EOAS faculty and students receive 2026 Wall Research Awards
Five EOAS researchers are among the recipients of the 2026 Wall Research Awards, with projects spanning forest hydrology, climate and energy systems, sustainable agriculture, biological oceanography and marine virology, reflecting the breadth of research across the department.
The Wall Research Awards are part of the Peter Wall Legacy Awards, supported by the groundbreaking $150 million+ Peter Wall Legacy Fund. Together with the Wall Fellowships, they form one of the largest internal award programs at any university in North America, providing approximately $4 million annually to support UBC research. The awards focus on research relating to British Columbia in three broad areas: sustainable urban development; environmental protection of oceans, beaches and waterfronts; and sustainable approaches to resource-intensive industry.
($80,000 for individual UBC faculty members to be spent within a three-year term)
Dr. Ali Ameli (Associate Professor) was recognized with an Individual Faculty Award for From Forest Ruts to Streams: How Forestry Machinery Alters Water and Solute Pathways and Connectivity.
Forestry machinery can leave behind ruts, tracks, and compacted soils that alter how rainfall and snowmelt move through forests and reach streams, yet these impacts remain poorly understood. This research will examine forested landscapes across British Columbia, using advanced modelling to understand how machinery-related disturbances affect water movement and stream connectivity under current and future climate conditions. In partnership with regional offices of the B.C. Ministry of Forests, the project will translate these findings into practical guidance for forestry operations to help protect water resources in actively managed forests and surrounding communities.
($200,000 for groups of 3-5 UBC faculty members to be spent within a three-year term)
Dr. Valentina Radic (Professor) is part of the team awarded for Climate Change and its Impact on B.C.’s Electricity Generation: AI Driven Climate and Grid Planning.
British Columbia relies on hydropower for clean electricity, but climate change is altering snowpack and water flows, making energy supply less predictable as demand grows from population growth, electric vehicles, and heating. This research will use climate data, water system modelling, and advanced energy system analysis to understand future impacts on B.C.’s electricity system and identify solutions, including renewable energy and storage options. The findings will support long-term planning for a reliable, resilient and sustainable electricity system in the face of a changing climate.
Dr. Mark Johnson (Professor) is a member of the team behind From Field to Supply Chain: A Multi-Indicator Sustainability Benchmarking Framework for British Columbia Farms.
B.C. farmers face growing demands from buyers, certifiers, and policymakers to demonstrate sustainability across areas such as greenhouse gas emissions, soil health, biodiversity, and farming practices, yet no single tool helps them measure progress across these areas. Building on LiteFarm, UBC’s globally used farm management application, this research will create a free, bilingual, privacy-protected sustainability benchmarking tool that helps farms respond to diverse supply chain requirements through a unified approach. Co-designed with B.C. and global farming communities, including small-scale and Indigenous producers, the platform will support sustainable agriculture, inform policy, and strengthen climate and biodiversity efforts across the province.
($30,000 per year for PhD candidates for one or two years and at $25,000 for Master’s students for one year).
Bronwyn Hobson (Master of Science in Oceanography) was selected for a Graduate Student Award for Bloom or Bust: How local processes influence phytoplankton in Barkley Sound, British Columbia.
Her research focuses on the conditions that influence phytoplankton in Barkley Sound, British Columbia. Phytoplankton, or microscopic marine algae, form the base of ocean food webs. Their seasonal blooms provide a critical food source for many important species in British Columbia, such as salmon. However, bloom timing and size can vary, and short-term extreme events like marine heatwaves can disrupt healthy bloom conditions. Most current monitoring focuses on large ocean regions, missing important small-scale processes that influence phytoplankton growth—such as tides and daily wind patterns. My research uses high-resolution ocean measurements to explore how local processes impact coastal phytoplankton.
Allie Roberts-Moore (Doctor of Philosophy in Oceanography) received a Graduate Student Award for Characterizing the viruses of copepods and larval Dungeness crab in British Columbia.
Her research identifies, studies, and monitors viruses of copepods and larval Dungeness crab, planktonic animals that are integral to B.C. marine food webs and fisheries. The viruses that infect these organisms and their effects on host populations remain poorly understood, with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) identifying a specific knowledge gap in Dungeness crab larval biology. B.C. fishers and conservation bodies rely on accurate biological information, including knowledge of pathogens, to support healthy fisheries and ecosystems. My research will strengthen pathogen surveillance and contribute to understanding the life cycles of organisms key to B.C.’s coastal economy.
Full list of Wall Legacy Award recipients, with a description of their projects: https://walllegacyawards.ubc.ca/awardees-2026/