Student Information at TRCR

Student Information

The Technical and Research Committee on Reclamation (TRCR) supports the participation of BC post-secondary students in the Mine Reclamation Symposium through scholarships and volunteer opportunities. Students can apply to volunteer at the conference, submit a paper or poster, and/or apply for the Jake McDonald Memorial Scholarship. A reduced student registration rate is also available for those presenting a poster or actively participating in the conference. For more information, contact Wendy Gardner, Chair of the Scholarship Sub-Committee, at wgardner@tru.ca.

Jake McDonald Scholarship for Mine Reclamation

To honor Jake McDonald, former Senior Reclamation Inspector at the British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum Resources, the TRCR offers $2,000 in scholarships to students enrolled at a university (undergraduate or graduate) or college in British Columbia. Jake McDonald played a key role in forming the TRCR, fostering collaboration between government, industry, and academia in the areas of environmental protection and mine reclamation.

Eligibility requirements include:

Presenting a poster at the Symposium (see poster guidelines below).
Involvement in mine reclamation, pollution prevention, environmentally sound mine planning, or mine land rehabilitation.
Strong academic standing.
Genuine interest in the mining industry and environmental protection in British Columbia.
Enrollment in a post-secondary institute in British Columbia.

Students may apply directly or be nominated. To apply, submit the following by June 5, 2026 to Wendy Gardner at wgardner@tru.ca:

A one-to-two-page maximum letter detailing your interest in reclamation, relevant experiences (e.g., classes, work, projects), and career goals.
A copy of your most recent transcript.

The FAQ’s and where to apply are found here: TRCR Student Information Sheet 2026

Student Volunteer Opportunities at the BC Mine Reclamation Symposium

Student volunteers at the Symposium will receive complimentary registration, tour fees, shared accommodation, and banquet attendance. In return, volunteers will assist during the Symposium, including at pre-selected sessions. Volunteers must meet the following criteria:

Be enrolled at a post-secondary institution in British Columbia, or if attending an institution outside BC, have research focused in British Columbia.
Commit to attending the full Symposium (including the tour and both days of technical sessions).
Preference will be given to students presenting posters.

To apply for a student volunteer, submit the following by June 5, 2026 to Wendy Gardner at wgardner@tru.ca:

A letter outlining your current program of study, interest in reclamation, and how attending the Symposium will benefit your academic and career goals.
A letter of support from a faculty member in your program.

Student Poster Session

Students are invited to submit posters for display at the conference’s poster session. If students do not have a current project in progress, their poster can be about a proposed project or a literature review of a relevant reclamation topic. Participants are expected to bring their posters and be available during the session. Students presenting posters will receive priority for discounted registration rates. To participate, submit an abstract by June 5, 2026 (to Wendy Gardner at wgardner@tru.ca). Abstract must include title, topic, relevance, objectives, and a brief content summary. A PDF of the final poster is due September 15, which will be shared with the judging committee in advance of the conference.

Poster specifications: Posters may be formatted in landscape or portrait orientation and must follow the standard dimensions of 36 in × 42 in (91.44 × 106.68 cm). They should use a clear, logical layout—such as Introduction, Methods, Results, and Conclusions or an equivalent structure—supported by professional, easy-to-read visuals and graphics.

The poster FAQ’s and where to submit is here: TRCR Poster Criteria