Dalhousie swimmer Isaac Bahler named Rhodes Scholar

(HALIFAX, N.S.) Dalhousie Tigers varsity swimmer Isaac Bahler has been named a 2025 Rhodes Scholar, becoming Dalhousie's 95th recipient of one of the world's most prestigious academic awards.

Bahler, from Red Deer, Alta., is completing degrees in Earth Sciences and Physics and was selected for his work at the intersection of science, climate innovation and entrepreneurship. He is one of 11 students from across Canada, and more than 100 worldwide, to receive the honour this year, which provides full funding to pursue graduate studies at the University of Oxford.

A member of the Tigers varsity swim team, Bahler says the structure, discipline and resilience he developed through sport have shaped his academic success.

"Swimming convinced me that you can remake your limits," he said. "If you keep working on a skill, even if you start off terrible, you get better. Knowing that made it easier to stay with school and academics, especially when things were hard."

Bahler is a multi-year U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian, competing in varsity swimming while maintaining an academic average above 80 per cent. He has also received several awards for leadership and innovation, including the David Barlow Memorial Award, funding through Venture for Canada, and the Dalhousie-McCall MacBain Leadership Academy Scholarship.

Beyond the pool, Bahler co-founded Equlantic Aquatic Monitoring, an ocean-tech startup focused on geochemical monitoring solutions for carbon dioxide removal and aquaculture. His team secured more than $40,000 in competitive funding and won the top prize at the 2025 Mission Innovation SMART CDR global competition in Norway.

He also works as a research technician and scientific analyst with CarbonRun, a Dalhousie spinout company that develops mineral-based river restoration methods that also remove atmospheric CO₂.

Bahler will begin his studies at Oxford next year, joining recent Dalhousie Rhodes Scholars such as Ashley Jackson, Sierra Sparks, Nayani Jensen and Diana Adamo.

More information can be found here.