Catalyst Volunteer Program

The Catalyst Volunteer Program is a short-term pilot volunteer program created in 2025 with short-term funding from the SSHRC Research Training partnership, TRANSECTS.

Catalyst’s objectives include to provide students, post-docs, and faculty with meaningful learning experiences “in community” and with community-based organizations while simultaneously embodying SENS’ commitment to reciprocity with two institutional partners – Mistawasis Nêhiyawak and Redberry Lake Biosphere Region. In short, Catalyst provides real-world opportunities for SENS “learners” of all types to strengthen skills in transdisciplinary sustainability science. We would like to invite faculty, post-docs, and students in SENS to participate in this program. The program is malleable, and volunteer activities are based on the desires of the partner communities.

Catalyst is also a SENS-wide call to action. As building and nurturing relationships and demonstrating reciprocity when conducting research are crucial when working ‘with’ community, Catalyst aims to illustrate SENS’ commitment to these principles. Therefore, Catalyst’s final objective is to act as a catalyst for a sustained, far-reaching volunteer initiative that gives meaning to the partnership agreements we have signed and to offer opportunities for students and faculty to engage in transdisciplinary work outside of the classroom – hence the name.