Climate Innovation Discovery Stream

February 9 – February 25

The Climate Innovation Discovery Stream is your chance to join the fight against climate change. Participants will gain access to resources and experts to explore specific climate change-related problems, with the goal of identifying innovative ideas and potential solutions. This 3 week program will bring students from across academic backgrounds to work together on finding ways to help reduce the harmful effects of global climate change.

This stream is open to all students and postdoctoral fellows at the University of Waterloo. You can join as an individual, or request to work with specific people. There is no experience or background knowledge required, just a desire to make an impact and enact change. Each group will work within a specific area outlined below with experts and mentors specific to these problems.

To conclude the Climate Innovation Discovery Stream, teams will present their findings and potential solutions to a panel of climate change experts. The top two teams will be selected and receive funding to help progress their ideas. The first place team will be awarded $5,000 with the second place team receiving $2,500 to help turn their climate change concepts into a reality.

Problem Statements & Areas of Focus

Understanding how our climate is changing

How can we use artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, big data, and remote sensing to help people and businesses better understand how climate change will impact them on global and local scales?

Solving for Carbon

How can we leverage socially acceptable, commercially viable solutions to rapidly decarbonize big emitters, transform the energy sector, change consumer behaviours, and shift investment to climate-responsible companies?

Adapting to Thrive

The impacts caused by climate change, including severe weather, rising sea levels, wildfires, and heatwaves, are getting worse and costing more each year. How can we design innovative solutions at all scales to help us adapt our homes, communities, industries and institutions, to not only survive, but to thrive in a changing climate?

Protecting Our Health

How can we rethink and innovate our health systems to make them more resilient, equitable, and responsive to health risks that are exacerbated by the changing climate?

Coaches & Mentors

We have an incredible lineup of coaches and mentors to work with as you discover possible solutions to global climate change issues. They will share their expertise and help guide you to make meaningful discoveries and begin to innovate in the world of climate change.

Eligibility & Key Dates

This program is open to University of Waterloo students in every faculty as well as current post docs. Full-time, part-time, and students currently on co-op are eligible and encouraged to join the Climate Innovation Discovery Stream. See below for key dates and get involved in the fight against climate change.

Applications open: January 18. 2021
Applications close: February 7, 2021
Stream activities begin: February 9, 2021
Stream activities conclude: February 25, 2021