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�Ӱ�ԭ�� University has become the first North American institutional member of the  (STRN), the international network of scholars and practitioners studying and working to advance pathways toward more sustainable societal systems.

Building on past achievements in the field, this milestone cements �Ӱ�ԭ��’s position as North America’s leading cluster for transitions research, policy engagement, and training.

Sustainability transitions is a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field focused on understanding and accelerating the profound societal changes needed to address pressing challenges such as climate change. Its frameworks and insights have increasingly been taken up by leading international organizations and government bodies, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, OECD, World Bank, and the European Commission. Since its founding in 2009, STRN has become the global hub for this work, connecting more than 3,000 researchers and practitioners.

A Record of Leadership

�Ӱ�ԭ�� has long been a pioneer in sustainability transitions. In 2009, it launched a flagship interdisciplinary graduate program in sustainable energy, bridging engineering and policy to train new leaders in energy transitions. Chancellor’s Professor James Meadowcroft, former Canada Research Chair in Governance for Sustainable Development, helped establish the politics and governance of transitions as a core area of study within the network and later developed the governance approach that informed the creation of Canada’s  in 2016.

�Ӱ�ԭ�� has also anchored major national initiatives, including  (2018), the country’s leading voice for an energy-efficient economy. In 2019, �Ӱ�ԭ�� brought the STRN’s annual flagship event, the International Sustainability Transitions (IST) Conference, to North America for the first and only time to date. More recently, in partnership with the , the university established the first endowed research chair dedicated to the field in North America (2024).

Today, �Ӱ�ԭ�� brings together a critical mass of scholars advancing research and practice across multiple dimensions of sustainability transitions, including but not limited to:

• Kristen Schell, Canada Research Chair in Uncertainty-Informed Net-Zero Energy System Modelling
• Reza Kholghy, Canada Research Chair in Particle Technology and Combustion Engineering (industrial decarbonization)
• Elie Azar, Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Buildings and Communities
• James Meadowcroft, Chancellor’s Professor, former Canada Research Chair, and Principal at the Transition Accelerator
• Alexandra Mallett, Associate Professor in Public Policy
• Daniel Rosenbloom, Ivey Research Chair in Sustainability Transitions
• Cameron Roberts, Adjunct Research Professor and Senior Research Associate in Sustainability Transitions
• Brendan Haley, Adjunct Research Professor and Senior Director of Policy Strategy at Efficiency Canada

Expanding Global Reach

With �Ӱ�ԭ��’s membership, STRN deepens its global presence to include a strong North American institutional partner. This step comes at a time when the network is experiencing growing uptake globally, with new regional hotbeds emerging in Asia and Latin America.

Looking Ahead

�Ӱ�ԭ�� STRN

The Sustainability Transitions Research Network (STRN) is the world’s largest international community of researchers and practitioners focused on sustainability transitions. It works to advance knowledge development, education and training, knowledge exchange, and outreach.

�Ӱ�ԭ�� �Ӱ�ԭ�� University

Located in Canada’s capital of Ottawa, �Ӱ�ԭ�� connects world-class researchers, industry leaders, and over 30,000 students to tackle the most pressing global concerns.