Deadline to Apply: March 3, 2025

Event Date: August 7–8, 2025

Event Location: University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The WIRED Global Center is seeking applications from Indigenous high school students for the Indigenous Youth Ambassador Program. This program empowers Indigenous youth to engage with cutting-edge discussions on climate resilience and power systems, ensuring that Indigenous perspectives and traditional knowledge are integral to shaping equitable and sustainable solutions.

The U.S.-Canada Center on Climate-Resilient Western Interconnected Grid (WIRED Global Center) is an international hub dedicated to addressing the critical challenges posed by climate-driven extreme disturbances—such as wildfires, heatwaves, drought, flooding, and rising sea levels—to the Western Interconnection (WI) power grid. Serving over 75 million people across 14 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces, the WI is essential for regional socio-economic prosperity.

Our Mission: To foster cross-border and interdisciplinary collaboration among academia, industry, government, and communities to reimagine a resilient, equitable, and sustainable power grid for a prosperous future.

Our Core Interests:

• Climate-Driven Disturbances: Understanding and mitigating the impacts of extreme weather events on the power grid and communities.
• Equitable Climate Resilience: Prioritizing fairness and inclusivity, ensuring that solutions benefit at-risk and disadvantaged populations.
• Innovation in Grid Resilience: Developing cutting-edge technologies and frameworks to modernize power grids for climate adaptation.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Integrating expertise from power systems, climate science, forestry, data analytics, social sciences, and policy.

Application Process

1. Complete the Application Form. 
2. Prepare and Submit the Following Documents: 
   1. Personal Statement (up to 500 words):
      • Share your interest in climate resilience and why it matters to your community.
      • Explain how attending the symposium will help you grow as a leader.
      • Describe how you plan to share your experiences with your community.
   2. Reference Letter:
      • One letter from a teacher, mentor, community leader, or Elder who can speak to your qualifications, character, and potential impact.
   3. Poster Title and Abstract (up to 200 words):
      • Title: Provide a title for your proposed poster.
      • Abstract: Summarize the idea or topic you wish to present, which could include:
        • Traditional ecological knowledge and climate resilience.
        • Community challenges and solutions related to climate-driven disturbances.
        • Innovative ideas for sustainable energy in your community.
        • Personal experiences or stories related to climate impacts.
        • Note: The submitted idea is non-binding; however, the final poster must align with the Center’s core interests.
3. Submission: 
   • Combine all documents into a single PDF file.
   • Submit your application here.
   • Application Deadline: March 3, 2025
     

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated interest in and commitment to climate resilience and leadership.
• Quality and relevance of the proposed poster idea.
• Potential to contribute unique perspectives and bridge community knowledge with the Center's mission.
• Recommendations from references.

Notification

• Selected ambassadors will be notified by [Insert Notification Date].
• Detailed instructions for symposium participation and poster preparation will be provided upon acceptance.

Data Collection policy/statement

WIRED will host an office hour on February 7, 2025. Prospective applicants may attend and ask questions/receive support with their application process.

Register to attend the office hour here.