The objective of Environmental Innovation is to harness the diverse collective knowledge and experience of the co-researchers and collaborators to produce a unique graduate training experience. Researchers will collaborate to train students to address cumulative environmental effects at multiple scales, combined with an environmental policy 
component focused on reconciling the creation of economic opportunities, compliance with existing regulatory frameworks, and broader objectives of cultural, environmental and economic sustainability. Our trainees will conduct exceptional thesis-based research and obtain the following Environmental Innovation value-added skills:
- Early program perspective about the many issues and challenges involved in typical, high profile, resource development issues in Canada (accomplished primarily through an eye-opener course
focused case-studies presented from the varied perspectives of the co-researchers and collaborators).
- Capacity to understand and reconcile the resource development priorities of industry, government, and indigenous people (accomplished primarily through the eye-opener course and internships with industry and government or indigenous organizations).
- Knowledge and skills required for effective assessment, monitoring, and management of resource development. This includes specialized skills in assessing, monitoring, and managing environmental impacts with existing and emerging technology (accomplished primarily through thesis projects) combined with generalized knowledge about natural resource economics and industry, indigenous rights and engagement, ecoinformatics, and scenario development (accomplished primarily through resource management core course).
- Professional skills and decorum required to be “market-ready” and highly effective at interacting with representatives of industry, government and indigenous groups (accomplished primarily through internships and Skillsets at McGill/Professional Development at University of Alberta).
- Integration within resource management networks that connect trainees to prospective industrial, government, indigenous, and academic employers, oriented around the shared training priorities of sectors that have too often worked in opposition to each other (accomplished through the development of the Environmental Innovation team, internships, and graduate showcase seminars).
New value-added components developed for Environmental Innovation (based on feedback solicited from government, industry, and indigenous collaborators) include a i) Resource Management Eye-
opener Course, ii) Resource Management Core Course, iii) Industry/government internships, and iv) Graduate Showcase Seminar. The new courses and activities have been designed by co-researchers and collaborators for Environmental Innovation and will be offered at McGill and Alberta through exchanges and webinars.
Funding provided by the NSERC CREATE program.
