If climate action strength is found in numbers, then last week’s sold-out Victoria Climate Connections event was flexing some serious muscle.
Victoria Climate Connections, held at Esquimalt Gorge Park and Pavilion, drew more than 100 climate professionals to meet potential collaborators and showcased the University of Victoria’s (UVic) climate research centres and initiatives. It also marked the official launch of the UVic Climate Connector initiative.
Supported by UVic’s Office of the Vice-President Research and Innovation and the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions, the Climate Connector is a new campus-wide initiative designed to strengthen relationships amongst climate and sustainability researchers across campus and with external groups to accelerate climate action.
The Victoria Climate Connections event was designed specifically to support UVic’s relationship building with government, industry, non-profits and community groups, and many of UVic’s climate initiatives were on display. Exhibitors including Accelerating Community Energy Transformations (ACET), Institute for Integrated Energy Systems (IESVic), Oceans Networks Canada (ONC), Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS), Sustainability Scholars Program, Transformative Climate Action Certificate and the UVic Innovation Centre showcased the diversity of UVic’s climate institutions and programs.
“Accelerating climate solutions requires that we work together. So it was amazing to host such a diversity of local climate professionals, and to give the space for people to re-connect with one another and to make new connections. The room was filled with positive energy, and that’s a great feeling. We look forward to continuing to foster these connections, and to spark new climate collaborations”
~ Julia Baum, UVic special advisor, climate who also serves as the director of the CCSL program and President’s Chair for the Faculty of Science
The event was co-hosted by the Coastal Climate Solutions Leaders (CSSL) program and recent students took to the stage to deliver rapid-fire presentations—succinct pitches crafted to distill their complex research into clear, compelling snapshots. In these 90-second “lightning talks,” trainees shared innovative research aimed at tackling climate challenges.
From modelling national energy systems and marine renewal energy sources, to assessing green shipping fuels and public perceptions of offshore wind developments, the breadth of research underscored the wide-ranging innovations that are being tackled at UVic. The presentations not only gave students a platform to share their work with industry professionals, but highlighted the need for collaboration to realize new solutions at the intersection of science, technology and community.
The event also marked the official launch of the new UVic Climate Connector website. It features a directory of more than 100 researchers from UVic engaged in climate action and sustainability topics. The site and directory are designed to encourage external groups to engage with researchers directly. Web visitors can also subscribe to the initiative’s mailing list, to stay up-to-date on climate news and events happening at UVic.
