Environment graduate students awarded Flight 302 Legacy Award
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Two PhD students in the Faculty of Environment are among the recipients of the 2025 Flight 302 Legacy Award. The award, valued at $10,000, is named for Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 that crashed in March 2019 near Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. Many of the 157 passengers were travelling to Nairobi for the United Nations environmental conference. To honour these victims, the award recipients must show passion and dedication to advancing the environmental and humanitarian fields.
Alexa Bennett is a PhD candidate in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management and a member of the GoHelp Lab. Two months after the Flight 302 disaster, she was in Nairobi working on a Global Affairs Canada-funded community health project. “The news coverage of the crash deeply resonated with me as I saw myself in many of the passionate young people on board who shared my commitment to global change,” says Bennett.
Bennet was also profoundly affected by the widespread use of unsafe drinking water that was causing serious and preventable health problems. Her research investigates the public health impacts of water insecurity in Ghana. She is preparing for fieldwork to sub-Saharan Africa to collect data and advance her research.
“I am honored to receive the Flight 302 Legacy Award. This scholarship strengthens my ability to conduct my doctoral research and further develop meaningful partnerships with the communities I work with. Joining this network of scholars is both inspiring and motivating. I am committed to carrying forward the legacy of positive change in honor of those who lost their lives six years ago.”
Celeste Morínigo Báez is a PhD candidate in the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development. Morínigo Báez was profoundly inspired by Caroline Quinns Nduta Pauls, one of the victims of Flight 302. “Pauls, a dedicated mother and finance professional, exemplifies empowerment through education with her aspirations to support young girls in Kenya. Her commitment to equitable access to knowledge aligns with my goals in sustainability studies,” says Morínigo Báez.
Morínigo Báez is researching organic waste alternatives within a circular economy framework. Her research will advance circular economy strategies that address sustainability challenges, particularly by empowering underserved communities. She is also working towards a graduate certificate in university teaching to help empower future generations to solve socioeconomic and environmental crises.
“Winning this scholarship is both an honor and a vital milestone in my academic journey, reaffirming my commitment to sustainability research. It provides essential resources to advance my studies. This support empowers me to drive impactful research, promote resource efficiency, and advance sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and communities.”
Bennett and Morínigo Báez are now part of a community of over 50 award recipients from institutions across Canada. Their doctoral research will have a positive impact on the global community and honour the Flight 302 passengers.
