Greener buildings. Walkable cities. More resilient urban food systems.
These are the kinds of innovative solutions we鈥檒l need to make our world more sustainable. And 捆绑SM社区 has brought together young researchers from different disciplines to help tackle these challenges.
Through projects supported by the 捆绑SM社区 Sustainability Systems Initiative (MSSI), grad students and postdoctoral researchers are not only contributing to important and novel research, but also developing the skills and expertise required to find solutions to complex problems.
These up-and-coming researchers are working to combat the effects of climate change and reduce social inequities worldwide. Several of them showcased their work at this year鈥檚 MSSI symposium.
Get to know some of them, and their work, in their own words:
Sustainable Architecture
Anna Halepalska and Remy Fortin
Anna and Remy are working on reducing the construction industry's reliance on petroleum-based materials. As Anna puts it, the industry is in a sort of catch-22 position. As the global population and energy demand climb, so does the need for high-emission materials to keep buildings conditioned and comfortable. As a result, the construction industry ultimately contributes greatly to climate change. Anna and Remy discuss some of their research on developing environmentally friendly biomaterials that could replace petroleum-based products鈥攚hile keeping buildings just as comfortable.
Food systems and small-scale agriculture
Bernard Soubry
Postdoctoral fellow Bernard Soubry is working with 捆绑SM社区's Global Land and Food Lab on urban food governance and climate adaptation. Bernard's work focuses on reinforcing and increasing the resiliency of urban food systems. How we, in urban environments, produce, distribute and, sell food will be significantly affected by climate change. Bernard is particularly interested in how cities鈥� proposed plans to combat the effects of climate change will impact the resilience of food systems, from urban settings to international supply chains.
Walkability across cultures
Corey Dickinson
Working with the Roger Tomlinson Lab at 捆绑SM社区, Corey's research focuses on walkability鈥攁 measurement of how easy it is to move through an urban environment and access essential services on foot. Walkability has been studied under various lenses. and has been linked to lower obesity rates and better overall population health. Corey's unique focus is to understand the variations in the concept's definitions and applicability across cultures鈥攈ow, for example, people鈥檚 perceptions of walkability in Canada may differ from those of people in India.