Scholarships for Future Canadian Meteorologists
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/02/24
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is mandated for protecting and conserving our natural heritage, predicting weather and environmental conditions, preventing and managing pollution, promoting clean growth and a sustainable environment for present and future generations. The ECCC Meteorology Awards Program aims to address Canada’s need for skilled meteorologists by funding students pursuing atmospheric science degrees. The program, totaling $648,000 over five years, provides $5,000–$10,000 scholarships to students at six universities offering required coursework. Administered by Scholarship Partners Canada, the selection process prioritizes equity-deserving groups. Recipients gain eligibility for ECCC’s Meteorologist Occupational Training Program, a rigorous two-year program preparing them for operational forecasting. As Canada’s largest meteorologist employer, ECCC ensures workforce sustainability to enhance weather forecasting, climate resilience, and public safety. The initiative strengthens scientific recruitment, diversity, and meteorological expertise for Canada’s future.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: How does the Environment and Climate Change Canada Meteorology Awards Program address the need for skilled meteorologists in Canada?
Environment and Climate Change Canada: Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) meteorologists are highly trained individuals who have completed post-secondary educations in atmospheric science programs, in addition to our in-house training program for new employees. To be eligible for entry into our training program for new meteorologists, candidates must first meet our essential education requirements. These requirements include the completion of a university science degree or certificate program with specialization in atmospheric science/meteorology, as well as specific courses in topics like math/physics, synoptic meteorology, dynamic meteorology, and thermodynamic meteorology. These requirements, in addition to the training provide via our in-house professional development program, allow ECCC to certify our meteorologists according to international training standards set out by the World Meteorological Organization.
Atmospheric science programs in Canadian universities are typically small, with few graduates each year. Students entering university and choosing their program of study may not have had much exposure to atmospheric science, and may not consider it as an option due to lack of awareness. The ECCC Meteorology Awards aim to raise awareness of the field among students in undergraduate science programs at universities offering atmospheric science programs that meet ECCC’s hiring requirements for meteorologists.
Jacobsen: What are the eligibility criteria?
Environment and Climate Change Canada: There are three categories of eligibility:
- Students enrolling into a meteorology certificate or diploma program (typically 30 credits). These students will have already completed a Bachelor of Science with foundational courses in math and physics. The certificate/diploma programs in Canada that offer ECCC’s course requirements are the University of British Columbia (UBC), York University, McGill University, Dalhousie University, and l’Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). These are one-time awards of $10,000.
- Students enrolled in a Bachelor of Science degree program with specialization in atmospheric science. The post-secondary institutions in Canada that offer ECCC’s course requirements are the University of Manitoba, the University of British Columbia, York University, McGill University, and l’Université du Québec à Montréal. These awards are valued at $6,000, and recipients can reapply for an additional year of funding so long as they remain registered in their program.
- Students enrolled in a Bachelor of Science degree program at one of the universities that offer atmospheric science programs that include ECCC’s course requirements. These awards are valued at $5,000, and recipients can reapply for an additional year of funding provided they then register in a program with specialization in atmospheric science.
Jacobsen: Is an investment of $648,000 comparable to similar scholarship programs?
Environment and Climate Change Canada: The funding for the ECCC Meteorology Awards is spread out over 5 years, with the aim of funding approximately 80 individual scholarships over the life of the program. In comparison to other scholarship programs such as the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Undergraduate programs the annual amounts (5K to 10K) are consistent with other similar awards. For example, ECCC also offers an Atmospheric and Meteorological graduate supplement to recipients of a Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS) or an NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship – Doctoral which is $5K.
Jacobsen: How does this fit into the strategy of the Environment and Climate Change Canada?
Environment and Climate Change Canada: As a science-based department, it is important that ECCC attract, recruit, and retain atmospheric science and meteorologists for today and the future. The department is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce, which is a departmental priority.
Jacobsen: How will this enhance the meteorological workforce and the capabilities in weather forecasting and combatting climate change?
Environment and Climate Change Canada: ECCC is the largest employer of meteorologists in Canada, with over 500 meteorologists employed across the country serving in roles such as operations, service delivery, and research and development. Regular intake of new meteorologists is critical to maintaining a high level of service to the public and stakeholders. Outside of ECCC, meteorologists are also employed in many sectors, such as with provincial forest fire agencies, the energy sector in solar and wind, and media.
Jacobsen: What is the selection process for the scholarship recipients, particularly candidates from Equity Deserving Groups?
Environment and Climate Change Canada: Scholarship Partners Canada, part of Universities Canada, is administering the program. Universities Canada possesses 60 years of experience in managing large-scale, complex, multi-year, multi-country, international scholarship programs, and currently administers over 140 scholarship programs, awarding more than $24+ million for students to attend universities, colleges, CEGEPs, and trade schools. As experts in the field of scholarship delivery, they are creating a fair and transparent selection process which promotes the lowering of barriers to the study of atmospheric science. A selection committee of Canadian university and college representatives will be convened and managed by Scholarships Partners Canada. ECCC has no influence on the decision. Applications will be assessed on academic performance; volunteer/community involvement and/or extra-curricular activities; essay; and content and relevance of applicant’s reference letters. Preference is accorded to students who identify as part of one or more of the following Equity Deserving Groups:
- Indigenous persons
- Members of visible minority groups and other equity deserving groups
- Persons with disabilities
- Women
Jacobsen: Why were Dalhousie University, Université du Québec à Montréal, McGill University, York University, University of Manitoba, and University of British Columbia chosen as eligible institutions?
Environment and Climate Change Canada: These 6 post-secondary institutions are the only institutions in Canada that offer all the essential courses that meet the education requirements for meteorologists employed by the Government of Canada. These include courses in synoptic meteorology, dynamic meteorology, and thermodynamic meteorology. These requirements, in addition to the completion of ECCC’s Meteorologist Occupational Training Program, allow ECCC to certify its meteorologists according to international training standards set out by the World Meteorological Organization.
Jacobsen: Scholarship recipients are eligible to apply for the Meteorology Training Program upon graduation. What is in this training and preparation for students’ future operational roles in weather forecasting?
Environment and Climate Change Canada: University programs specializing in atmospheric science allow students to gain foundational knowledge in the theories and principles of meteorology. Students graduating from these programs do not possess sufficient operational knowledge or practice to meet ECCC’s standards to fully function as Operational Meteorologists right away. ECCC’s Meteorologist Occupational Training Program (MOTP) is designed to build on that foundation towards developing the skills needed to apply the theoretical knowledge into the production of operational forecast products and routines. Meteorologist Interns are usually hired at the entry level and immediately commence a classroom-based training course of approximately 6-7 months in duration. This classroom course takes an applied approach to the theory learned in university, where interns develop forecasting skills in a simulated operational environment. Following successful completion of the formal course, the intern will begin a period of double-banking in one of ECCC’s operational prediction centres, where they are directly supervised by a more senior meteorologist. During this phase of the training, the intern gradually works towards completing their full operational duties under general guidance and minimal supervision. After a minimum of 2 months, the intern is promoted to the Developmental Meteorologist level, which lasts a minimum of 18 months. Developmental Meteorologists will increasingly assume the duties of an operational office through a full 4 seasons to ensure exposure to a reasonable mix of forecasting situations in the Canadian climate. If they meet the standards within the allowed timeframe, they graduate from the MOTP, receive ECCC certification, and are promoted to the working level of an Operational Meteorologist.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time.
Last updated May 3, 2025. These terms govern all In Sight Publishing content—past, present, and future—and supersede any prior notices. In Sight Publishing by Scott Douglas Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons BY‑NC‑ND 4.0; © In Sight Publishing by Scott Douglas Jacobsen 2012–Present. All trademarks, performances, databases & branding are owned by their rights holders; no use without permission. Unauthorized copying, modification, framing or public communication is prohibited. External links are not endorsed. Cookies & tracking require consent, and data processing complies with PIPEDA & GDPR; no data from children < 13 (COPPA). Content meets WCAG 2.1 AA under the Accessible Canada Act & is preserved in open archival formats with backups. Excerpts & links require full credit & hyperlink; limited quoting under fair-dealing & fair-use. All content is informational; no liability for errors or omissions: Feedback welcome, and verified errors corrected promptly. For permissions or DMCA notices, email: scott.jacobsen2025@gmail.com. Site use is governed by BC laws; content is “as‑is,” liability limited, users indemnify us; moral, performers’ & database sui generis rights reserved.
In-Sight Publishing 