2024 Peter Wall Legacy Award Recipients
In December 2024, UBC announced the inaugural recipients of the Wall Fellowships and Wall Research Awards, funded by the $100M+ Peter Wall Endowment and valued at a total of $4M annually. These researchers represent a wide array of scholarly programs that will generate meaningful solutions to major sustainability challenges in BC and around the world.
All projects align with three key areas of focus: urban sustainability, environmental protection of coastal areas, and sustainable approaches to resource-intensive industries, with a particular emphasis on the province of B.C. Research ranges from climate change to biodiversity loss, sustainable transportation, energy storage, urban water systems, biodiversity conservation, and more.
Wall Fellowships
Wall Fellowships of $1,000,000 each were awarded to:
Dr. Michelle Tseng
Assistant Professor, Botany and Zoology
UBC Biodiversity Research Centre
Faculty of Science
UBC Vancouver
Merging community science with computer vision to create biodiverse urban ecosystems throughout British Columbia
Urban areas with healthy butterfly populations support beneficial wildlife like pollinators and birds. City spaces rich in biodiversity also enhance mental health and increase a sense of belonging for residents. This Wall Fellowship supports collaborations between ecologists, data scientists, non-profit environmental organizations, and butterfly enthusiasts across the province. Using butterfly data generated by community scientists and computer vision models, they will (a) develop tools to help people create butterfly-friendly habitats and assess their efficacy and (b) answer fundamental questions about how butterflies have responded to warming temperatures and habitat change. The Wall Fellowship thus helps create sustainable urban spaces and generates insights into the future of BC biodiversity.
Dr. Stepan Wood
Professor
Canada Research Chair in Law, Society and Sustainability
Director of the Centre for Law and the Environment
Peter A. Allard School of Law
UBC Vancouver
Respect for All Relations: Can Indigenous and Settler Laws Work Together?
The Wall Fellowship supports Dr. Wood in implementing the Respect for All Relations project, a community-driven action-research partnership with First Nations, environmental groups and researchers to explore whether Indigenous and settler laws in BC can work in tandem to achieve greater respect for all beings and for Indigenous laws. This work breaks ground at the intersection of two movements: rights of nature and revitalization of Indigenous law. By fostering recovery of Indigenous laws and reform of settler laws, it will benefit Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and policymakers interested in environmental protection and Indigenous-settler reconciliation in BC and beyond.
Wall Research Awards – Individual Faculty Awards
Research awards of $80,000 each were awarded to:
Dr. Jean-Thomas Cornelis
Associate Professor, Applied Biology
Faculty of Land & Food Systems
UBC Vancouver
Back to the Future – Revitalizing Indigenous land stewardship to enhance soil health and build resilient food-forest systems in British Columbia
Extractive practices in agri-food, mining and forest industries are responsible for the loss of biodiverse lands. Ancestral soil management practices have enhanced integrated ecological functions with results such as sequestering carbon, optimizing resource utilization, safeguarding biodiversity, promoting sustainability, enhancing community health and well-being, and promoting cultural sovereignty. This project will investigate forest garden soils in territories of Ts’msyen, Gitxsan and Coast Salish Peoples to gain an understanding of how historical land stewardship impacted soil genesis and the creation of nutrient hotspot and carbon-rich soils. The goal is to increase understanding of the history of Indigenous soil management and their benefits for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Dr. Kathryn Harrison
Professor, Political Science
Faculty of Arts
UBC Vancouver
The New Politics of Fossil Fuel Subsidies
BC has been a global leader on carbon pricing and aspires to deep emissions reductions to mitigate climate change, yet relies economically on production of fossil fuels. BC seeks to reconcile this contradiction by focusing exclusively on domestic emissions, even as we subsidize fossil fuel production for export. This study will compare fossil fuel subsidies in BC and other Canadian provinces by creating a database of subsidies and public finance, examining the politics of fossil fuel subsidies, and comparing the views of British Columbians and Canadians in other provinces on fossil fuel subsidies
Dr. Brian Hunt
Associate Professor, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries
Faculty of Science
UBC Vancouver
The Sustainable Urban Ocean Project
Urban development has severely impacted the ecological systems that have supported Indigenous communities for millennia, and settler communities more recently. While pollution has been a focus to understand and address these impacts, little attention has been paid to the inorganic and organic nutrient additions from sewage and waste water production, stormwater outflow, and urbanized watersheds. These change the very nature of the land—ocean connection that make the coastal ocean so productive and biodiverse. This project will address this knowledge gap, evaluating ecosystem response to urbanization, with the goal to support healthy ecosystem function and guide sustainable development and restoration efforts.
Wall Research Awards – Team Faculty Awards
Research Awards of $200,000 each were awarded to:
Development of Organic Redox Flow Batteries for Clean Renewable Energy Storage Applications
The intermittent nature of renewables like solar and wind necessitates robust energy storage systems that can deliver power even when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. Consequently, the growth of renewable integration requires expanding energy storage technologies. BC anticipates increasing storage capacity to 500 MW by 2030. Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are excellent candidates for energy storage offering safe, long-term storage without extensive land or water requirements, and flexible and modular design that allows for broad use. This project will enhance the market attractiveness of this technology by developing cost-effective, environmentally friendly production pathways for the organic materials used in these batteries, alongside innovations in battery engineering with the goal of making this innovative energy storage solution a practical reality.
Human-centered design for sustainable transportation in British Columbia: An inclusive approach to infrastructure design based on diverse experiences of walking and cycling
For BC to meet its aggressive targets of a 25% reduction in driving and a 30% share for sustainable travel modes (walking, cycling, transit) by 2030, structural change in how we design transportation systems is necessary. The current tools used to design infrastructure for active travel (primarily walking and cycling) lack grounding in empirical evidence and consideration of diverse individual experiences. This project will develop recommendations for transportation infrastructure design that equitably attracts people to use sustainable modes of travel and fosters positive experiences. The goal is to address the critical need for sustainable transportation systems by developing new methods for researchers worldwide and transforming active transportation design guidance in BC and globally.
An Artificial Photosynthesis Device to Generate Green Methanol Fuel from CO2
Methanol has recently become a focus of great interest as a sustainable fuel for the decarbonization of the transportation and shipping industries, but current methods for methanol synthesis are associated with high emissions. An alternative, greener approach involves transforming captured carbon dioxide (CO2) into methanol using water and renewable energy in the form of electricity or sunlight. BC is well positioned to participate in this green transition, yet significant scientific and technological improvements are required to meet demand, which is expected to increase 11‐fold by 2027. This project will solve current roadblocks by exploring the chemistry, materials science, transport modeling, and technoeconomic analysis of (photo)electrochemical CO2 conversion to methanol and emphasizing the need for advancements from multiple disciplines and perspectives.
Testing the influence of microbes and sediment chemistry on seagrass restoration
Restoring seagrass meadows (Zostera marina) that have been lost to coastal infrastructure development, logging, and pollution is a pillar of the Canadian strategy for greenhouse gas reduction and protecting biodiversity. While seagrass restoration through transplantation has long been practiced, lack of inclusion of sediments and microbiota often results in failure. Together with local partners (BC Parks, Tla’amin and Huu-ay-aht Nations, restoration practitioners, and others), this project team will test the role of microbes and microbial processes in seagrass restoration success and develop a database of restoration projects. The goal is to increase the success rates of seagrass restoration throughout BC and the northern hemisphere by revising practices to incorporate microbial processes.
Creating an integrated thermochemical and biological platform for waste valorization in British Columbia
BC urgently needs new ways of handling waste due to its growing population and almost-full landfills. This project team will develop an interconnected system that converts waste, such as fire-damaged wood and plastics, into valuable chemicals and fuels. High-temperature pyrolysis will convert solid waste into liquid fuel, gases (e. hydrogen), and biochar. Newly-discovered bacteria will convert the gas into liquid chemicals. Yinka Dene Economic Development Limited Partnership, wholly owned by the Wet’suwet’en First Nation, supports this work as it provides a path to fostering a healthy environment for all life on Mother Earth and creates new Indigenous business opportunities, thus increasing the community’s wellbeing. This interconnected pathway lays the foundation for circular waste management.
Wall Research Awards – Graduate Student Awards
Research awards of up to $25,000 each for master’s students and up to $30,000 each for doctoral students were awarded to:
Usmita Adhikari
Master of Applied Science in Civil Engineering, UBC Okanagan
My research focuses on developing an environment friendly approach towards construction of hydraulic barrier liners for hazardous municipal waste detention facilities. Conventional clay liners often suffer from shrinkage and cracking, increasing the risk of leachate seepage that can harm nearby water bodies. Traditional chemical stabilizers like cement and lime, though effective, have high carbon footprint. To address this, my study uses sustainable biochar and a depolymerized form of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymer as stabilizers. This eco-friendly enhancement in liner construction supports both waste management practices and preservation of natural environment in British Columbia and beyond.
Thais Ayres Rebello
Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering, UBC Okanagan
My research focuses on developing an assessment methodology for the sustainability of Urban Water Systems (UWS). Building on the development of urban environments, my work aims to identify and select key indicators, while also exploring the mathematical feedback loops between these indicators. The goal is to provide stakeholders with tools to support sustainable practices. During my Ph.D., I proposed an integrated approach combining Circular Economy principles with the One Water Approach to create six pillars of sustainability, specifically tailored to the management of drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater. My model goes beyond traditional system analysis by considering the integration of UWS with nature and surrounding communities.
Rudri Bhatt
Doctor of Philosophy in Resources, Environment and Sustainability, UBC Vancouver
My research aims to understand better the categorization of nonroad engines (NREs) across different jurisdictions and its implication for developing a regional NRE emissions inventory. NREs are a major contributor to greenhouse gases and other air pollutants. Despite its significant contributions to air pollution and climate change, emissions from NREs are poorly cataloged. While they generally include construction, mining equipment, yardwork engines, railway engines, port and marine engines, and industrial engines, their classification for emission inventories and regulations is highly inconsistent. I further explore pathways and policy recommendations for electrification of NREs in the construction and yard & garden sectors.
Johanna Bock
Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry, UBC Vancouver
My research focuses on understanding the diverse ways urban natures, such as parks, beaches, and woodlands, relate to mental health, particularly in metropolitan areas like Vancouver. I am exploring how individual interactions with nature vary by examining daily patterns across demographics and by delving into the unique experiences of Latin American immigrants. Through surveys and walking interviews, my research aims to contribute to our understanding of how personal values and lived experiences shape people’s behaviours in relation to nature as well as their mental well-being.
Mauricio Carvallo Aceves
Doctor of Philosophy in Resources, Environment and Sustainability, UBC Vancouver
My research focuses on how cities prepare and plan for long-term climate impacts. While we expect storm intensities to increase and sea levels to rise, how fast these changes will occur remains uncertain. This makes determining how far in advance to implement adaptation measures (such as dikes and sea dams) more difficult. I am collaborating with the City of Surrey, analysing a large number of climate scenarios to help the City prioritize adaptation projects in the Mudbay region based on their different adaptation goals and the funding levels that may be available.
Elnaz Ghahremani Rad
Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering, UBC Okanagan
My research focuses on advancing solar energy infrastructure in British Columbia (BC), addressing climate change and energy security challenges. I plan to develop efficient and stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with high power conversion efficiency. Key objectives include optimizing cell stability, testing tandem architectures, and developing scalable production methods. This project could significantly contribute to creating a sustainable and resilient energy system for BC. By collaborating with industry partners, we intent to scale flexible PSCs for outdoor use, benefiting off-grid communities, and supporting BC’s transition to clean energy.
Jay Hilsden
Master of Arts in Anthropology, UBC Vancouver
My research involves documenting the diversity of flatfish (halibut, flounders, soles) in BC’s archaeological record. Fish bones provide information on species’ ranges, abundances, and peoples’ diets through time; however, identifying fish species by looking at their bones is challenging. Therefore, I am adapting a method called ZooMS, which characterizes archaeological species by analyzing their bone collagen, to more accurately identify archaeological flatfish from BC sites. This research will allow future ZooMS analyses to determine the types of Pacific flatfish caught and consumed by Indigenous peoples and support reconstructing marine ecosystems prior to the advent of colonialism and commercial fishing.
Stephen Johnston
Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry, UBC Vancouver
My research focuses on the refinement and distribution of best practices we have developed to be used by anglers participating in marine salmon fisheries in British Columbia where selective fishing must occur. We collected surveys to better understand how average anglers participate within these fisheries and have evaluated post-release survival rates of Chinook salmon through tagging and tracking studies. As regulations are modified to protect vulnerable populations of Chinook salmon, anglers must have the knowledge and tools available to limit their impacts. Education is the key step to ensuring the conservation objectives of our research are fully realized.
Juri Kim
Doctor of Philosophy in Planning, UBC Vancouver
My research focuses on understanding how neighbourhood characteristics impact business recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic in Vancouver. Using a mixed-methods approach, I will first conduct statistical analysis to examine the effects of contextual factors such as economic conditions, community infrastructure, and socio-demographic context on business recovery. Insights from this analysis will then guide business interviews to deepen our understanding of how neighbourhood and external influences shaped business recovery outcomes. By examining the underexplored role of neighbourhood influence on business recovery, this study will contribute valuable insights to disaster recovery literature, offering actionable knowledge for local policymakers, urban planners, and organizations involved in disaster recovery planning.
Daniel Kovacek
Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering, UBC Vancouver
My research focuses on how streamflow monitoring in British Columbia can adapt to evolving priorities and questions about water resources. By linking detailed physical and environmental attributes of BC’s watersheds to the information contained in streamflow patterns, I aim to identify monitoring network arrangements that maximize information—to support questions like ecosystem health and infrastructure planning, improve access to water resource data across the province, and build resilience by identifying emerging changes in water resources.
Imranul Laskar
Doctor of Philosophy in Resources, Environment and Sustainability, UBC Vancouver
My research focuses on characterizing uncertainties, identifying, and assessing policy options, and quantifying potential air quality co-benefits and trade-offs in decarbonizing maritime transportation. Using expert elicitation, stakeholder analysis, and integrated modeling, I will assess the impacts of decarbonization policies on emissions, air quality, and health for 2030, 2040, and 2050. Additionally, I will investigate disparities in air pollution exposure affecting communities near major Canadian ports, such as Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Montreal, Halifax, and Saint John.
Sadie Lye
Master of Science in Oceans and Fisheries, UBC Vancouver
My research focuses on the impact of the urban environment on the coastal ocean. In particular, I am investigating the role of stormwater in transporting organic matter and nutrients from Metro Vancouver to Burrard Inlet. In addition, I am assessing the relative contribution of organic matter from anthropogenic and natural sources to particulate organic matter, which forms the base of the marine food web. I hope that this research contributes to informing stormwater management and ensuring healthy coastal environment across British Columbia, Canada.
Sofie McComb
Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry, UBC Vancouver
The goal of my research is to evaluate the health of ecocultural landscapes within the Salish Sea of British Columbia—ancestral food and resource systems such as camas root gardens and cedar food forests that have been shaped by millennia of sustainable Coast Salish First Nations management. My work focuses on assessing how these ecologically and culturally significant landscapes are cumulatively impacted by interactive anthropogenic threats in the region, particularly the loss of Indigenous stewardship and relational caregiving, and how to use this knowledge to inform effective and just conservation decision-making to revitalize these systems in a values-centered way.
Grace Melchers
Master of Science in Oceans and Fisheries, UBC Vancouver
My research focuses on using a cutting-edge molecular technique called environmental DNA, or eDNA, to study the impact of development on nearshore fish communities. This project has been developed and implemented in partnership with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, centred within their ancestral waters of səl̓ilw̓ət, also known as Burrard Inlet. I am hoping to better understand the role that urbanization and development plays in shaping the movements, habitat preferences, and diversity of nearshore fish communities through the use of these non-invasive and novel eDNA methodologies to better inform the management and restoration of nearshore urban areas.
Levi Oostenbrink
Master of Science in Earth and Environmental Sciences, UBC Okanagan
My research focuses on investigating the unique impact of boat-based bear-viewing on grizzly bear activity patterns by using remote camera traps. This study is conducted along the upper Chilko River which falls within the Declared Title Area of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation. Increased ecotourism and waterfront development in this area raises concern regarding its effect on local grizzly bears that require adequate access to the area’s salmon spawning grounds. Results from this research will guide the Tŝilhqot’in National Government’s Nen planning group and provincial authorities in developing regulatory guidelines for sustainable bear-viewing and waterfront transportation in this ecologically sensitive area.
Megan Pawluk
Master of Science in Botany, UBC Vancouver
My research focuses on addressing knowledge gaps for a rare BC plant, Bidens amplissima. More than 85% of the global population of this endemic Pacific Northwest wetland species occurs in southwestern BC. Populations of Bidens amplissima are morphologically variable and grow in both freshwater and estuary habitats. By analyzing thousands of genes in hundreds of individuals, I will determine whether populations from different habitats or regions are genetically distinct. I will also test whether morphological differences are caused by environmental differences using a greenhouse experiment. My results will help inform the management and recovery of this species in BC.
Neha Sharma-Mascarenhas
Doctor of Philosophy in Resources, Environment and Sustainability, UBC Vancouver
My research focuses on the role of repair and reuse as effective waste prevention strategies for end-of-life electronics within a circular economy context. I examine the socio-economic, policy, and industrial dynamics that influence repair and reuse using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methodologies: empirically establishing the economic, behavioral, and sociological factors that impact consumers’ willingness to repair electronics; and tracking the fate of discarded electronics in British Columbia by analyzing pathways through which they are recycled, exported, or landfilled. This research will advance the broader policy debates around fair repair legislation and the right to repair, supporting policymakers with insights and resources to promote sustainable electronic waste management.
Milos Simovic
Doctor of Philosophy in Botany, UBC Vancouver
My research focuses on uncovering the mechanism(s) linking climate-change induced loss of snowpack to yellow-cedar decline. Yellow-cedar, a culturally and economically significant tree species native to the Pacific Northwest region of North America, is currently experiencing significant climate change-induced decline. It is hypothesized that regional warming is leading to loss of insulating snowpack in yellow-cedar habitats, which exposes their roots to lethal freezing injuries. Yet, the exact nature of these injuries, and the sequence of physiological effects they trigger leading to whole-plant death, remain poorly understood.
Valerie Zimmermann
Master of Arts in Resources, Environment and Sustainability, UBC Vancouver
My research focuses on understanding the challenges and opportunities that organic vegetable farmers in British Columbia experience when using environmentally sustainable farming practices. First, I will evaluate the financial, personal, and environmental value of sustainable farming practices to support individual decision-making for farmers. Then, I will work with farmers to suggest ways that governments can better support them to take on environmentally sustainable practices. My aim is to support B.C. farmers to grow food for our province in ways that protect environmental health and adapt to the impacts of climate change