From wildfire resilience and watershed restoration to clean technology adoption and Indigenous climate leadership, eight projects involving University of Victoria researchers are receiving more than $800,000 of support through PICS programs designed to accelerate climate innovation across British Columbia. 

Climate Foresight

The Climate Foresight Program facilitates bold, cross-sectoral initiatives that address complex and poorly understood climate issues. Three projects connected to UVic will receive $30,000 to convene innovative dialogues that bring together researchers and practitioners in B.C. and beyond, to shape the next generation of transformative climate solutions. The PICS team provide bespoke capacity and coordination support for each dialogue.  

• Managing Sustainability Transitions in British Columbia: Analytical Tools, Governance Frameworks, and Transitions Management Practice, led by UVic’s Tamara Krawchenko (Public Administration) with Sean Markey from Simon Fraser University (SFU). 

• Beneath the Fireline: social–ecological dialogues on groundwater, wildfire resilience and governance in a changing climate, led by UVic’s Tom Gleeson (Civil Engineering), with Tristan Pearch from the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) and Paige Thurston from Living Lakes Canada. 

• Understanding and Addressing Climate Disinformation in British Columbia, led by David Tindall from the University of British Columbia (UBC), with UVic’s Katya Rhodes (Public Administration) and Nicholas Scott from SFU. 

Policy Spark

The Policy Spark Research Grant Program provides $20,000 in rapid-turnaround funding to catalyze policy insights that help B.C. build a cleaner and more competitive economy.  

• Beyond Rebates: Capital Recycling Mechanisms for Clean Tech Adoption, led by Basma Majerbi (Business). 

World Weaving

The World Weaving Climate Research Program supports First Nations led and co-designed climate research, and associated relationship building and knowledge exchange, grounded in the principles of the Relationship Protocol between PICS and the First Nations Leadership Council, with up to $200,000 per project.  

• Wuikinuxv Clam Garden Restoration Project, led by the Wuikinuxv Nation and working with UVic’s Chris Darimont (Geography) and Wuikinuxv Nation’s land manager Calen May-Tobin. 

• Gitxsan Climate Storywork: Weaving Knowledge, Art, and Relationships with Land, led by the Gitxsan community and working with UVic’s Jenny Morgan (Social Work) and Jason Morgan-Gottschall.

• Restoring suuḥaa to haʔukmin: A Climate Adaptation and Watershed Rebuilding Initiative, led by the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and working with UVic’s Jaime Grimm (Biology) and Jessica Edwards with the Ha’oom Fisheries Society. 

• Operationalizing the “Kaska adaptive stewardship cycle” (KASC): Weaving Kaska knowledge and western science for informed climate-related decision-making and Kaska climate leadership, led by the Dena Keyah Institute and working with UVic’s Matt Murphy (Business) and researcher Julian Yates.