Perhaps the faculty’s worst-kept secret of 2020, Environment is proud to finally announce our two outstanding Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (Vanier CGS) winners, Lauren Smith, from the School of Environment Resources and Sustainability, and Justin Murfitt, from Geography and Environmental management.
Vanier Scholars are selected from graduate students demonstrating leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and/or engineering and health.
Each Scholar receives $50,000 per year for three years during doctoral studies.
Lauren Smith’s award comes from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). Working under the supervision of Sarah Wolfe, the PhD candidate received the award for her work examining the influence of mortality salience in drinking water messaging on gender biased innovation outcomes.
Smith is also a successful entrepreneur, having won second place and $25,000 in funding at the Communitech Fierce Founders Bootcamp Pitch Competition for her company PolyGone. Though Smith has pivitoed to a new business model in recent months, she is a well-respected mentor and inspiration across campus for her dedication to helping entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups get the attention and support they deserve.
Congratulations to the winners!
Story originally published on Environment News