Dr. Xander Wang receives University Research Excellence Award
UPEI held its annual Celebration of Colleagues on May 29, 2025, to recognize the achievements of faculty, librarians, clinical veterinary professionals, clinical nursing instructors, sessional instructors, and staff members. UPEI Communications is profiling the winners of the University Awards of Excellence in summer editions of the Campus Connector newsletter.
Dr. Xander Wang, Professor in the UPEI School of Climate Change and Adaptation and Director of the Climate Smart Lab at the UPEI Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation, received a University Research Excellence Award for his outstanding research and scholarly accomplishments and significant contribution to advancing the University’s national and international reputation for research excellence.
Since joining UPEI in 2018, Dr. Wang has made transformative contributions to climate change research, positioning UPEI as a national and international leader in this field. His research excellence is reflected in his remarkable record of external funding—over $17 million since 2018—including prestigious awards such as UPEI’s first NSERC CREATE project and the CFI Innovation Fund. He has published more than 130 peer-reviewed journal articles, delivered over 60 conference presentations, and given 30 invited talks.
Dr. Wang was elected a Member of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars in 2022 in recognition of his pioneering research in climate change. He also received the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering’s E. Whitman Wright Award for Excellence in Information Technology in Civil Engineering in 2023and the American Geophysical Union’s prestigious Charles S. Falkenberg Award in 2024.
Dr. Wang has made significant contributions to graduate student and postdoctoral supervision and serves on national and regional advisory committees. His research has been featured extensively in national and international media, and his innovative outreach initiatives, such as the Climate Smart Lab and Sigma Academy, underscore his commitment to knowledge mobilization and public engagement.
These accomplishments represent only a snapshot of Dr. Wang’s exceptional contributions in his field.
In recognition of his exceptional scholarly achievements and his impact on the global stage, UPEI was proud to present Dr. Xander Wang with the University Research Excellence Award.
Congratulations, Dr. Wang!
