A  led by 快播视频 follows Class of '73 high school graduates over the span of five decades in The Story of a Generation, a book that offers powerful insights on the baby boomer generation.

Culminating in a new book titled , the research marks the longest-running Canadian generational study of its kind, following nearly 50 years in the lives of a cohort of high school students who graduated in 1973. 

The project originated with Paul Anisef, professor emeritus at York鈥檚 Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies who began with a survey of high school students to help the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities understand and project post-secondary enrolment.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have in my mind at all that this would become a long-standing longitudinal study,鈥� says Anisef. 鈥淚t started as a ministry-sponsored survey of high school students, and one thing led to another.鈥� 

Encouraged by colleagues after the initial survey, Anisef returned repeatedly to the same group of students 鈥� just under 2,500 members of the class of 1973 鈥� surveying and interviewing them in seven waves, from adolescence through midlife and into their early to mid-'60s. 

The final phase, conducted between 2019 and 2021, captured their reflections as many approached retirement, offering a rare, lifespan perspective on Canadians. 

The newly released book is co-authored along with York Faculty of Education professors Paul Axelrod and Carl James, as well as York PhD student Erika McDonald, and includes contributions from Wolfgang Lehmann, Karen Robson and Erica Fae Thomson. It鈥檚 a follow-up to an earlier volume, Opportunity and Uncertainty: Life Course Experiences of the Class of 鈥�73 (2000). 

Read the full story in the January 16, 2026 issue of Yfile

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A program that would have been unthinkable five years ago is strengthening guidance and connections for students pursuing a career in teaching.

The Faculty of Education鈥檚 Alumni Network has launched a pilot mentorship program that pairs alumni with 快播视频 BEd students to provide career insights and build professional relationships.

鈥淲e relaunched the network after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, and we are rebuilding,鈥� says Jason Singh, a 2011 York graduate and director of education for Medix College鈥檚 health care programs, who serves as Chair of the group. 鈥淧ost-COVID, people want to connect and our objective is to engage them and connect them back to the Faculty and 快播视频.鈥�

Read the full story in the December 17, 2025 issue of Yfile

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Two 快播视频 community members 鈥� Professor Satinder Kaur Brar and Faculty of Education PhD candidate Anna Pearson 鈥� have been recognized with a 2024 Minister鈥檚 Award of Excellence from Ontario鈥檚 Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

The annual awards celebrate the work of faculty and staff at publicly assisted colleges and universities who are making a difference in students鈥� lives, in their communities and in the province. This year, there were more than 170 nominations and only six recipients selected, including professors, researchers and post-secondary leaders.

Brar, a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at York鈥檚 , received the award in the category of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The category recognizes faculty and staff who work with industry and business to drive economic development in Ontario.

A globally recognized leader in green technologies for removing contaminants from drinking water and wastewater, Brar was recognized for her pioneering research in enzyme-based environmental remediation. Working in collaboration with researchers at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique and engineering consulting firm TechnoRem Inc., Brar helped develop and implement a faster, more sustainable method for cleaning petroleum-contaminated sites using enzymes rather than traditional microorganisms. The method, which is 100 times faster and achieves an 80 per cent reduction in contaminants without toxic residues, is especially effective in cold northern climates where other microorganisms are less viable.

The approach has been supported by the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan and is already in use at several polluted sites across Canada, addressing surface water, groundwater and soil contamination. 鈥淥nce it [the method for cleaning sites] gets into the field, that is where the real magic starts,鈥� says Brar, noting how rewarding it is for her team to see their lab work result in real-world environmental improvements.

She describs receiving the award as a 鈥渇antastic surprise鈥� and emphasizes the recognition is a shared achievement with her research team. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great boost for them to understand that whatever we do in the lab does see light of the day at some point,鈥� she says.

Brar also highlights the importance of collaboration with stakeholders and industry. 鈥淭his kind of recognition reinforces the belief that we can transition from lab to field,鈥� she says, 鈥渁nd when we see the results in the field, it can have fantastic repercussions.鈥�

Pearson, a PhD candidate at York, received the award in the category of Future-Proofing Ontario鈥檚 Students. The category highlights individuals whose work helps students build the skills and resilience needed for success in a rapidly evolving world.

Pearson, who has taught in both elementary and secondary settings across Ontario for nearly two decades, was recognized for her contributions to program design, policy leadership and community-based learning initiatives aimed at preparing teacher candidates to meet the demands of a changing educational landscape.

Reflecting on the award, she credits those who shaped her own academic path. 鈥淚t means I've had some wonderful teachers in my life,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd it also means that now I'm giving my students the same kind of mentorship that I received.鈥�

She also sees the recognition as an opportunity for thoughtful evaluation. 鈥淚t means that I have an opportunity to see what's working and what's not,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd that's the hard part.鈥�

Brar and Pearson鈥檚 achievements exemplify 快播视频鈥檚 commitment to excellence in teaching, innovation and societal impact.

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Here in the Faculty of Education at 快播视频, we pride ourselves on fostering innovative teaching and learning that prepares future educators to lead and inspire in today鈥檚 world.

Our Faculty ranks 66th globally and fifth in Canada as designated by the . Our commitment to reimagining education is reflected in the transformative experiences we offer, both within and beyond the classroom. 

One of our defining strengths lies in the breadth and depth of experiential learning opportunities available to our students. From working in diverse classrooms across Ontario to participating in community-based initiatives and international placements, our programs are designed to immerse future educators in real-world contexts. These experiences not only bridge theory and practice but also inspire our students to think critically and creatively. 

Innovation is at the heart of everything we do. Our faculty and staff are constantly exploring new pedagogies, leveraging technology and designing interdisciplinary approaches to teaching and learning. Through research and collaboration, we strive to address pressing educational challenges while embracing emerging opportunities in the field. 

As we continue to evolve and to build on our international presence, our vision remains clear: to empower our students with the skills, knowledge and experiences they need to lead with confidence and compassion. I invite you to read the stories in this issue of Innovatus and to get a sense of the work that we are doing to prepare our students to drive positive change in their communities.  

Robert Savage 
Dean, Faculty of Education 

In this issue:

New digital platform supporting online well-being launches this spring
The Hub is a first-of-its-kind digital wellness platform, created at York's Young Lives Research Lab, that will offer free resources to help Canadians navigate the online world safely.

Indigenous teaching at 快播视频 embraces reciprocity, connection
Learn about the Indigenous teaching methods of Professor John Waaseyaabin Hupfield that aim to foster a deeper understanding of place and connection among students. 

Las Nubes trip inspires 快播视频鈥檚 future educators
From hiking forests to visiting local classrooms, 快播视频 students immerse themselves in hands-on learning in Costa Rica, shaping their future teaching philosophies. 

Bridging generations through literature
Professor Emeritus Warren Crichlow鈥檚 seminar on author and civil rights activist James Baldwin inspires students to explore themes of systemic racism, education and personal perseverance.

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During 2024 Fall Convocation 鈥� running from Oct. 16 to 25 鈥� 快播视频 will award honorary doctor of laws degrees to four individuals recognized as changemakers and leaders in their fields.

Below are the honorary degree recipients in order of the Faculty ceremonies at which they will be honoured:

Mark Beckles
Thursday, Oct. 16 at 10:30 a.m. 鈥� Faculty of Education, Glendon College, Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change, Lassonde School of Engineering

As vice-president of social impact and innovation at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Beckles has over 25 years of experience in financial services, including executive leadership experience in banking, insurance, risk management and non-profit leadership.    

He leads the strategic execution of RBC鈥檚 community investment initiatives focused on skills for a thriving future and driving more equitable prosperity. He also leads stakeholder relations, cultivating key relationships across Canada to advance RBC鈥檚 community investment priorities. 

He is a board member of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and chairs the audit and finance committee. He devotes his time, too, on the board of Fulbright Canada, the advisory committee of the Lincoln M. Alexander Award, Global Skills Opportunity and the Canadian Multicultural LEAD Organization for Mentoring & Training.  

He holds a master of business administration in international business from the University of Bradford, has completed executive programs at the Richard Ivey School of Business and holds the Institute of Corporate Directors designation.

Jeffrey Reading
Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 3:30 p.m. 鈥� Faculty of Health

Reading has more than three decades of experience enhancing knowledge in Indigenous health issues, both in Canada and globally. He obtained a master of science in 1991 and doctor of philosophy in 1994 in community health sciences from the University of Toronto, and was the inaugural scientific director of the Institute of Indigenous Peoples鈥� Health at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research from 2000 to 2008.

In 2016, Reading was appointed the inaugural British Columbia First Nations Health Authority Chair in Heart Health and Wellness at St. Paul鈥檚 Hospital, based at Simon Fraser University鈥檚 Faculty of Health Sciences. His Chair was renewed in 2021 for five years.

Reading was recently honoured as a member of the Order of Canada for his 鈥済roundbreaking contributions to Indigenous health research and for his leadership in bringing Indigenous perspectives to scientific and health institutions.鈥�

Edward Sorbara
Thursday, Oct. 17 at 3:30 p.m. 鈥� Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies II

Sorbara has been principal of the Sorbara Group of Companies for over 57 years. He is involved in all phases of the real estate industry, including residential, industrial and commercial land development, industrial construction, and residential construction and property management. 

Sorbara joined his family business in 1967, after completing a bachelor鈥檚 degree in commerce at the University of Toronto and a master鈥檚 degree in business administration at the University of Chicago. 

He has received many accolades, including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012, honouring his significant contributions and achievements in both the community and Canada more broadly. In 2019, he received the Building Industry & Land Development Association鈥檚 Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his legacy in the building and land development sectors.  

Sorbara continues to play an active role in supporting communities. He is a former United Way Greater Toronto board member and currently sits on the Archdiocese of Toronto Finance Council and the related Catholic Cemeteries鈥� Board.

Robert Potts
Friday, Oct. 18 at 10 a.m. 鈥� Schulich School of Business, Osgoode Hall Law school

鈥疨otts鈥痠s an experienced litigation counsel with a varied practice and extensive client list. He has been a partner at Blaney McMurtry LLP for over 45 years鈥痑nd鈥痑lso serves as the firm鈥檚 general counsel. He is a member of the law societies of both Ontario and Alberta and a former director of the Advocates Society.

Potts chairs his firm鈥檚 Indigenous Law Group, and has actively represented and counselled First Nations people since the early 1980s. In doing so, he has successfully negotiated several land claim settlements. He has been repeatedly voted for by his peers for the esteemed Best Lawyers in Canada list in the aboriginal law category, and is rated by Lexpert Canadian Legal Directory as a leading practitioner in Indigenous law.

Potts has defended solicitors in professional negligence suits and has also acted for clients in disputes involving real estate and business contracts, corporate disputes and mortgage enforcement remedies. He has served as defence counsel in several leading class actions,鈥痠ncluding Abdool, Bre-X and the class action stemming from the 2008 propane explosion in Toronto. 

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With 鈥淎bena鈥檚 Adventures,鈥� Blessing Owusu (BEd 鈥�19, MEd 鈥�24) embarked on a journey that blended her passion for education with a mission to fill a crucial gap in children's literature. An educator with the York Region District School Board, her story first began with a foundational education at 快播视频 where she pursued an undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Social Sciences in 2017 and later earned her Bachelor of Education in June 2019. Blessing recently completed her Master of Education at 快播视频 in June 2024. Alongside her degree, she completed a Major Research Project (MRP) which led to the creation of her children's book. She also earned a diploma in Education in Urban Environments as a part of her Master鈥檚 degree.

The inspiration for Blessing's creative endeavor, "Abena's Adventures: A Taste of Home," stemmed from her own childhood experiences as a Ghanaian-Canadian growing up in Vaughan, Ontario. "Throughout my education, the concept of blackness was only acknowledged during the month of February, with the focus solely on struggle and adversity. Whenever I visited both my school library and the public library, I could never find books featuring a black protagonist as a hero or heroine or represented in any other way beyond overcoming obstacles and demonstrating resilience," she says. 鈥淚 wanted to write a book that my 7-year-old self would have wanted to pick up.鈥�

"Abena's Adventures: A Taste of Home" centers around Abena, a spirited young girl whose journey unfolds through themes of cultural identity, diversity, a sense of belonging, and the warmth of multi-generational experiences. The book also teaches readers how to pronounce Ghanaian words, introducing them to the beauty and richness of the Twi language.

鈥淚nspired by my own experiences as a first-generation Canadian within an immigrant family, I felt compelled to craft a narrative that would spark meaningful conversations specifically for children, but also for all readers within various age groups,鈥� says Blessing. 鈥淢y goal was to encourage everyone to share their cultural experiences and understand different perspectives to connect with each other.鈥�

As a self-published author, Blessing navigated the challenges of bringing her vision to life. From overcoming writer's block, to finding an illustrator who could vividly capture Abena's world, Blessing persevered with guidance from her supervisor, professor Molade Osibodu. 鈥淚 faced writer鈥檚 block because I wanted to write this book as a student, a researcher, and as an educator,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 wanted to make sure that it was authentic and it centered on my Ghanaian identity and celebrated my heritage while also making it inclusive for all readers.鈥� The result is a visually captivating book available for print through her website, , where it serves as a valuable resource for educators and families alike.

The most rewarding aspect of Blessing's journey has been the heartfelt feedback from readers. Children, regardless of their background, see themselves reflected in Abena's story, fostering a sense of belonging and pride in their heritage. 鈥淚t has also been rewarding to hear from adults expressing how they felt reading the story because a lot of people shared that it is something they can relate to as they are also first-generation Canadians,鈥� Blessing adds.

Looking forward, she plans to expand her impact by creating educational resources for educators and intends to author more books that celebrate cultural diversity. She envisions "Abena's Adventures" as a catalyst for conversations about representation in literature and hopes to share her story globally through bookstore visits, library readings, and community engagements. Blessing鈥檚 experience with "Abena's Adventures" has not only solidified her commitment to inclusive education, but has also deepened her understanding of the power of representation in shaping young minds.

Blessing鈥檚 advice to fellow graduate students and aspiring authors is to 鈥渂lend academic rigor with creative expression to create impactful work that resonates with diverse audiences.鈥�

In the end, Blessing's journey with "Abena's Adventures: A Taste of Home" exemplifies the power that literature has to transform and foster cultural awareness, acceptance, and self-esteem among children. Through her dedication to education and advocacy for diverse representation, Blessing will continue to bring inclusivity and equity to the forefront in educational settings and inspire educators and readers to do the same.

Article by Dennis Bayazitov special contributing writer

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Reeta Roy, president and CEO of the Mastercard Foundation 鈥� an international non-governmental organization focused on empowering young Africans with education 鈥� offered several calls-to-action to Faculty of Education graduands to help shape the future of education.

鈥淵ou have an entire lifetime of impact ahead of you,鈥� Roy promised graduands during their June 17 convocation, as she began her address to them. 鈥淲hether you stand in front of the classroom or you get to decide what is taught in the classroom, whether you focus on expanding access to education or you set standards of education, you will make a difference in the lives of learners.鈥�

An advocate for the transformational power of education through her work at the Mastercard Foundation, Roy made several requests of graduands as they move ahead in their careers.

She urged them to lean into one of the most important qualities teachers can possess. 鈥淎s educators, one of the most important things you do 鈥� and you will do 鈥� is to recognize promise and talent in others, even before they may perceive it in themselves,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou have the opportunity to truly see the whole person 鈥� not the boundaries and not the limitations around them.鈥�

That, she explained, can lead to something educators are uniquely positioned to do. 鈥淢ore than just see them, you will enable their passions, develop their confidence and help them believe in themselves so they can walk their own journeys and create their own opportunities,鈥� said Roy.

She also called upon graduands to transform the reality of who deserves an education, as she noted there are many who struggle to access learning due to poverty, conflict, distance, disability, lack of teachers, gender and more.

Roy noted she has seen 鈥� and worked to change 鈥� this directly, through her work with the Mastercard Foundation, which advances the development of educational opportunities for African youth and their families, and looks to empower 30 million young Africans by 2030 with the creation of educational and economic opportunities.

Roy delivered her final call to action in the form of an anecdote. She recounted a trip to Moosonee, a small town in northern Ontario sometimes referred to as 鈥渢he gateway to the Arctic.鈥� She was doing work there with the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority, training Indigenous young people to become health professionals who would help the larger medical system embody Indigenous knowledge and world views about what is healthy and what is wellness.

During her visit, she encountered 鈥� in person, for the first time 鈥� an ice road.

She learned that during winters, communities transform rivers, lakes and other bodies of water into ice that鈥檚 strong enough to sustain trucks and cars transporting food, fuel and necessities to otherwise isolated communities. 鈥淚 was just stunned by the sophistication and the technical know-how to create these roads,鈥� Roy said. 鈥淭he ice road reflected Indigenous technology based on traditional knowledge of living with the natural environment.鈥�

At the same time, she marvelled at the cutting-edge knowledge being integrated into the unique type of infrastructure. As climate change threatens those ice roads, making it hard to predict where dangerous cracks might form, she learned that university researchers are applying emerging technologies 鈥� like sensors and artificial intelligence 鈥� to create better predictive models that can identity where cracks and ridges may form.

The ice road 鈥� its past, present and future 鈥� reminded Roy of education. 鈥淭he ice road isn鈥檛 just a bridge across waters,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a bridge connecting communities and cultures. It鈥檚 a bridge connecting traditional knowledge with new forms of knowledge, connecting the past and the present.鈥�

In that realization, she found the lesson she wanted to impart on the Faculty of Education graduands she was addressing. 鈥淵ou can be that bridge,鈥� she urged. 鈥淏e that bridge.鈥�

Article originally published in the June 21, 2024 issue of

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Distinguished Research Professor Carl James, who has held the position of Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora since 2016, met with YFile to discuss the Chair, his role within it and what the recent $1.5 million in federal funding means for its future.

Q: For those who are unfamiliar, can you describe the mandate of the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora?

A: We work with community to enable and support students from racialized and marginalized groups through education; not only through elementary, middle and high school, but through university and college as well.

Q: What is your focus in your role as Chair?

A: I鈥檓 very interested in programming because it is a useful reference for knowing about the experiences and concerns of Black community members and students. In this way, we get to know about the research questions we might want to explore. There鈥檚 a tendency to separate research from program, but I think Jean Augustine expects the Chair to combine research with programs. It is simply not research for research鈥檚 sake. Instead, once you do the research, we should act on it.

I particularly like the participatory action research we do, where we set up a program and then, as the program proceeds, we research the program 鈥� is it working, is it not working, and why? And as we conduct the research, we might put into place some adjustments to the program if it鈥檚 not heading towards the expected outcome. Hence, when we鈥檙e promoting the idea that a particular program works, we will be able to say the program works because we have done the necessary research and have some documented evidence. We use the participants as researchers, as well, collaborating with them about the information we鈥檙e trying to gather.

Q: Can you explain what it means that the Chair is now fully funded?

A: The federal government鈥檚 recent $1.5-million contribution towards the endowment means that the Chair is well positioned to continue with its activities. It also means that we now have endowment funds to create some of the programs we鈥檝e been wanting to.

Q: What is the Day at York program?

A: The Day at York program, which has hosted over 450 students from Ontario (and some from Halifax, Nova Scotia) in the past year and a half, provides Black students enrolled in Grades 7 to 12 with an opportunity to imagine themselves at a post-secondary institution.

We can tell students to go to university, but it鈥檚 difficult to imagine if you don鈥檛 have something to stimulate or inform that imagination. This program helps insofar as students are able to attend lectures, workshops, campus tours, and networking sessions with students, alumni and Black faculty members.

When students think of, where should I go to university, sometimes familiarity with an institution might help them to choose a particular university or program. It provides many opportunities that students would not have otherwise had.

Q: What are your proudest accomplishments in this role so far?

A: One of the things I鈥檓 particularly pleased with is the Jean Augustine Chair (JAC) Student Network, which involves Black undergraduate and graduate students and recent graduates. The group contributes to the work of the Chair by sharing their experiences navigating university and working to be successful in their respective educational programs. Members act as hosts and mentors to high-school students who come on campus; and they do not only help to inform and contribute to the Chair鈥檚 research agenda, they also participate in the research as respondents, research assistants and collaborators. Ultimately, the network provides members with opportunities for personal, educational, team building and work-related skill development in an affirming and supportive post-secondary educational environment.

Also, we have the Jean Augustine Chair鈥檚 annual Black History Month event that happens every year in partnership with the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design鈥檚 music program. Called , it is a showcase of talent, creativity and cultural pride. It is taking place this year on Feb. 7. It is held in recognition of one of Jean Augustine鈥檚 legacies 鈥� that is, the crucial role she played in establishing Black History Month in Canada. Therefore, it seems logical to hold an event at York through the Chair.

Q: What are some other projects you鈥檙e working on as part of the Chair?

A: We鈥檙e currently conducting research on social capital, a significantly new area to explore. We鈥檙e looking at how individuals employ their social capital 鈥� that is, their cultural assets, interests, aspirations, education and consciousness of what is possible 鈥� to take advantage of opportunities by which they might access training and employment to realize their social, economic, career and other ambitions. In partnership with the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Against Racism and 快播视频鈥檚 School of Continuing Studies, we will investigate the lived experiences and needs of racialized Canadians, using the three years of the project to collect data that will help to inform educational and employment program initiatives.  

As well, we recently received program funding from the RBC Foundation to put in place Securing Black Futures, a national partnership by which we might collectively work to build pathways for Black youth to pursue their educational goals and attain academic and career success. Led by us at York and working in partnership with colleagues from six universities across the country, the program activities will serve to inform us about relevant and appropriate educational and social interventions and supports for Black youth. We will also get to know how we might best mentor, enable, support and educate Black students in their pursuit of post-secondary education, as well as particular educational and career pathways 鈥� particularly STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Q: Looking toward the future, how do you hope the now fully endowed Jean Augustine Chair will impact the lives of Black and marginalized youth in Canada?

A: I think that a fully endowed Chair is nicely positioned to continue with its current local, regional and national initiatives. These include: supporting students in constructing their aspirations, in their decision processes as they journey towards their future selves; facilitating the voices of Black Canadians as they tell of their experiences through the research we will conduct, report and publish; helping to build university-community partnerships through which we might help to address structural and institutional barriers to full inclusion and equity of Black and other racialized people within Canadian society; and making substantial research contributions about Black life in Canada, taking into account education, employment, health and housing needs. 

Q: How important is the 快播视频 community to the success of the Chair?

A: We cannot underestimate the support that 快播视频 has given the Chair, both financial and otherwise. Neither can we underestimate the contributions of the Faculty of Education, faculty members from across the University, our community advisory committee, and our partners at 快播视频 centres such as the Harriet Tubman Institute and the Centre for Research on Latin America & the Caribbean. It鈥檚 this whole network of people that enables the work of the Chair.

Article originally posted in the January 24, 2024 issue of聽.

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The Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research at 快播视频 will host a symposium to explore how human activity is pushing ecological limits to a breaking point, and climate change is a fundamental threat to human life.

Taking place on Nov. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., both in person at the Keele Campus and online, the Planetary Health for a Planetary Emergency symposium aims to bring together scholars from the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research and across 快播视频 who work at the intersection of climate change and health, to discuss the potentials of planetary health as a driver of just climate action.

This event will also launch the Dahdaleh Institute Planetary Health Research Council which supports a collaborative research community of faculty, postdoctoral Fellows and graduate students committed to planetary health research at 快播视频 and beyond. 

The event draws attention to the need for clear associations between climate change and health, and to develop critical problem-solving interventions and advocate for climate action that advances well-being for all. The symposium will explore questions, such as: How do we do this while holding a critical view of the systems and structures which have led us into this climate catastrophe, including the ideologies of colonialism and capitalism that underpin the modern era? How do we advance effective and equitable solutions for planetary health that work against these systems and structures instead of upholding them?

The day鈥檚 agenda will include panel discussions with three themes featuring guest speakers.

Water: This panel explores the role water plays at the confluence of environmental and human health. Speakers will discuss efforts to support vital biological and social functions of water in the face of our rapidly changing climate and how such efforts might be positioned to work towards more just, sustainable and integrated water management.

Speaking on the topic of water will be: Deborah McGregor, a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Environmental Justice and a professor cross-appointed with Osgoode Hall Law School and the Faculty of Environment & Urban Change at 快播视频; Sapna Sharma, an associate professor in the Department of Biology at 快播视频 and York Research Chair in Global Change Biology; and Byomkesh Talukder, an assistant professor at the Department of Global Health at Florida International University. Moderating this panel will be Caroline Diana Duncan, a PhD candidate in civil engineering at York with a strong focus on optimizing drinking water in the Arctic using participatory approaches to system dynamics modelling.

Land: This panel examines the role of land in achieving planetary health, taking a wide view across issues of food security, extractivism, urbanization and conservation. This includes examples of how land is inherently interconnected with people and the environment and how access to land and tenure rights are themselves a determinant of human and environmental health.

Discussion on topics related to land will be led by: Dayna N. Scott, an associate professor and York Research Chair in Environmental Law & Justice with Osgoode Hall Law School at 快播视频 where she is also cross appointed with the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change; James Stinson, a postdoctoral Fellow in Planetary Health Education at 快播视频, cross appointed to the Faculty of Education and the Dahdaleh Institute of Global Health Research; Raphael Aguiar, a PhD candidate in the Health Policy and Equity program at 快播视频 and a Dahdaleh Global Health Graduate Scholar; and Sarah Rotz, an assistant professor in the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change. This panel will be moderated by Nilanjana (Nell) Ganguli, a PhD student in the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change.

Air: This last panel addresses how air is brought into our approaches to planetary health, drawing together a range of fields related to emissions reduction, human well-being, air pollution and climate adaptation. Speakers will consider how air pollution disproportionately impacts low income and marginalized populations as well as the climate policy synergies of tackling air pollution that both damages health and impairs ecosystems.

Participating in this discussion are: Cora Young, an associate professor and the Rogers Chair in Chemistry at 快播视频; Eric B. Kennedy, an associate professor and area coordinator of the Disaster and Emergency Management program at 快播视频; and Jean-Thomas Tremblay, an assistant professor of environmental humanities at 快播视频. Moderating this panel will be Hillary Birch, a PhD student in the Faculty of Environmental & Urban Change at 快播视频, where she is a SSHRC doctoral Fellow.

For more information, or to register, visit the event webpage.

Article originally published in the November 7, 2023 issue of

The post Symposium explores planetary health, planetary crises appeared first on Faculty of Education.

Human activity is pushing ecological limits to a breaking point, and climate change is a fundamental threat to human life.

Now more than ever we need to draw clear associations between climate change and health, develop critical problem-solving interventions, and advocate for climate action that advances wellbeing for all. How do we do this while holding a critical view of the systems and structures which have led us into this climate catastrophe, including the ideologies of colonialism and capitalism that underpin the modern era? How do we advance effective and equitable solutions for planetary health that work against these systems and structures instead of upholding them?

This symposium on critical planetary health brings together scholars from the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research and across 快播视频 who work at the intersection of climate change and health, to discuss the potentials of planetary health as a driver of just climate action. This event will also launch the Dahdaleh Institute Planetary Health Research Council which supports a collaborative research community of faculty, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students committed to planetary health research at 快播视频 and beyond.

This symposium will be held in-person at 快播视频 (Keele campus). The event will also be streamed on Zoom.

Learn more and register

The post Planetary Health for a Planetary Emergency Symposium appeared first on Faculty of Education.