Program
PhD Public Health Sciences
Supervisor
My thesis
In the deeply unequal rural context of Guatemala, livelihoods are increasingly environmentally and economically untenable. Factors such as conflict and violence, stagnant wages, rural out-migration, land grabs for resource extraction, the increased presence of agribusiness, and the challenges posed by the effects of climate change have come to characterize and restructure the rural landscape. A number of strategies have been developed over the past three decades to support small-scale farmers to reduce vulnerability, enhance resilience to external shocks and support overall wellbeing
My research investigates how and to what extent does taking part in one of these strategies, agroecology, influences women’s capacity to sustain rural livelihoods in the Western highlands of Guatemala. Agroecology is a growing movement, science and set of practices for advancing food system transformation through the centring of ecological and social wellbeing. My thesis offers an analysis of how food systems are embedded within wider gendered societal contexts, and how women’s roles, practices and interests influence rural wellbeing.
My time in the School of Public Health Sciences
I started my PhD in September of 2020, which was a very strange moment to start a new degree given what was happening in the world! Perhaps somewhat counterintuitively, the experience of doing my PhD coursework virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic was actually a highlight for me. While at times I certainly missed the energy and camaraderie that comes from in-person learning, I deeply enjoyed my first year of classes.
I was surprised by the sense of connection and community I felt with the School of Public Health Sciences, my PhD cohort, and my colleagues in the “Dodd Lab” – a testament to how being intentional with creating a sense of place can keep us together while being physically apart.
Emily was the recipient of the IDRC International Doctoral awards in 2023. This award allows recipients to build capacity and develop research skills in Canada and the Global South to improve the lives of people in the developing world.