. She is Swampy Cree from Cumberland House, works on Indigenous, women’s and environmental rights, and is professor of Indigenous studies at the University of Saskatchewan and adjunct professor at the University of Manitoba’s Natural Resource Institute.
In her fellowship, Settee will focus on sharing place-based Indigenous knowledge to support climate change monitoring and development of local solutions and opportunities within and across Indigenous territories.
Annabel Webb, PhD Candidate – Environmental Rights Fellow
Annabel Webb is pursuing an interdisciplinary PhD in international human rights law from the University of London. She has a master’s degree in international human rights law from the University of Oxford, and a master of arts and bachelor of arts from the University of British Columbia. Annabel has been an advocate for the rights of women and girls for over two decades.
In her fellowship, Webb will focus on employing existing domestic and international human rights law to promote inter-generational environmental justice in Canada.
Fellowships for 2020-2021
Up to three fellowships are available. Each will be for one year and will consist of:
- A $30,000 to $50,000 stipend (stipend depends on education level attained and experience), plus a pre-approved travel and research budget
- Mentorship from David Suzuki Foundation senior staff
- Access to office space at any Foundation office
The research theme will be announced in the new year. Over half of the fellow’s time is spent on completing a one-year research project and up to half of each fellow’s time is spent on professional development, including government relations and community engagement.
For further information, click here.
Featured image courtesy of the David Suzuki Foundation.
(Photo taken by Marie Cresswell, Thomas Cole Inc.)
