ECO Canada is proud to recognize Hilary Nwaokolo as the winner of the ECO IMPACT 2026 EPt Student Paper Award.

About the EPt Student Paper Challenge
The Environmental Professional-in-Training (EPt) Student Paper Award is presented annually at the ECO IMPACT Conference in Calgary, Alberta.
This award celebrates exceptional student achievement within the EPt community, highlighting innovative environmental research that addresses pressing real-world challenges.
About the Recipient
Hilary is a recent graduate of the University of Calgary, where he completed his Bachelor of Science in Geographic Information Science and Computer Science in late 2025.
His award-winning paper, “Critical Zone Processes in a Post-Fire Mountain Landscape: A Proposed Research Station in Waterton Lakes National Park”, outlines a vision for establishing a Critical Zone (CZ) Research Station to support long-term monitoring and analysis. His proposed station would help deepen our understanding of how wildfire, climate change, and recreation influence sensitive mountain environments.
Hilary’s work exemplifies the curiosity, rigor, and forward-thinking approach that define the next generation of environmental professionals. We congratulate him on this outstanding achievement.
Click here to read: Critical Zone Processes in a Post-Fire Mountain Landscape
To learn more about the ECO IMPACT Awards and the recipients, please visit:



