For information on the Robert Caton Scholarship, the David Bates Scholarship and the BC CLEAR Fund, see Air Quality Research Funding.
2009 Winner: Award Letter
Kharah Ross is the 2009 winner of the Robert Caton Scholarship. Kharah is in her first year of the MA/PhD Health Psychology program at the University of British Columbia. She will be investigating a unique area of research: the link between air pollution and day-to-day function. This will involve investigating the relationship between how chronic air pollution exposure could affect current mood (specifically depression) and thus everyday quality of life.
This research is part of Kharah's overall goal to better understand how our environment and lifestyle choices influence mental and biological health, and how people can be motivated to adopt healthier lifestyle practices that simultaneously reduce pollution and improve health.
(PDF: 12 KB/1 page)
2008 Winner: Award Letter
Luisa Giles is the 2008 winner of the Robert Caton Scholarship. Luisa is a PhD candidate in the School of Human Kinetics at the University
of British Columbia. Luisa is working with faculty in Human Kinetics, the School of Environmental Health and the Faculty of Medicine at UBC to gain a better understanding of the interaction between
air pollution and exercise. This research will provide the basis for policies and information to help urban exercisers reduce their health risk due to air pollution.
(PDF: 110 KB/1 page)
2008 Winner: Award Letter
Wenqi Gan is the 2008 winner of the David Bates Scholarship. Wenqi is a PhD candidate in the School of Environmental Health at the University of British
Columbia. Wenqi is researching the relationship between ambient air pollution, traffic noise, and cardiovascular disease in British Columbia. One objective of this research is to provide evidence to
support environmental policy making that takes into account multiple risks and vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.
(PDF: 110 KB/1 page)
2008 Winner: Award Letter
Elaina MacIntyre is the 2008 winner of the BC CLEAR Fund award. Elaina is a PhD candidate in the School of Environmental
Health at the University of British Columbia. She is examining the association between outdoor air pollution and middle ear infections during the first two years of life in British Columbia. Her
area of study reflects her career goal: to develop and evaluate preventive measures aimed at improving children’s environmental health.
(PDF: 110 KB/1 page)
2008 Runner-Up Award Letter
Luke Bornn is the 2008 runner-up winner of the BC CLEAR Fund Runner-Up Award. Luke is a PhD candidate in the Department of Statistics at the University of British
Columbia. His research involves the development of statistical models to account for variability, in space and time, of environmental and health data as it applies to air quality monitoring, environmental
and occupational health, and the understanding of effects of environmental interventions on public health.
(PDF: 110 KB/1 page)
2007 Winner: Award Letter
Brian Gouge, the 2007 winner, is a PhD candidate in the Resource Management and Environmental Studies Program at the University of British Columbia.
Brian is working with a research team, partnered with the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority, on the environmental and human health impacts associated with public transportation. (PDF:
65 KB/1 page)
2007 Runners Up: Award Letters
Due to the large number of highly qualified applicants, the Ministry of Environment contributed extra scholarship funds of $1000 each to the following individuals:
Glenys Webster is a PhD candidate in the University of British Columbia School of Environmental Health and the UBC Bridge program. Glenys created and directs the UBC Chemicals, Health and Pregnancy Study, researching the effects of certain chemicals on pregnant women. (PDF: 57 KB/1 page)
Gail Millar is an MSc student in the Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Program at the University of Northern British Columbia. Gail is researching the spatial variability of wood smoke within five communities in northwestern B.C. — part of a larger study examining woodsmoke health impacts. (PDF: 57 KB/1 page)
Francis Ries is a PhD candidate in the University of British Columbia Resource Management and Environmental Studies Program and the UBC Bridge Program. Francis is researching the link between fossil-fuel-powered transit vehicles’ emissions and public health in the B.C. Lower Mainland.(PDF: 58 KB/1 page)
2006 Winner: Award Letter
Conor Reynolds is a PhD student in the Resource Management and Environmental Studies program
at the University of British Columbia. He received his Master's in Mechanical Engineering at UBC, for experimental work on clean-engine technology and alternative fuels. He is doing
policy and technology research — investigating strategies
to reduce transportation emissions. (PDF: 71 KB/1 page)
2005 Winner: Award Letter
Alison Luke is an outstanding student with a demonstrated commitment to the environment and, through her law studies, an interest in approaching environmental
issues from the policy perspective. (PDF: 281 KB/1 page)
2004 Winner: Award Letter
Eric Mazzi worked with Bob Caton on some projects in 1997-98. His PhD thesis is entitled Indoor and Outdoor Air Quality: A More Representative Analysis of
Climate Policy. (PDF: 103 KB/1 page)
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