For the second consecutive year, Mila's Sustainability Scholarships Program is supporting researchers who are putting artificial intelligence to work on some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. This year, three projects stood out for their scientific rigour, their relevance to climate issues, and their strong potential for concrete impact.
Meet the 2026 recipients, each awarded a $4,000 scholarship to support their work at the intersection of AI, climate, and sustainability.
Hannah Merrigan, Ph. D., Polytechnique Montréal
AI Framework for PHM of Hydroelectric Assets
Supervisor: Antoine Lesage-Landry, Associate Academic Member
Québec's hydroelectric network is a cornerstone of our energy transition, but its infrastructure is aging and demand continues to grow. Hannah Merrigan's project proposes replacing traditional inspection methods with AI-based solutions capable of continuously monitoring equipment condition, detecting anomalies, and anticipating failures. The goal is to extend the lifespan of essential energy assets and reduce reliance on carbon-intensive backup energy sources.
Michelle Lin, M. Sc., Université de Montréal
Understanding Ecosystem Recovery After Wildfires
Supervisor: Christopher Pal, Core Academic Member, Mila
Boreal peatlands store enormous quantities of carbon, and wildfires are an increasing threat to them. In areas such as Scotty Creek, Northwest Territories, where ground-based research infrastructure has been destroyed, Michelle Lin uses satellite and drone imagery to track vegetation regeneration after fires. This data is valuable for climate science, land management, and environmental decision-making in regions that are often difficult to access.
Yuyan Chen, Ph. D., McGill University
Discovering New Insect Species Through Out-of-Distribution Detection
Supervisor: David Rolnick, Core Academic Member, Mila
Thousands of animal species remain undocumented, and some could disappear before they are ever known. Yuyan Chen's project tackles this problem by applying machine learning to vast streams of environmental data to automatically identify unknown wildlife. By combining the speed of AI with human expertise, this approach accelerates biodiversity mapping and supports the development of more robust conservation policies.
Congratulations to all three recipients, and a heartfelt thank you to everyone who submitted their application for their commitment to research that offers solutions to the climate challenges of today and tomorrow. From hydroelectricity to biodiversity conservation, these projects remind us that AI applications in sustainability are as diverse as the problems they seek to address.
To learn more about Mila's research activities in the areas of environment and energy, visit our website.
