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Abbas Milani is a tenured Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus, where he holds the Tier 1 Principal's Research Chair in Sustainable & Smart Manufacturing and serves as Director of the Materials and Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI). He also serves as Technical Director of the Composites Research Network (CRN), Lead of the Canadian-International Biocomposites Research Network, and leads multiple major initiatives including the UBC-Pacific Economic Development Canada-Advancing Circular Economy (ACE) program and the UBC-NRC IRAP National Circular Economy CtO Program. Dr. Milani's primary research focuses on advanced modeling, simulation, and multi-criteria design optimization of composite and biocomposite materials, structures, and manufacturing processes. His expertise spans Textile Composites/Biocomposites, Materials Constitutive Relations, Finite Element Modeling, Robust Inverse Methods, Material Selection for End-of-Life Design Strategies, Multiple Criteria Decision Making, and Industry 5.0 applications. His interdisciplinary research bridges mechanical engineering, sustainable materials science, and smart manufacturing technologies. Analysis of his recent publication record reveals a strong emphasis on sustainable materials development, with particular focus on biocomposites, life cycle assessment methodologies, and optimization of manufacturing processes. His work integrates computational modeling with experimental validation across diverse application areas including medical devices, sustainable packaging, and circular economy strategies. The publications demonstrate increasing integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches with traditional engineering methods. 2015 UBC Okanagan Researcher of the Year Award Killam Faculty Research Award (2016) Inducted into Royal Society of Canada - College of New Scholars (2020) Gold Medal Service Contribution Award by Academics World Reviewer Contribution Award by ASM International Multiple teaching excellence awards from UBC Dr. Milani has successfully mentored over 100 students and postdoctoral fellows who have secured positions in both industry and academia. His research program has been supported by more than $15 million in funding from government and industrial organizations. He leads the NSERC CREATE in Immersive Technologies (CITech) program and co-leads the Advanced Materials and Fabrication Core Competency within the Survive and Thrive Applied Research (STAR) program, demonstrating his commitment to training the next generation of engineers and advancing applied research.

• Textile Composites
• Biocomposites
• Materials Constitutive Relations
• +10 more

Evan Davies is a Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Engineering. He has been a Full Professor since July 2021, following his promotion from Associate Professor (2015-2021) and Assistant Professor (2009-2015) positions at the same institution. Education: Ph.D. (Civil and Environmental Engineering), The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario (2003-2007) M.E.S. (Environment and Resource Studies), The University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario with field research in China and India (2001-2003) B.A.Sc. (Systems Design Engineering), The University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, including a year-long exchange at Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg, Germany (1995-2001) Evan Davies' primary research focuses on water resources planning and management, systems thinking and modeling, and sustainable development. His work develops and applies hydrological, water use, and water quality models to understand complex feedbacks among water availability, use, and quality within their social, economic, and environmental contexts. His research spans municipal to global spatial scales and daily to decadal time scales, aiming to provide decision-makers with tools to compare structural, management, and policy alternatives for sustainable water planning. His recent projects include global and regional-scale modeling of water security and the water-energy-food nexus, irrigation reservoir management, municipal water demand projections, flood risk management, and chloramine dissipation in stormwater pipes. Recent research trends show a strong focus on: Integrated assessment modeling of water-energy-food systems Climate change impacts on water resources Machine learning applications in hydrology Water security under decarbonization scenarios Flood risk assessment and management Sustainable urban water systems Scientific Awards: Faculty of Engineering Graduate Teaching Award, University of Alberta (2020-2021) Faculty of Engineering Undergraduate Teaching Award, University of Alberta (2018-2019) Doctoral Fellowship (CGS), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (2005-2007) University of Western Ontario Graduate Tuition Scholarship (2005-2007) Ontario Graduate Scholarship in Science and Technology (2004-2005) Masters/Doctoral Fellowship (PGS A/B), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (2002-2004) Davies has supervised numerous graduate students working on projects related to water resources planning and management. His research has been supported by various grants, including funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council. He collaborates extensively with researchers at the Joint Global Change Research Institute (JGCRI) in College Park, MD, and with government agencies and industry partners on water management projects across Canada, particularly in Alberta's Bow River basin. Davies leads a research group focused on water resources systems modeling, which employs system dynamics, optimization techniques, and machine learning approaches to address complex water management challenges. His team collaborates with decision-makers and stakeholders to ensure research outcomes are directly applicable to real-world water management problems.

• water resources planning and management
• systems thinking and modelling
• sustainable development
• +7 more

Prateep Nayak is a Professor at the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development within the University of Waterloo. His academic focus combines political science, environmental studies, and international development through transdisciplinary research on human-environment connections. With expertise in commons governance, social-ecological resilience, environmental justice, and political ecology, he has taught courses like INDEV 100: Introduction to International Development SUSM 675: Governing the Commons INDEV 617: Environmental Change and Governance He has received prestigious awards including the Trudeau Scholarship, Harvard Giorgio Ruffolo Fellowship, Canada's Governor General Academic Gold Medal, and SSHRC Banting Fellowship. Professor Nayak's research explores social-ecological systems, emphasizing vulnerability-to-viability transitions in small-scale fisheries, gender dynamics in dried fish value chains, and multidimensional justice in coastal governance. His Google Scholar publications since 2017 highlight Asia-Africa comparative studies, marine protected areas, and policy frameworks for adaptive management. Article keywords reveal engagement with climate resilience, equity in resource access, and institutional pluralism in governance systems. Scientific awards include Trudeau Scholar Harvard Giorgio Ruffolo Fellow in Sustainability Science Canada's Governor General Academic Gold Medal SSHRC Banting Fellow His fieldwork experience includes development projects in India focusing on community-based governance of land, water, and forests at the research-implementation-policy interface. Current teaching aligns with his expertise in international development and environmental governance, while historical publications show long-term engagement with coastal systems analysis and regime shifts.

• Political Ecology
• Environmental Justice
• Social-Ecological Systems
• +7 more

Dr. Heather Buckley is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Victoria. Her work focuses on developing greener technologies to improve environmental and public health through advancements in water quality monitoring, biofouling prevention, and resource recovery from industrial waste. She holds an MSc from the University of British Columbia and a PhD from UC Berkeley. Research interests include green chemistry applications in molecular sensors for water contaminants, safer alternatives to hazardous antimicrobials, and optimizing water treatment membranes. Her lab, the Green Safe Water Lab, addresses global water challenges by designing low-cost detection tools and sustainable waste management strategies. Her publications frequently explore biofouling prevention in reverse osmosis systems, fluoride sensor development, and the environmental impact of materials. Collaborations with communities and industries aim to create practical solutions for safer drinking water supply chains. Dr. Buckley advises a dynamic team of graduate and undergraduate researchers, including PhD candidates in civil engineering and chemistry. Her group has expanded significantly in recent years, with ongoing projects on antimicrobial copolymer nanoparticles and geochemical modeling of desalination processes. Labs/Teams: Green Safe Water Lab at UVic Engineering and Computer Science.

• Green Chemistry
• Environmental Engineering
• Water Quality Monitoring
• +3 more

Kariuki Kirigia is an Assistant Professor at the School of the Environment with a cross-appointment at the African Studies Centre at the University of Toronto. His research integrates climate justice, biodiversity conservation, and land governance through partnerships with African indigenous organizations and universities. Education: PhD, McGill University MSc, Utrecht University BA, University College Utrecht His research areas focus on climate change , territories of life , and African epistemologies , examining neoliberal capitalism's environmental impacts and alternatives to Western development paradigms. Recent publications analyze floriculture investments, community conservation struggles, and land dispossession dynamics. Scientific Awards: Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship Fund (SYLFF) FRQSC Postdoctoral Fellowship BRN IGNITE Grant (2026) ISA-ESS Engaged Scholar Award (2024)

• Climate Policy & Politics
• Ecology & Biodiversity
• Food & Agriculture
• +12 more

Alison Blay-Palmer is a Professor in Geography and Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, serving as UNESCO Chair on Food, Biodiversity and Sustainability Studies and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems. Her work focuses on sustainable food systems, climate resilience, and community-driven governance. She leads globally collaborative projects with partners in over 10 countries, supported by SSHRC, the Carasso Foundation, and the UN FAO. Her research explores intersections between urban agriculture, food security, and climate change, with recent emphasis on Indigenous food sovereignty in northern Canada and participatory methodologies like the URBAL framework. Notable recognitions include SSHRC Partnership Impact Award nominations (2012, 2019) and Royal Society of Canada membership. She advises UN agencies and has published widely on topics ranging from agroecology to pandemic-resilient food systems. Key initiatives include the Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, the URBAL participatory assessment tool, and the Bee City Canada movement. Current projects address urban-rural food system linkages, climate adaptation in city regions, and gender justice in food systems through an intersectional feminist lens. Grants: SSHRC, Carasso Foundation, UN FAO, and multi-country partnerships Labs/Teams: Laurier Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, URBAL global network

• Sustainable Food Systems
• Biodiversity Conservation
• Climate Resilience
• +5 more

Françoise Bichai is an Associate Professor at the Department of Civil, Geological and Mining Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, specializing in integrated urban water management and resilience strategies. She leads the Résilience de l'approvisionnement en eau dans les villes (RAEV) research group with over 20 graduate students and holds affiliations as a Researcher at CEISCE, Visiting Researcher at IHE-Delft, and Member of CREDEAU and GENIE EAU. Baccalaureate in Civil Engineering (École Polytechnique) M.Sc.A. in Civil Engineering (École Polytechnique) Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (École Polytechnique) Her research focuses on urban water resilience under climate and anthropogenic pressures, with expertise in hybrid water systems , QMRA , pathogen transport , and water safety planning . She has developed multicriteria decision support frameworks and climate adaptation strategies for municipal water systems. Recent publications (2025-2022) demonstrate trends in bioretention systems , green infrastructure , Bayesian risk modeling , and urban climate resilience , with keywords spanning environmental engineering, public health, and climate adaptation. Her work integrates stormwater harvesting , wastewater reuse , and hybrid system planning . Scientific Awards: NSERC Doctoral Scholarship NSERC Postdoctoral Fellowship FRQNT and NSERC funded NOVA project Social Innovation Project funding (Ministry of Economy and Innovation) Supervision: Over 20 graduate students including Simon Dufort , Sandrine Lacroix , and Justine Petrucci in ongoing PhD work, with 13 completed theses (2024-2018). Laboratory: RAEV research group (Resilience of Urban Water Supply) with interdisciplinary collaborations across Canada, Netherlands, and international institutions.

• Integrated urban water management
• Resilience and risk management in water systems
• Alternative water supply systems
• +5 more

Kristen Lowitt is an Assistant Professor in the School of Environmental Studies at Queen's University, Canada. She holds cross-appointments at the Beaty Water Research Centre and the Faculty of Arts and Science. Her research focuses on sustainable food systems, Indigenous food sovereignty, and community-driven environmental governance. Education: Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies (2013), Memorial University M.E.S. in Environmental Studies (2008), Dalhousie University B.E.S. in Environmental Studies (2006), York University Research Interests: Dr. Lowitt's work emphasizes participatory research with communities to address food security, environmental justice, and Indigenous governance. Key themes include small-scale fisheries, Indigenous food sovereignty, and civil society participation in policy-making. She critiques Western resource management frameworks and advocates for integrating Indigenous ecological knowledge. Research Trends in Publications: Her recent articles analyze pandemic impacts on food systems, transboundary environmental justice in fisheries governance, and the role of basic income in food sustainability. She frequently collaborates with Indigenous communities and emphasizes policy reforms for equity and resilience. Affiliations & Grants: Member of the Canadian Environmental Law Association's Healthy Great Lakes Advisory Committee (2020–present). Her work is supported through community partnerships and participatory grants (details not specified). Labs & Teams: Leads the Community Food Systems Lab , which focuses on action-oriented research to advance equitable food systems through knowledge mobilization and policy engagement.

• Sustainable Food Systems
• Indigenous Food Sovereignty
• Agricultural Policy
• +3 more

Govind Gopakumar is an Associate Professor and Chair at the Centre for Engineering in Society within the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science at Concordia University. He is also cross-appointed to the Department of Geography, Planning, and Environment and co-directs the Mobilities Hub at the Next-Generation Cities Institute. His work bridges Technology and Society , Urban Infrastructure , and Global Engineering , with a focus on Indian cities. PhD in Science and Technology Studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2008) MSc in Energy and Environmental Policy from the University of Delaware MSc in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University B Tech in Electrical Engineering from the University of Kerala, India His research explores the politics of urban infrastructure , particularly automobility and water supply in Indian cities, and examines interdisciplinary engineering education reform . He has published extensively in journals like International Journal of Urban and Regional Research , Mobilities , and Water Alternatives . Key projects include the SHIFT Research Fellowship and a documentary Social Life of a Bus (2015), which critiques automobile-centric urban planning in Bengaluru. Recipient of National Science Foundation (USA) and SSHRC grants 2010 Robert Boguslaw Award for Technology and Humanism Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute Partnership Research Grant He teaches core courses like Professional Practice and Responsibility and Development and Global Engineering , which are CEAB-accredited. He also led interdisciplinary student design challenges for inclusive public transit in Bengaluru and contributes to engineering policy frameworks for sustainable development.

• Technology and Society
• Urban Infrastructure
• Cities
• +6 more

Myles Sergeant is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University , focusing on the intersection of climate change and healthcare systems. He actively contributes to the Centre for Human Rights and Restorative Justice and represents McMaster at global climate conferences like COP29 . Climate Change and the Health of Older Adults (2024) Healthcare Procurement and Net-Zero Strategies (2025) Medical Ethics in Climate Policy (2025) His research spans planetary health, sustainable prescribing, and end-of-life care, with recent publications in The Lancet Planetary Health , BMJ , and Canadian Family Physician . He advocates for systemic changes to reduce healthcare's environmental footprint.

• Climate Change and Health
• Sustainable Healthcare
• Planetary Health
• +5 more

Susan Spronk is an Associate Professor at the School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa. Her work focuses on neoliberalism's impact on public services in the Global South, particularly water and sanitation, and the role of social movements in resisting privatization. She has held leadership roles such as Past President of the Association of Professors of the University of Ottawa (2019-2021, 2023-2025) and Director of her school (2019-2021). PhD in Political Science, York University (2007) MA in Political Science, York University (2002) B.A. (Hons), Political Science, University of Alberta (1998) Her research examines the intersectionality of gender, class, and race in development policies, with a focus on cash transfer systems in South Africa and Bolivia. She co-founded the Blended Finance Project, analyzing privatization risks in Canadian foreign aid. Current work includes SSHRC-funded research on public banks and Sustainable Development Goals. She supervises graduate students and collaborates with the Municipal Services Project, conducting fieldwork in Latin America, France, and South Africa. Her publications highlight remunicipalization trends, neoliberal critiques, and feminist approaches to development. Susan teaches courses on international development theories, social movements, and research methods. Her fieldwork spans Costa Rica (2023), Marseille (2018), Uruguay (2015), South Africa (2014-2017), Venezuela (2009-2013), and Bolivia (ongoing since 2004).

• Development sociology
• International political economy
• Labour movements
• +12 more

M.V. Ramana is a Professor and the Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs (SPPGA) , University of British Columbia. He combines technical expertise with interdisciplinary methods to address policy-relevant questions in international security and energy supply , particularly focusing on nuclear energy and fissile materials related to nuclear weapons . Research Expertise includes Energy Policy , Science & Technology Policy , and Sustainable Resource Policy , with geographic specialization in South Asia . His recent book, Nuclear Is Not the Solution (2024), argues against nuclear energy as a climate solution due to high costs and long deployment timelines . He emphasizes renewable energy (solar/wind) and grid management as superior alternatives. Scientific Awards include the Leo Szilard Award (2014) and Guggenheim Fellowship (2003). He advises Ph.D. and M.Sc. students in energy policy and security studies, including Prerna Gupta , Sadia Tasleem , and Celeste Pomerantz . His 15+ recent publications analyze nuclear economics , accident risks , and policy barriers for small modular reactors (SMRs), nuclear waste management , and renewable energy transitions . Edits journals: Energy Research & Social Science , Science & Global Security Advises on Canadian nuclear policy via affiliations like the International Panel on Fissile Materials

• Nuclear Energy Policy
• Climate Change Mitigation
• Renewable Energy Systems
• +2 more

Madjid Soltani is an Adjunct Assistant Professor specializing in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of energy systems, biomedical engineering, and computational modeling. His work focuses on renewable energy storage technologies, nanomedicine, and personalized cancer therapies. He explores innovative solutions for energy transition challenges, including hydrogen production, battery advancements, and exergoeconomic assessments of energy systems. In biomedical applications, his research addresses drug delivery systems, tumor microenvironment modeling, and radiopharmaceutical therapies. His contributions span theoretical frameworks, computational simulations, and experimental validations. Key research interests include energy storage (e.g., compressed air, liquid air), theranostics, computational oncology, and exergoeconomic analysis. He has published extensively on topics such as biomass integration in energy systems, CRISPR-driven biosensors, and microfluidic tumor models. His work often bridges engineering and healthcare, emphasizing sustainability and precision medicine. Despite no explicit institutional affiliation listed, his research collaborations likely involve multidisciplinary teams in academia and industry. Research Themes: Renewable energy systems, nanomedicine, computational modeling, cancer therapy, exergoeconomics. Notable Contributions: Development of spatiotemporal models for radiopharmaceutical transport, optimization of energy storage frameworks, and bio-inspired thermal efficiency solutions.

• Renewable Energy Systems
• Nanomedicine
• Cancer Therapy Modeling
• +4 more

Lauren Richter is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, Mississauga campus (UTM), specializing in sociology with a focus on environmental justice, racialization, and critical race theory. Her research addresses intersections of environmental policy, social movements, and systemic inequities. Research Interests: Environmental justice and health disparities Corporate influence on environmental policy Sociology of ignorance and regulatory failures Critical race theory in environmental sociology PFAS contamination and policy responses Publication Trends: Recent work examines PFAS chemicals' environmental and social impacts, corporate responses to chemical regulation, and systemic racism in environmental justice frameworks. Her research spans historical policy analysis (e.g., EPA under Trump) and methodological critiques (e.g., essential-use approaches). Contact: lauren.richter@utoronto.ca

• Environmental Justice
• Social Movements
• Environmental Policy
• +8 more

Ken Drouillard is a Professor at the University of Windsor's School of the Environment and a core member of the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER). His work spans environmental science, water quality monitoring, and public health, with notable contributions to understanding contaminants in the Great Lakes and developing effective mask solutions during the pandemic. He collaborates with organizations like Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Windsor-Essex Sewing Force, and international partners such as Yunnan University. Research Interests: Water quality and aquatic ecosystems in the Great Lakes Environmental toxicology and contaminant dynamics Public health interventions during pandemics Climate change impacts on drinking water systems Grants & Advising: Advised MSc student Dennis Otieno and former student Jennifer Daley Recipient of NSERC grants for water quality projects Contributed to pandemic response through mask efficacy research Labs/Teams: Lead researcher at GLIER, collaborating on interdisciplinary projects involving environmental monitoring, policy development, and community engagement.

• Environmental Science
• Water Quality Monitoring
• Public Health
• +3 more