Welcome to the Geographies of Health in Place (GoHelP) lab, led by Susan J. Elliott, PhD, in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Waterloo.
News
Congratulations to Tara on Receiving a CIHR Fellowship Exploring Climate Change and Healthy Ageing
GoHeLP member Tara Chen has been awarded a prestigious CIHR Health System Impact Fellowship in partnership with the International Federation on Ageing! Her work will explore how climate change and environmental health are shaping healthy ageing policies and communities worldwide. Learn more about this exciting achievement and the growing connection between planetary health and longevity.
Congratulations to Alexa on Receiving the Prestigious Award for Exceptional Teaching
Alexa has been awarded the Amit & Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student at the University of Waterloo. This prestigious honour recognizes outstanding student educators for excellence in teaching, communication, and dedication to student learning. Alexa’s achievement highlights her strong ability to support and engage students in meaningful learning experiences. Congratulations Alexa!
2026 Flight 302 Legacy Award
Congratulations to Joan Kaburia on receiving the Flight 302 Legacy Award! This award honours the victims of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 tragedy by supporting students whose work demonstrates a commitment to global impact and service.
A PhD student in Geography at the University of Waterloo and member of the GoHelp Lab, Joan’s research focuses on food security and promoting equitable, sustainable food systems. Guided by the values of equity, dignity, and global solidarity, she views this recognition as both an honour and a responsibility—strengthening her dedication to purpose-driven research and community engagement.
Events
CAG Annual Meeting
The Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG) annual meeting will take place June 1-4, 2026 at the University of Victoria.
Join the Canadian Association of Geographers-CAG / Association Canadienne des Géographes-ACG and the Association of Canadian Map Libraries and Archives-ACMLA / Association des Cartothèques et Archives Cartographiques du Canada-ACACC on Lək̓ʷəŋən territory, also known as Victoria BC, on June 1-4, 2026. This year’s theme is Resilience. Join us as we work together to wrestle with these issues, offer solutions, and take action.
2026 International Medical Geography Symposium (IMGS)
The 2026 International Medical Geography Symposium (IMGS), themed Geographies of Wellbeing: Environments, Transitions, and the Futures of Societal Wellbeing, will be held at Toronto Metropolitan University. Bringing together scholars, researchers, and practitioners, the symposium will explore how global transitions shape societal wellbeing through interdisciplinary dialogue and innovation.
Registration and abstract submission are now open.
Blog
Taylor's experience at LUPUS 2025
Taylor is an undergraduate Science and Business student at the University of Waterloo. During her co-op term, she is working as a research assistant in Dr. Elliott’s GoHelP Lab on the GAPS project. Learn more about her experience and the opportunity she had to present her research poster at LUPUS 2025.
Maria's MITACS experience
Maria Eduarda Almeida is a Psychology undergraduate at the State University of Maringá, Brazil. As a MITACS Research Assistant in the GoHELP Laboratory at the University of Waterloo, she contributed to international projects such as CANVAS, which examines the impacts of everyday violence on children in vulnerable settings. Her work emphasized the value of interdisciplinary and qualitative research, highlighting how collaboration and cultural context shape efforts to improve health, human rights, and well-being. Learn more about her experience here!
Beyond Borders: Field School in Ghana – Experience as a Teaching Assistant
Learn about Pascal’s experience as a Teaching Assistant with the Queen Elizabeth Scholars (QES) program in Ghana, where he supported University of Waterloo students in adapting to a new culture while engaging in field-based learning. This unique exchange showcased the power of collaboration and experiential education in tackling complex environmental challenges.