2025 Student Mobility Program Training Winners

Exploring How Indigenous Khzakh, Karakalpak, and Uzbek Groups Co-evolved Climate Adaptation Strategies to Mitigate Food Insecurity Based on Traditional Knowledge During the Drying Up Process of the Aral Sea in Moynaq, Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan

Supervisor: Kenneth MacDonald

The Aral Sea, once the world’s 4th largest lake, has shrunk by 90% since the 1960s, leading to severe food insecurity in Karakalpakstan, home to Uzbek, Karakalpak, and Kazakh peoples. Various strategies have been proposed to address food insecurity, However, there is limited documentation on how these three groups used traditional knowledge to adapt to these challenges.

To understand how the three ethnic groups (Karakalpak, Kazakh, and Uzbek) mitigate food insecurity during the drying process of the Aral Sea based on their traditional knowledge in Karakalpakstan， the current study will use qualitative interviews and the Diffusion of Innovation Theory to explore how these three ethnic groups perceive food insecurity, mitigate food insecurity caused by climate changes, and how were the adaptation strategies generated, disseminated, and adopted. Seminars, Academic Publications, Community Brochures, Traditional Media and Social Media, and Policy Impact will be used for knowledge mobilization.

The long-term climate changes and adaptation practices in Karakalpakstan will deepen the understanding of how to utilize traditional knowledge in climate adaptation and indicate interventions for SDGs 2, 3, and 13. The project is aligned with “Establishing Transition Pathways for Sustainability” and is relevant to Indigenous health and marginalized and vulnerable populations.

Designing for Equitable and Sustainable Agricultural Technologies and Labour in Canada

Supervisor: Matt Ratto

This research investigates how Latino migrant agricultural workers' experiences with agricultural technologies (agtech) affect their attitudes, conditions, and expectations of work, and how workers envision technologies serving as supportive interventions. Through an embedded mixed methods study composed of a descriptive survey and semi-structured interviews, this study identifies that surveillance and tracking agtech affect workers, imparting negative health and safety consequences. Workers' interactions with these agtech reveal three major impacts: performance expectations engender stress, surveillance causes fears of disciplinary action, and performance tracking heightens competition. These impacts demonstrate how these performance tracking technologies erode workers' capacity to build sociality and solidarity. While Canada pursues ambitious climate goals through agricultural modernization, migrant farm workers are not often included as active participants in current just transition strategies. Furthermore, many of the technologies workers encounter in Canadian workplaces, particularly surveillance and tracking systems, are not formally classified as agricultural technologies, and therefore escape scrutiny within agtech policy and research despite their significant negative impacts on workers. The project addresses multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), and Climate Action (SDG 13) - while advancing understanding of how just transition frameworks must evolve to support migrant farm workers. In partnership with labor organizations, this research will produce bilingual resources and policy recommendations to support more equitable pathways toward agricultural sustainability.

Exploring LGBTI Inclusion Through Qualitative Research: Refining Indicators for Equity in Singapore and Thailand

Supervisor: Peter A. Newman

Sexual and gender minorities globally face systemic barriers that hinder equitable access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, adversely impacting individual well-being and perpetuating social inequities. This study explores the experiences of inclusion and exclusion among LGBTI individuals in Singapore and Thailand, aiming to refine culturally responsive indicators aligned with the UNDP LGBTI Inclusion Index framework. Grounded in the objectives of the SSHRC-funded MFARR-Asia project, the research directly addresses SDG Thematic Area 2, focusing on measuring progress towards inclusivity.

Adopting a qualitative approach, the study employs semi-structured interviews with community stakeholders and experts in Singapore and Thailand (n=30) to gather nuanced insights into LGBTI inclusion across domains such as health, education, economic security, and personal safety. Thematic analysis, supported by ATLAS.ti software, will guide the interpretation of findings. Collaborations with MFARR partners in Thailand and Singapore will ensure the indicators are contextually relevant, capturing socio-political and cultural dimensions of inclusion.

The study’s findings will contribute to refining the LGBTI Inclusion Index for use in diverse contexts, enabling evidence-based policymaking that supports equitable progress. By advancing understanding of LGBTI experiences and improving measurement tools, the research promotes the creation of inclusive policies aligned with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Can solar-powered UV-LED provide sustainable RO-treated drinking water for remote communities?

Supervisor: Amy Bilton

Escalating global water scarcity highlights the critical need for sustainable desalination technologies and wastewater treatment solutions. Reverse osmosis (RO), including photovoltaic-powered systems (PVRO), has become a predominant choice in achieving these goals and realizing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 in off-grid communities. While inorganic scaling has been widely studied, biofouling remains a persistent challenge for PVRO, reducing system performance and increasing operating costs. Most biofouling analysis techniques in literature are classified as ex-situ. Despite their importance, real-time assessment of biofouling growth on RO membranes can provide new insights, leading to breakthroughs on the effectiveness of different mitigation strategies. Thus, the goal of this research is to develop a RO visualization flow cell for in-situ observations of biofilm growth using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). In compliment to this, we are also analysing the effect of UV-LED pre-treatment on biofouling growth as a mitigation measure in off-grid PVRO applications.

Sustaining and Scaling Safe Continuous Water Supply in Indian Cities

Supervisor: David Meyer

This interdisciplinary research will assess the sustainability of Puri’s DfT project and identify transferable lessons for scaling the initiative nationally. Key objectives include identifying challenges threatening sustainability and examining governance shifts’ implications for program outcomes. Findings will inform evidence-based critiques of DfT’s scalability while being disseminated through established water policy networks. By addressing key gaps, this study seeks to strengthen the sustainability and impact of efforts to improve the water supply for 400 million people over the next two years.