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Stephanie Saal, a PhD candidate in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management, is researching how snowpack impacts key ecological relationships, and how best to collect this information at a watershed level. In recognition of her academic achievements and innovative research, Saal has been awarded the 2026 Weston Family Award in Northern Research. Valued at $120,000 over three years, the award is presented to outstanding doctoral students across Canada. Saal was one of eight recipients, placing her among the country's emerging leaders in Northern research.

This spring, four MFC students participated in FCIT 610 - International Field School, travelling to Singapore to explore what is possible when strategic foresight is integrated into urban planning. Lead by Eryn Stewart, the Managing Director of the Future Cities Institute, students were challenged to critically evaluate how Singapore’s strategies could be adapted to Canadian context.

Chilika Lagoon, located on the Eastern coast of Bay of Bengal in India, is a biodiversity hotspot that is home to over 200 fish species. Natasha Serrao, a recent PhD graduate from the Social and Ecological Sustainability program, researched the intersection of fisher knowledge and scientific data to understand species importance in the region. 

Milk is a cornerstone of Canadian diets and a regularly purchased item at the grocery store. Alexander Cha, a recent graduate of the Master of Environmental Studies in Sustainability Management, quantified the environmental impacts of various milk packaging options being used in Canada.

Global biodiversity is in rapid decline, with an estimated 1 million species at risk of extinction. The Nature Restoration Regulation (NRR), which came into effect in 2024, sets binding targets for European countries to restore at least 30% of their continent’s land and seas by 2030. The NRR narrowly passed into law and faced significant opposition, driven by a widespread campaign of disinformation through social media and other channels. Now that the regulation is in effect, effective implementation will not occur without a stakeholder engagement strategy. Florencia Panizza, a recent graduate from the Master of Environment and Business, identified stakeholder collaboration approaches for the French agricultural sector to support the implementation of the EU Nature Restoration Regulation.

Canada’s eastern boreal forest supports a wide diversity of wildlife, including sandhill cranes. This migratory bird is a species of conservation concern and uses the eastern boreal forest of Ontario and Quebec for breeding. Kiaunna Lee, a recent graduate of the Master of Environmental Studies program, used high-resolution satellite telemetry data to assess how land cover and land use influenced breeding habitat selection of 42 sandhill cranes in Ontario and Quebec.

Community engagement is a critical component to advancing local environmental issues. Traditionally, a lack of engagement was attributed to a community’s deficiency of knowledge or understanding. However, the opportunity for community members to interact with an issue in a sensory and emotional format has shown to foster curiosity, interest, and empathy. This interaction can be accomplished through the process of photo-elicitation, where participants submit photographs and engage in dialogue around a topic, including environmental issues. Beth Grant, a recent graduate of the Master of Environmental Studies program, investigated how photo-elicitation can improve public perception and engagement, using Hamilton Harbour as their study area.

The Master of Economic Development and Innovation program exposes students to the spectrum of contemporary economic development policies and practices enacted at the local, regional and national scales by a range of public, private and not-for-profit agencies. For ECDEV 602, MEDI students worked in teams to create their own unique vision for the future of R+T Park, one of Canada’s largest, most successful innovation districts.

Shaieree Cottar, a recent PhD graduate, researched climate change adaptation and Canadian policies related to disaster recovery, managed retreat and resilience building against hazards. In a recently published article, Cottar completed a longitudinal study analyzing policy changes in the City of Gatineau’s flood management plan between 2014 and 2019, as well as the post-buyout land use decision-making process.

Gurpreet Singh, a PhD Candidate in Sustainability Management, is researching the environmental impacts of space activity. Singh and his international student-led team was selected for flight through the REXUS/BEXUS programme. The project, S.O.B.E.R. – Space Object Brightness Evaluation and Reference, is a sensor that can measure the brightness and thermal signatures of satellites and space debris.