A Global Classroom for Climate Action
New Scholarship-Fellowship Program Will Support Students and Researchers Travelling to Indo-Pacific Countries
Lakehead is opening new doors for students and faculty committed to tackling the global climate crisis.
In March, Lakehead received $428,528 from the Government of Canada through the Indo-Pacific Scholarships and Fellowships for Canadians program offered by Global Affairs Canada. The funding was announced during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent official visit to India as part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.
Over the next two years, the funding will support hands-on research and international collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region where the effects of climate change are being acutely felt.
This research mobility project will support existing and new collaborative research partnerships with universities in the Indo-Pacific region, specifically targeting the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Japan, the Philippines, Fiji, and Vanuatu.
Expanding International Experiences
Dr. Brigitte Leblon, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Resources Management (L) and Dr. Glenda Bonifacio, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (R)
Led by Dr. Brigitte Leblon, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Resources Management, and Dr. Glenda Bonifacio, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, the project brings together environmental and social perspectives to better understand climate change.
“The Indo-Pacific region is one of the most vulnerable to climate change,” explains Dr. Leblon. “With more than half of the world’s population and the source of half of global greenhouse gas emissions, the region provides an important landscape for understanding the impact of climate change on natural and social environments.”
Up to 16 graduate students and 16 faculty members will have the opportunity to participate. Through the student scholarship, master's and PhD students can apply for short-term stays of one to three months or long-term stays of up to one year, while faculty members can receive a fellowship to cover short stays of up to three months.
“By establishing academic and research partnerships across the Indo-Pacific, our students will develop global perspectives on social inequalities and ecological vulnerabilities,” Dr. Bonifacio says, emphasizing the importance of adopting an interdisciplinary approach to climate change research.
Building Lasting Partnerships
One of Lakehead’s key partners is the Kangwon National University (KNU) in the Republic of Korea, where the Faculty of Natural Resources Management is collaborating on adaptive forest and wildfire management solutions. Forestry sectors in Canada and Korea are struggling with severe climate change disturbances, including insect outbreaks, pest infestations, wildfires, and the loss of wildlife and biodiversity. These shared challenges are driving the need for new strategies to ensure a sustainable supply of renewable forest-based materials that are essential to the bioeconomy.
The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities is strengthening relationships with the University of Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan, and has additional partnerships under development in the Philippines, Fiji, and Vanuatu. Projects will explore the human dimensions of climate-change adaptation and mitigation in island communities and their impact on gender equality, food security, and the role of women in building resilient societies.
“This initiative reinforces Lakehead’s commitment to expanding student opportunity and providing transformational experiences,” says Vice-President of Research and Innovation Dr. Langis Roy. “It will prepare our students to lead on the world stage, fostering cross-disciplinary innovation and partnerships that will protect both our natural environment and our global communities.”
Graduate students and faculty members interested in participating in this international mobility research program can learn more here: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/programs/departments/nrm/global-affair-projects/ipsf