Dal student wins Rhodes Scholarship for work at the intersection of science and climate innovation

Dal student wins Rhodes Scholarship for climate innovation work

Dalhousie’s Isaac Bahler, a champion of climate innovation and carbon-removal research, has earned one of the world’s most prestigious academic honours — a Rhodes Scholarship — opening the door to graduate studies at Oxford. Matt Reeder - November 19, 2025

The prospect that humans could hack the Earth's climate for good using science captured a young Isaac Bahler's imagination in profound ways. Scientists have been grappling with how to do so for decades now, yet the complexities and risks associated with altering planetary systems — say by shooting particles into the atmosphere to cool Earth’s temperature — have made progress slow.

That hasn't stopped Isaac from pursuing his fascination with climate innovation. It has, however, shaped his perspective on what he needs to ensure success in such risky endeavours. “If we’re going to mess with systems as complex as the global climate, then I’m going to need a background that lets me quantify them as rigorously as possible.”

To that end, Isaac packed his bags in his hometown of Red Deer, Alberta after high school and headed east to study Earth Sciences and Physics at Dalhousie where he could explore these and other more earth-bound pursuits. He found fertile ground to explore his academic interests at Dal. What he also uncovered was a path to becoming the university’s 95th recipient of the Rhodes Scholarship, considered one of the world’s most coveted and prestigious student awards.

Author’s note: Isaac Bahler’s recognition underscores a commitment to rigorous quantification of climate systems and innovative approaches to carbon removal, reflecting a broader trend in climate research.

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Dalhousie University Dalhousie University — 2025-11-19

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