BRITISH COLUMBIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
BCIT collaborates on International Ecological Footprint Learning Lab

By Christine Pinkham

The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is collaborating with York University and the University of Iceland on an International Ecological Footprint Learning Lab project. This project, led by York University, is supported by the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council's (SSHRC) Partnership Grant Award which will provide $2,486,181 towards the project.

Under BCIT Director of Sustainability Dr. Jennie Moore's leadership, the BCIT Centre for Ecocities (the Centre) will receive $180,000 to support up to nine graduate students over the course of seven years to build their knowledge in ecological footprint analysis at the urban scale. This training serves as a complement to students' studies in their given discipline. Each participating BCIT student is eligible for $10,000, renewable for a second year, reaching a total of $20,000 per student.

"Training in ecological footprint analysis and sustainability analytics is essential to help students make global connections and future proof their education," said Dr. Jennie Moore, Director, Sustainability, BCIT.

The BCIT Centre for Ecocities is a world leader in urban ecological footprint analysis based on urban metabolism and life cycle assessment. The Centre works with over 30 municipalities across British Columbia, representing over 75% of the BC population, to assist in their transition to become eco-cities. Specifically, the Centre is currently working with municipalities on their consumption-based greenhouse gas emissions inventories. The BCIT Centre for Ecocities is supported through generous donations from the Real Estate Foundation of BC and Vancity.

This initiative was made possible through the work of the BCIT Centre for Ecocities.