United Global Plan of Action for One Health and One Climate, a project led by Trent University with the International Institute for Environmental Studies has been awarded a $296,400 Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship (QES) from The Rideau Hall Foundation and Universities Canada, to support student- and faculty-led international research projects that focus on the adaptation, response, and resilience to a changing climate.

“This award reflects Trent University’s leadership in fostering international mobility and tackling global challenges like climate change through collaboration,” said Dr. Holger Hintelmann, interim vice president of Research & Innovation at Trent University. “As a founding member of the International Institute for Environmental Studies (IIES), Trent is committed to preparing the next generation of scholars by offering students and faculty unique opportunities to conduct research abroad and welcoming international researchers to Trent. These experiences allow them to engage with diverse perspectives, learn from experts worldwide, and develop a broader understanding of complex global issues beyond our borders.”

The QES funding will support an initiative co-led by Dr. Huy Dang, associate professor in environmental chemistry at Trent University and Dr. Doug Evans, director of the IIES, facilitating research collaborations with IIES member institutions in Chile, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, and beyond.

One Health and One Climate aims to address issues related to the health of humans, animals, plants, and the environment while improving resilience to the effects of a changing climate. The main topics include sustainable development of critical minerals for the green transition, mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, carbon capture using sustainable agriculture practices, and enhanced rock weathering, and the impacts of climate change on water quality and resources.

“Canada witnesses climate change at twice the global average rate. Nevertheless, we are well positioned to lead the global combat against climate threats by bolstering up the green transition, adaptation strategies, and technological innovations,” said Prof. Dang. “Through the IIES and the QES initiative, Trent University has a central role in establishing this united global plan of action through academic collaborations and diplomacy.”

The QES funding will offer opportunities for students and researchers to engage in hands-on fieldwork and international exchanges. Students will join the 2,677 active Queen Elizabeth scholars and alumni worldwide as the next generation of engaged citizens and leaders to create lasting solutions in Canada and abroad for a climate-resilient world.

"The IIES is pleased that the strength of its international partnerships has been recognized through the awarding of the QES scholarships grant," said Director Evans. "With these scholarships we will be able to provide important opportunities for students to contribute to international research programs in several countries, tackling some of the most pressing environmental issues confronting us today."

Global institutions collaborating with Trent University on the One Health and One Climate initiative include Universidad San Sebastián in Chile, University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, University of Edinburgh in the UK, and Phenikaa University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Science and University of Technology in Vietnam.