Looking to get hands-on experience in leading projects, managing volunteers or executing professional events? You may want to consider applying to the Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF).
That’s what McGill PhD candidates Clara Argentino and Julian Marlyn did to gain support for a two-day event they held last spring: the Green Chemistry McGill x Green Chemistry Initiative Symposium: Lab to Landfill.
The symposium was an important learning opportunity, not only for the attendees, who were shown how to minimize lab waste, but also for Argentino and Marlyn, who gained hands-on experience in leading projects.
After completing their event, “all of our team members felt more sure of ourselves in hosting events and conferences, as well as interfacing with professors and professionals,” said Argentino. “We felt as if our abilities to communicate effectively, identify issues and problem solve improved significantly.”
Theirs was but one of the 28 SPF projects completed in fiscal year 2026, most of which were led by students. All project leaders reported their SPF project was a valuable experiential learning opportunity.
Projecting success
The SPF is intended for projects that build a culture of sustainability at McGill campuses and are eligible for seed funding. All McGill students, staff and faculty members are eligible to apply for SPF funding.
The SPF was established in 2010; since then, it has funded more than 400 projects, with budgets ranging from under $300 to over $100,000. The Fund is overseen by the McGill Office of Sustainability.
This year’s student-led projects included a frosh event, an academic journal and a sustainable case competition – all completed for less than $500 – as well as a year-long bird safety project with a budget of $85,000.
“The variety in projects is fantastic to see, and demonstrates that sustainability encompasses many aspects,” said François Miller, Executive Director of Sustainability. “McGill students are exceptionally creative in imagining how they can make a tangible change on McGill’s campuses.”
‘We learned a great deal’
The students who led the green chemistry symposium aimed to promote sustainable laboratory practices to students and researchers.
They were responsible for finding subject matter experts as well as organizing the event’s venues, catering, security, volunteers and promotional materials. The symposium featured nine presenters, a student poster session and multiple workshops; nearly 100 people attended.
“The conference was extremely successful,” said Marlyn in the final report. “All of these tasks were new challenges to our team, and we learned a great deal about the practical skills of hosting an event.”
Hands-on experience
The positive feedback provided by the green chemistry team is not an outlier: 100 per cent of McGillians who led an SPF project in 2026 responded “yes” when asked if it had had a positive impact on their professional and personal growth.
“[Our SPF project] provided our team with invaluable hands-on experience in project management, logistics co-ordination, budgeting, external communications and stakeholder engagement – all of which are directly transferable to professional settings,” said Léanne Ricard, a Computer Software Engineering student who helped organize a hackathon for McGill Robotics before graduating earlier this year.
Many of the skills required to complete an SPF project – no matter the topic or budget – are applicable to any job or industry.
“Students are setting themselves up for success,” confirmed Miller, “while also making a positive impact in their community.”
View the Sustainability Projects Fund Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Report.