Two UBC researchers, Dr. Melissa McHale at UBC Vancouver and Dr. Lisa Tobber at UBC Okanagan, have each received $1 million Wall Fellowships to lead transformative projects addressing climate resilience and housing challenges across B.C.
The fellowships will fund important research to help communities in B.C. deal with climate change and housing challenges. The Wall Fellowships are UBC’s top research awards, funded by a $100 million gift from Vancouver philanthropist Dr. Peter Wall. The program invests about $4 million each year in UBC research, making it one of the largest internal research awards in North America.
Dr. Melissa McHale is working with the City of Kelowna and Indigenous knowledge holders to help B.C. communities prepare for a hotter, drier, and more fire-prone future.
Dr. Lisa Tobber, a structural engineer, is using her Wall Fellowship to make housing in B.C. safer, stronger, and more affordable, especially midrise buildings of four storeys and higher. Her work also incorporates Indigenous knowledge in housing design, creating culturally informed solutions.
