StFX student Matthew Chisholm chosen as a 2010 ECO Student Ambassador 

A fourth year StFX political science student looking into low-carbon economies in Canada, Sweden and Denmark will have the opportunity to present his research at an international conference in Vancouver this month.

Matthew Chisholm, 21, of Antigonish, has been chosen as one of five ECO Student Ambassador Award 2010 winners, and as an award recipient will now present his research at GLOBE2010, a biennial conference and trade show taking place in Vancouver March 24-26.

As a student ambassador, he receives a $1,000 cheque to assist in travel and accommodation, a space at the ECO Canada booth at GLOBE to present his poster, and a delegate pass that allows unlimited access to the conferences at GLOBE.

“This program will provide me with an excellent opportunity to network with key decision-makers and prospective employers, thus learning how my skills will fit into the job market,” he says.

Mr. Chisholm, who returned to StFX in December after a four month Coady International Institute internship in South Africa, says the conference will be a great opportunity to meet industry representatives, government officers, and other students, and to learn about ECO Canada and the Canadian environment sector 

The program provides the student ambassadors the opportunity to learn about current environmental issues in Canada and around the world and become acquainted with the services offered by ECO Canada, which was established in 1992 under the Sector Council Initiative from the federal government. 

At StFX, Mr. Chisholm is working on his research study for an environmental social sciences course taught by sociology professor Dr. Rod Bantjes, and he says his professor’s willingness to allow him to fit the two together and to incorporate this experience into his academic study has been terrific.