Academics
Explore. Challenge. Inspire.
From Monday to Friday, you will engage in hands-on learning through a combination of faculty-led lectures, field work, and discussions. Challenge yourself and expand your knowledge of environmental sciences and sustainability. We will address issues in the local Okanagan environment in an experiential and multidisciplinary way.
Your final project.
UBC faculty and researchers who are leaders in the fields of sustainability and environmental sciences will work one-on-one to prepare you for your final project: a symposium presentation where you and your peers will discuss and debate the most current topics of environmental sciences with faculty and graduate students. This is an opportunity of a lifetime to engage with experts in the field and will stand out on your resume and university applications.
In the classroom… and beyond.
The Summer Scholars Program takes you out into the very environments you will discuss in your lectures. Field trips will take place both in the city and the surrounding area, including mountains, forests, and waterways.
Explore these topics in class.
Principles of Sustainability
Learn about environmental networks and sustainable development, trace your own ecological footprint, and explore reasons for studying environmental science.
Humans and Our Environment
Explore the impact of our growing population on the natural environment and the capacity of our planet to support our lifestyles. Travel from the valley up into the local mountains to explore landscape changes in the Okanagan.
Soil, Agriculture, and Food
You’ll visit a local organic farm to understand how our food system works. You’ll also visit a community garden where the city’s residents are able to farm on a small scale.
Cities and Urban Planning
Investigate how land use impacts the functioning of ecosystems. You’ll take a walking tour of Kelowna with a UBC faculty member who will illustrate the impact of urban development on our natural landscape and discuss sustainable strategies.
Forests
Understand the role of local forests in learning about natural resources and biodiversity. You’ll travel to Okanagan Mountain Provincial Park to discuss how we manage wildfire and the impact of fire on humans, animals, water resources, soils, and forests.
Freshwater Resources
Learn about the competing demands for water and how water is used and abused. You’ll visit the Mission Creek to understand how streams are engineered and restored, and the impact of these management practices on aquatic life.
The Atmosphere and Climate Change
While exploring campus with your peers, you’ll discover how humans impact the atmosphere and learn about the potential global and local impact of climate change on water, soil, plants, and humans.
Sustainable Living: Energy, Resources, and Waste
How can we make better use of the resources we have? What happens to our discarded waste? Consider the full life cycle of the products you use while visiting Kelowna’s wastewater treatment facility, featuring a highly advanced nutrient and carbonaceous removal system. You’ll also see community composting and methane gas retrieval in action at the local landfill.
