Healthy lakes are essential to ecosystems and communities. They provide habitat for wildlife, support fisheries and recreation, help sustain local economies and, in many cases, serve as sources of drinking water.

Those benefits, however, are under threat from expanding clusters of algae that can spread across freshwater systems, block sunlight from reaching aquatic plants, disrupt oxygen levels and produce toxins that can affect wildlife, pets and people.

"Harmful algal blooms are an increasing concern in freshwater ecosystems around the world, including the Great Lakes," says Zhu, a professor in 91亚色's Department of Mathematics and Statistics and director of the Laboratory of Mathematical Parallel Systems (LAMPS).

As these outbreaks become more common, scientists are studying what causes healthy lakes to become prone to bloom. Improving that understanding could help researchers and policymakers develop more effective ways to predict, prevent or manage these events.

Scientists have long studied how nutrients, temperature and other environmental conditions contribute to bloom events. co-authored by Zhu suggests one overlooked driver may be dissolved oxygen, the oxygen naturally present in lake water that aquatic plants and animals rely on.

While dissolved oxygen is often used as a measure of water quality, Zhu felt it deserved a closer look because of the role it plays in aquatic environments. In particular, it influences the behaviour of zooplankton, tiny animals that feed on microscopic algae known as phytoplankton. When oxygen levels are low, zooplankton become less effective at feeding on algae. As that natural control weakens, algae can grow more rapidly, increasing the likelihood of a bloom.

Zhu, along with former LAMPS postdoctoral candidate Juan Li and Nanjing Normal University Professor Yongzhong Song, wanted to better understand that relationship by developing and using a mathematical model.

"Our work wanted to fill that gap by explicitly connecting dissolved oxygen, phytoplankton and zooplankton in one dynamical model," he says.

The researchers tested different environmental scenarios to explore what happens when oxygen levels rise or fall and identify conditions that could tip a lake from a relatively stable state toward an algal bloom.

Oxygen levels can be influenced by a range of factors, including temperature, water conditions and biological activity. Climate change can also affect levels by warming waters and altering ecosystems.

The researchers found that when oxygen availability falls, the effects can spread through the ecosystem. A loss of this natural balance can cause lakes to become increasingly favourable for algae outbreaks.

The model also suggests why algal blooms can sometimes prove difficult to reverse once they appear. As oxygen levels decline and zooplankton become less effective at controlling algae, the balance of the ecosystem can shift leading to conditions that favour algal growth, making it harder for a lake to return to its previous state.

"The underlying system can cross a critical threshold and shift rapidly into a different ecological state," Zhu says.

While the research is theoretical, Zhu says the findings could explain how blooms develop and how they might be prevented. By identifying the conditions that make freshwater bodies of water more vulnerable to algae, researchers can identify which factors deserve the most attention before an outbreak occurs.

The study suggests that maintaining healthy oxygen levels, alongside efforts to reduce nutrient pollution, could improve the natural grazing activity of zooplankton and strengthen a lake's ability to keep algae growth under control. Over time, that knowledge could inform more targeted approaches to lake management and ecosystem protection.

Zhu emphasizes, however, that dissolved oxygen is only one piece of a much larger puzzle.

"Natural lake ecosystems are much more complicated than any single mathematical model," he says. "Our study provides one step toward understanding these interactions, but there is considerable opportunity to make the models more realistic by incorporating additional environmental factors and field data."

Future research could incorporate variables such as temperature, light, nutrient availability and water movement to build a more complete picture of how freshwater systems respond to environmental change. Zhu's team is also advancing related work through initiatives such as the Ontario Climate Data Portal, which supports research into climate impacts and environmental change.

"We hope this work contributes to a better mechanistic understanding of harmful algal blooms and ultimately supports more effective management," he says.

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As societies increasingly rely on hydrology to help address challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, environmental degradation and growing demands on water resources, ensuring the field draws on diverse knowledge systems and perspectives has become an increasingly important conversation.

Understanding complex water challenges, some scholars argue, requires not only strong scientific expertise but also careful consideration of whose knowledge informs decision-making and whose perspectives may be missing.

Among those contributing to that discussion is Olusola who teaches in the and whose work focuses on water resources and the complex relationship between environmental systems and society.

Olusola was part of an international team whose study, , explores what researchers call 鈥渄ecolonising hydrology.鈥�

The project emerged from an International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) working group focused on decolonization and hydrology, formed under the organization鈥檚 HELPING initiative, which encourages hydrologists to engage more closely with local communities and knowledge systems.

Olusola and his co-authors say that while decolonization has become an important topic across many academic disciplines, relatively little attention has been paid to how colonial legacies continue to shape hydrology specifically.

Much of modern water science, they argue, developed alongside colonial systems of governance and resource management. The effects of those systems remain visible today in both water infrastructure and decisions about whose knowledge is considered legitimate in water-management planning.

Seeking to better understand those influences, the research team launched the study while also exploring how researchers and practitioners might address them.

鈥淒ecolonizing hydrology matters both as a discipline and as a practice,鈥� says Olusola. 鈥淚t challenges the colonial legacies embedded in how hydrological knowledge has historically been produced and applied, and it makes the case that decolonization is necessary to achieve justice, inclusivity, and sustainability in water management.鈥�

The team conducted a review of scholarship exploring the intersection of hydrology and decolonization, analyzed trends in water research over time and examined case studies from different regions of the world.

As part of their work, the researchers analyzed more than 77,000 articles published in leading hydrology and water-resources journals between the 1940s and 2023 and reviewed literature addressing decolonial approaches to water science. They also developed case studies focused on Canada, India, West Africa, Indonesia and West Asia.

Examining those regions allowed the team to explore how colonial histories have influenced water laws, infrastructure, governance systems and educational practices. In some cases, the researchers found colonial-era water systems and management practices continue to influence how water is governed today. Olusola notes that in parts of the Global South, some historical approaches to hydrological monitoring, record-keeping and data collection were more sophisticated than many cities have been able to maintain since, illustrating the complex and sometimes contradictory legacies left behind by colonial rule.

鈥淎cross our case studies, we found colonial imprints on hydrology and hydraulic infrastructure that were strikingly similar in some respects, yet shaped by distinct local histories in others,鈥� he says.

The effects were not limited to infrastructure. In some regions, colonial-era water-management systems contributed to unequal access to resources, environmental disruption and governance structures that advantaged some groups while disadvantaging others.

Nonetheless, the study points towards change, noting the field is increasingly engaging with questions of sustainability, decision-making and the human dimensions of water management, creating opportunities for more inclusive and collaborative approaches.

Olusola says he and his co-authors hope the study will contribute to that shift.

鈥淭he work reframes the field, shifting away from a colonial hydrological hegemony toward pathways where reflective questioning and structured decision-making can guide how future water knowledge is generated and how it supports local water management,鈥� he says.

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Professor Eric Miller, along with lead author and PhD student Peri Dworatzek, has published a report titled which examines the protected natural and agricultural lands through the lens of biocapacity 鈥� the ability of land and ecosystems to provide resources and absorb environmental impacts.

Prepared by the for the Greenbelt Foundation, the report finds the Greenbelt provides significantly greater ecological biocapacity per hectare than the rest of Ontario, averaging 2.8 global hectares versus 1.02.

This, say the authors who worked with MES students Bumika Srikanthalingam and Kaitlin Pal, demonstrates the value of maintaining and strengthening protections for the region鈥檚 agricultural and natural landscapes.

The findings provide new evidence for policymakers and planners as they consider how future growth and infrastructure projects may affect the province鈥檚 environmental assets. The analysis indicates that increasing demand for land, food and fresh water could place additional strain on these systems if development is not carefully managed.

Miller and Dworatzek identified several actions that could help safeguard and enhance the Greenbelt鈥檚 ecological capacity. These include improving the collection and use of land-use data; expanding mapping of agricultural, water and natural heritage systems; and making geospatial information more accessible to support planning decisions.

鈥淟and cover and biocapacity data provide valuable tools for informing decisions that can help maintain protections for the Greenbelt and the ecosystems that support Ontario鈥檚 growing population,鈥� says Miller. 鈥淢easuring biocapacity helps governments track progress towards sustainability and other environmental goals.鈥�

The findings also emphasize the importance of restoring natural areas, supporting regenerative agricultural practices and improving soil health to strengthen long-term productivity. Researchers recommend integrating ecological capacity measures into municipal planning and natural asset management strategies.

Produced as part of the Greenbelt Foundation鈥檚 Visioning the Future of the Greenbelt series, the report positions the Greenbelt as a key component of Ontario鈥檚 response to environmental and resource challenges, Miller notes.

鈥淭he Greenbelt鈥檚 natural infrastructure provides significant value to Ontario. By quantifying those benefits, we can better inform planning and policy decisions that affect the region鈥檚 long-term sustainability,鈥� says Miller. 鈥淭his research demonstrates the measurable benefits natural systems provide to Ontario鈥檚 communities and economy, and offers a framework to support evidence-based planning.鈥�

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The initiative, led by Stephanie Gora, assistant professor at the , received $250,000 from the Government of Canada鈥檚 New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) . The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) program supports bold, interdisciplinary research that tests new ideas and aims for real鈥憌orld impact.

Gora鈥檚 project focuses on drinking water quality in multi鈥憉nit rental housing, where water safety is impacted by the actions of water utilities, tenants, landlords/building owners and regulators.

鈥淭his funding gives us the freedom to step back and take a 鈥榩roblem-first鈥� approach to understanding and improving water safety in rental housing that prioritizes the lived experiences of tenants, as well as building owners and management,鈥� says Gora. 鈥淭he goal is to co-develop technologies and frameworks that address the real barriers to safe water in rental housing."

While Canada has invested heavily in protecting drinking water, quality of water from the tap 鈥� particularly in rental buildings 鈥� remains difficult to assess and address, she adds.

Expertise in engineering, housing and urban planning will come together to examine both the technical and social dimensions of water quality. Gora is joined by co鈥憄rincipal investigator Katherine Perrott (University of Waterloo) and co鈥慳pplicants Judy Duncan (ACORN Canada), Liam Butler and Razieh Salahandish (91亚色), along with Brian Doucet (University of Waterloo) for the project, titled 鈥溾�楥an I drink the tap water?鈥� An interdisciplinary action framework for water quality assurance in multi鈥憉nit rental housing.鈥�

According to Gora, research and policy following the 2000 Walkerton water crisis focused primarily on protecting municipal sources, treatment plants and distribution systems. However, conditions within buildings are a separate risk where aging plumbing, construction materials and maintenance practices can significantly affect water quality by the time it reaches residents鈥� taps.

These challenges are particularly pronounced in rental housing, where tenants have limited control over infrastructure and limited access to information.

Multi鈥憉nit buildings constructed before 1960 are more likely to contain lead-bearing plumbing components and lead solder, but water quality issues are not limited to older housing stock. Newer and high鈥憆ise buildings can also experience problems related to water stagnation and interactions between the water and materials used for plumbing.

In January 2024, more than 200 tenants were evacuated from a newly built student apartment building in Hamilton, Ont., due to poor water quality, highlighting the scope of the issue.

The 91亚色鈥憀ed project responds to these gaps by integrating scientific testing with lived experience.

Researchers will begin by testing water samples and interviewing tenants, building owners or managers to understand how water quality issues arise and how they are handled in real-world settings. The team will test how point-of-use and distributed water quality sensors monitor water safety in real time.

The findings will help the team develop a data-driven water safety framework for multi-unit rental buildings using an approach that considers social, environmental and economic impacts while encouraging collaboration among sector partners to clarify shared responsibilities.

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Michael Davies鈥慥enn, a Faculty of Graduate Studies student in the Global Health graduate program, joins the Expert Group on Equitable Access to Water and Sanitation led by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).

The three鈥憏ear appointment highlights the impact of 91亚色 researchers in addressing complex global health and environmental challenges.

The group brings together researchers, policymakers and practitioners and began its work earlier this year to guide the implementation of the World Health Organization鈥檚 Protocol on Water and Health. Its focus is on identifying marginalized populations and supporting their meaningful engagement in water and sanitation decision-making.

Davies鈥慥enn鈥檚 research synthesizes Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 鈥� Clean Water and Sanitation, equity, global health and environmental governance. His work examines how water insecurity and climate events, such as floods and drought, influence the risk of infectious diseases, including malaria, cholera and West Nile virus.

鈥淪everal diseases linked to climate change impacts relate to the excess or absence of water,鈥� Davies鈥慥enn says. 鈥淭his suggests water is a key driver of climate鈥憆elated health outcomes.鈥�

In his fieldwork, Davies-Venn focuses on basin鈥慳rea communities along the Orange鈥慡enqu River basin in Southern Africa, a transboundary freshwater resource that supports approximately 20 million people across Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and South Africa. Through participatory research, he studies how environmental and social factors shape disease risk.

鈥淚t is reasonable to argue that human life is impossible without fresh water,鈥� he says. 鈥淵et inequities in access to drinking water persist.鈥�

In some river鈥慴asin communities, open defecation remains common due to limited access to sanitation services which increases the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera.

鈥淪ome people use the river as a latrine, while others collect water from the same river for domestic use, including drinking,鈥� Davies鈥慥enn says. 鈥淥pen defecation is a serious problem and cholera remains a global challenge. Research also links cholera outbreaks to floods and drought.鈥�

For Davies鈥慥enn, the work is both academic and personal. Having spent his childhood in similar conditions, and surviving malaria, gives him first-hand insight into the challenges these communities face.

Those experiences inform his commitment to global health solutions and his passion to make a difference.

鈥淚f, through working with basin communities, I raise awareness that contributes to saving even one child from cholera, that contribution to science and humanity will give meaning to my life and work,鈥� he says.

A member of the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, Davies-Venn's research is supervised by Associate Professor Godfred Boateng (), Professor Idil Boran (Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies) and Professor Philipp Pattberg (Vrije University-Amsterdam). In addition to his doctoral committee's guidance, he credits 91亚色 for fostering a collaborative environment that supports interdisciplinary research, helping him bridge his background in environmental governance with public health.

He is completing his doctorate through a planned cotutelle arrangement between 91亚色 and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, an international partnership that reflects 91亚色鈥檚 commitment to global research collaboration.

Through his work in the expert group, he hopes that by empowering vulnerable populations, and recognizing broader societal failures, critical improvements in equitable access to water and sanitation will lead to healthier communities.

"Micheal鈥檚 appointment reflects the type of globally engaged, interdisciplinary scholarship 91亚色 is cultivating," says Amrita Daftary, professor and graduate program director at the School of Global Health. "Grounded in equity and shaped by lived experience, his work demonstrates how graduate research can contribute to meaningful change beyond the University and Canada."

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Several times a month, a small drone rises above the trees at Swan Lake, following a precise path over the water. Parkgoers who enjoy walking, jogging or birdwatching might assume it鈥檚 there to capture scenic footage. Instead, the drone is part of a 91亚色-led effort to understand 鈥� and help restore 鈥� the health of an urban lake under pressure.

Swan Lake, a former gravel pit transformed into a stormwater pond and community green space, faces ongoing water quality challenges. As rainwater flows into the site from surrounding roads and neighbourhoods, it carries excess nutrients, road salt and other pollutants. Over time, this can fuel frequent algae growth, cloud the water and reduce oxygen levels, stressing fish and wildlife, limiting recreation and, in some cases, raising public health concerns.

Since April 2025, 91亚色 researchers, led by CIFAL 91亚色, have been turning concern about the lake鈥檚 health into measurable data and practical action through the Swan Lake Citizen Science Lab (SLCS Lab). The initiative brings together 91亚色 research centres, including ADERSIM and the One WATER Institute, with local partners such as Friends of Swan Lake Park, a community鈥慴ased volunteer organization dedicated to protecting and improving the area鈥檚 ecological health.

鈥淐ommunities often know when something is not right with a local ecosystem, but it鈥檚 hard to act without clear, comprehensive and consistent information, as well as meaningful community engagement鈥� says Ali Asgary, director of CIFAL 91亚色 and professor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. 鈥淭he goal of the lab is to support those concerns with reliable data that can guide real decisions.鈥�

"To assess a lake is to assess ourselves," adds Satinder Kaur Brar, director of the One WATER Institute and professor at the . "Its health card is a mirror of our environmental stewardship."

One way the lab is assessing the lake is through advanced technology, such as the use of multispectral and thermal drones operated by 91亚色 research teams.

Equipped with special cameras that capture different types of light 鈥� including some invisible to the human eye 鈥� the drones can detect potential algae growth and subtle changes in water clarity as they scan the lake from above. Flying low and on demand, they provide detailed, up-to-date views of trends across the entire water body, offering a clearer picture than satellite images and a broader perspective than scattered and spot鈥慴y鈥憇pot water sampling.

The drones have already yielded valuable insights, recently shared in a 91亚色鈥憀ed, under-review study that monitored patterns from spring through fall 2025. By flying the drones roughly once a month and analyzing the findings over time, researchers were able to pinpoint where algae forms, how blooms shift across the seasons and how changes in water cloudiness are driven by biological growth rather than stirred鈥憉p sediment.

The findings confirm what many residents and park managers have long suspected: the lake is rich in nutrients and prone to recurring algae growth. The drone data, however, also reveal something new.

Conditions vary significantly from one area to another, suggesting that targeted, location鈥憇pecific interventions may be more effective than broad, one鈥憇ize鈥慺its鈥慳ll treatments applied across the entire lake. Knowing where problems emerge helps guide chemical treatments, shoreline naturalization projects and future restoration efforts 鈥� and provides a better way to measure whether those interventions are working. "Interconnecting drone data with on-ground water quality can turn ecological signals into informed action that is vital for communities," says Brar.

鈥淲hat the data made clear is that this isn鈥檛 a uniform problem,鈥� adds Asgary. 鈥淲hen conditions vary so much from one part of the lake to another, it changes how you think about solutions. This kind of information allows us to be more precise, more proactive and more strategic in environmental management.鈥�

In addition to monitoring Swan Lake, 91亚色鈥憀ed teams are working to make the data easier to interpret and use in planning. Researchers are developing AI tools to identify patterns in the drone imagery, anticipate conditions such as algae outbreaks and translate complex trends into clearer insights.

Other teams are using virtual reality and simulation to help users visualize the lake over time and explore how different interventions might affect conditions. Meanwhile, geographic information system (GIS) specialists are turning the results into interactive maps and dashboards that help the public and those involved in lake management understand what is happening across the site.

A core goal of the Swan Lake Citizen Science Lab is to encourage meaningful community engagement and shared stewardship.

鈥淔rom the start, this was never about researchers working in isolation,鈥� says Asgary. 鈥淭he goal of the Swan Lake Citizen Science Lab is to create a shared process, where community knowledge and scientific tools come together.鈥�

Local partners are not just observers; they are active partners in the research. Residents take part in field checks, help interpret findings, attend workshops and contribute to outreach efforts that share findings. Alongside them, 91亚色 students gain hands鈥憃n experience applying classroom learning to a real environmental challenge, working with researchers and resident members in a local setting.

For CIFAL 91亚色, which is affiliated with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, the work at Swan Lake is a pilot that could inform other communities facing similar pressures on small urban lakes and wetlands.

鈥淭he impact here is very tangible,鈥� says Asgary. 鈥淭hrough drones, data and collaboration, we鈥檙e building a deeper understanding of how this ecosystem functions and how it can be protected over time. That kind of shared knowledge is what allows stewardship to last.鈥�

Find out more about the SLCS Lab, and see it in action, in the video below.

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Created in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the initiative brings together researchers, community organizations and international partners to build knowledge and capacity to respond to the global water crisis.

With Shooka Karimpour, associate professor at the , as academic director, the academy supports learning, strengthens global dialogue and bridges water knowledge with decision-making and public policy.

"Water insecurity means different things for different groups and different demographics," says Karimpour.

While some water challenges are shared internationally, she says, the academy also works to highlight local issues 鈥� from changing ice patterns in Canada to the impact of drought on specific communities elsewhere in the world.

That dual focus shapes everything the academy does. Its free online courses are open to learners worldwide at no cost. Offerings include 鈥淥n Thin Ice: The Impacts of Climate Change on Freshwater Ice鈥� and 鈥淎n Introduction to Indigenous Relationships to Water on Turtle Island,鈥� among others.

The courses aim to build practical knowledge of water systems, governance and sustainability at both local and global scales 鈥� whether the learner is a student, a community organizer or a policy professional.

In 2024, the academy engaged nearly 8,000 participants from 147 countries through courses, events and partnerships including United Nations conferences, international research collaborations and public exhibitions.

One of its most recent collaborations illustrates how that work translates beyond the classroom. For World Water Day 2026, the Global Water Academy partnered with the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto to present a Microplastics Discovery Station. This brought 91亚色 scientists directly to the public to demonstrate how microscopic plastic particles move through aquatic ecosystems. Visitors examined water samples, identified microplastics and engaged with researchers first-hand.

For Karimpour, the event captured something central to the academy's mission: moving water science from the digital space into hands-on, in-person public engagement with communities.

There is also work happening with community-based organizations to surface stories and solutions that connect research to lived experience.

A with water activist Swani Keelson and the non-profit Global Water Promise examined how water insecurity in Ghana affects women's physical and mental health 鈥� and how limited access to clean water compounds broader inequalities, including period poverty and barriers to education.

"We are providing them with a platform and opportunity to share not only global water insecurity issues, but also innovative solutions that have been developed to mitigate this problem," says Karimpour. "Our goal is to raise awareness and ultimately inspire collective action."

That combination of training, storytelling and public programming reflects how the work aligns with 91亚色's broader sustainability agenda.

While its mandate is rooted in Sustainable Development Goal 6 鈥� clean water and sanitation 鈥� the issues it engages consistently extend into climate resilience, health, gender equity and governance. The work around the Ghana story advances SDG 5 on gender equality, while the microplastics research supports SDG 14, life below water.

"You can't really confine the impact to one SDG because water availability is such a deep issue," says Karimpour. "It really affects and falls into a lot of other SDGs as well."

Karimpour credits strong institutional support from 91亚色, including from University leadership, as central to the academy's growth. Looking ahead, Karimpour says it will continue to build new courses and partnerships, with an emphasis on reaching communities that have the most at stake in global water insecurity.

With files from Mzwandile Poncana

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Ciuying Jian (associate professor, ), Trevor VandenBoer (associate professor, Faculty of Science) and Daanish Mulla (postdoctoral fellow, ) are three of 34 delegates selected to engage in dialogue with policymakers during the 2026 Science Meets Parliament 鈥� Ontario Program (SMP-ON).

The event creates opportunities for in-depth knowledge sharing, in which delegates from the academic scientific community gain insights into the legislative process and learn how to effectively communicate research to policymakers.

This is the second year for the Ontario cohort, which is an expansion of the SMP federal program launched by the Canadian Science Policy Centre (CSPC) in 2018. It serves as a non-partisan initiative to benefit scientists, members of provincial parliament (MPPs) and Ontarians.

The three 91亚色 representatives will bring research expertise in water and energy, air quality and chemical instrumentation, and human movement to the Spring 2026 delegation.

鈥淭his initiative is important because it creates a structured space for direct exchange between researchers and policymakers,鈥� says Jian, a professor of mechanical engineering. 鈥淭his type of engagement helps ensure that decisions are informed by evidence and allows researchers to better understand how policy is shaped in practice.鈥�

Jian鈥檚 research explores innovative ways to use carbon and water more effectively. Specifically, her research examines how to sustainably produce carbon-based functional materials and use them to clean wastewater and improve environmental monitoring and green energy systems. Her lab also uses computer modelling to understand the behaviour of materials and interfacial systems at a microscopic level.

She plans to highlight to policymakers the importance of supporting both applied and fundamental research and hopes to help build mutual understanding between scientists and MPPs about how each approaches complex decision-making. Jian says she will share insights learned with Lassonde and the wider 91亚色 community, as well as external partners such as the Canadian Society for Mechanical Engineering. She will incorporate these new perspectives into her research practice moving forward, she says.

For VandenBoer, the delegation is an opportunity to help ensure that 鈥渟cience is a non-partisan entity in politics,鈥� and looks forward to scientists and MPPs working together to serve Ontarians

Atmospheric and analytical chemistry is the focus of VandenBoer鈥檚 research at 91亚色, which develops new tools to track nitrogen from use as fertilizer to grow crops to the air, as well as in the air quality of urban environments including indoor spaces. The research team working with VandenBoer studies how these chemicals travel and change from microscopic interactions at atmospheric interfaces to impacts at a global scale.

VandenBoer notes that by giving MPPs access to experts, and CSPC teaching scientists how to translate research for policy relevance, the program ensures that provincial decisions can be grounded in the best available evidence.

鈥淭he collaboration aims to benefit all Ontarians by bringing a wide range of diverse, expert voices into government to solve real-world problems,鈥� says VandenBoer, adding he plans to maintain relationships developed during the delegation.

Mulla, a postdoctoral researcher with Connected Minds at 91亚色, sees the delegation as an opportunity to ensure his research generates evidence that is scientifically rigorous, but also directly actionable for public health policy.

His research investigates how the brain and nervous system control movements. By using advanced computer models, he explores how individuals learn new skills or break old habits, with the goal of finding ways to help people learn physical tasks faster and safely.

"Visible collaboration between researchers and policymakers signals that evidence and governance are working together, not in silos,鈥� Mulla says, adding that he鈥檒l apply what he learns to his teaching and research, and will incorporate findings into lessons about science communication.

By participating in the initiative, 91亚色 researchers will help strengthen connections between science and policy at the provincial level.

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For 91亚色 student Sadia Tasnim, that moment came while completing her second co-op work term at Food Banks Mississauga as a data administrator. During a shift, Tasnim encountered a client asking for menstrual products. The food bank, however, didn鈥檛 have any available.

鈥淚 felt terrible that I could not help her in that moment,鈥� says Tasnim, an international student from Bangladesh who struggled with the idea of women who do not have access to essential products.

Tasnim knew her expertise in data science could help the organization respond to this need. Through her studies at the Faculty of Science, she has become adept at gathering, interpreting and presenting data 鈥� including using statistical methods, computational skills and data analysis techniques 鈥� and wants to apply that knowledge to create positive change.

鈥淎t 91亚色, I鈥檝e learned a variety of unconventional ways to extract and organize data,鈥� says Tasnim, a fourth-year student. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to me to use this skill for a meaningful purpose.鈥�

During her Fall 2025 placement at Food Banks Mississauga, Tasnim worked on the agency relations team, helping to coordinate organizations that distribute food and essential items to roughly half a million visitors per year. When she was asked to analyze the organization鈥檚 historical data on female clients between the ages of 18 to 55 in response to the gap in feminine hygiene products available, she was thrilled.

She drafted a report of her findings, which was shared with Food Banks Canada 鈥� the parent organization that provides supplies to community sites. Tasnim says it was rewarding to see her data analysis shared with decision makers and help make a meaningful impact.

鈥淭hat is what pushed me to take on this project 鈥� making sure this need gets met,鈥� says Tasnim.

Addressing real-world challenges has long been a priority for Tasnim. As a teen, she co-founded her own environmental non-profit to plant trees in her home city of Dhaka, Bangladesh, to improve its air quality. She also volunteered for a social enterprise that delivers clean drinking water to underserved rural communities.

Thinking about her future, Tasnim is considering career roles in social finance 鈥� an investing approach that centres societal and environmental impact.

鈥淚 believe we have to use our talents for humanitarian causes,鈥� Tasnim says. 鈥淒ata can help drive smart decision-making in these important matters.鈥�

For Daisy Dang, a fourth-year environmental studies student, housing access is the issue that drives her commitment to work for change. She is completing a full-time paid co-op placement at the Toronto Region Real Estate Board (TRREB), a non-profit organization serving 70,000 realtors in the Greater Toronto Area.

In her role as a policy analyst in TRREB鈥檚 government relations unit, she contributed to the organization鈥檚 2026 Market Outlook and Year in Review event. As part of that work, she conducted extensive research on the efficacy of the current private and rental housing supply in the city. She also gathered data on trends and metrics related to housing affordability, residential zoning practices and homelessness.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a need for a greater variety of the right types of housing and more density,鈥� Dang says. 鈥淲e should be building more up than outwards and building more units with two and three bedrooms.鈥�

As a student at 91亚色鈥檚 in the Cities, Regions, Planning (CRP) program, Dang is well-positioned to understand and address Toronto鈥檚 diverse urban planning challenges. This interdisciplinary program teaches sustainable, inclusive practices to manage growth, adapt infrastructure, welcome newcomers and mitigate environmental impacts. She has critically examined urban planning through courses exploring sustainable design, regional governance, migration patterns and political ecology.

Dang is also applying her growing knowledge at TRREB in other ways. A core part of her job involves researching housing-related programs offered by the municipal, provincial and federal governments to include as resources on the organization鈥檚 website. Her research also helps shape TRREB鈥檚 advocacy responses in its interactions with government representatives.

Through her combined co-op and academic experiences, Dang has a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics driving urbanization in Toronto and is particularly interested in its impacts on residents who live at the margins of society.

After completing her degree in 2027, she hopes to support municipal government decision-making in addressing housing issues affecting the unhoused and low-income citizens.

鈥淚 think a city works when you put people first,鈥� Dang says.

With files from Sharon Aschaiek

The post 91亚色 U students drive community change through real-world learning appeared first on YFile.

DHRN launched in April 2025 on the two-year anniversary of the Sudanese civil war, an event that has personal meaning for Merghani whose family is from Sudan and still lives there. Seeing the destruction and hearing from relatives about the suffering, she felt a strong responsibility to help. Her hometown, considered a safe zone, became a refuge for millions of displaced Sudanese fleeing conflict areas.

Late last year, she began raising funds to provide food and medicine to those in camps across northern Sudan, later expanding support to other regions through local volunteers.

Between December 2024 and April 2025, Merghani raised nearly $10,000 through personal outreach and social media and worked with volunteers who distributed food, medicine and emergency supplies. The experience, she says, showed her the power of grassroots solidarity and inspired her to create something more structured.

That structure became DHRN. Since its launch, the network has raised more than $160,000 to provide essential aid to internally displaced people in Sudan, working directly with community organizers on the ground. It is now a federally incorporated not-for-profit in Canada, strengthening its capacity for long-term impact.

鈥淎s DHRN grew, I saw how much trust people placed in our work and realized that impact comes with responsibility,鈥� says Merghani. 鈥淚ncorporating as a not-for-profit created transparency and sustainability, enabling our efforts to grow.鈥� The change allows DHRN to manage funds through an official bank account, build a board of directors, apply for grants and collaborate with universities and NGOs. 鈥淲hat started as a student-led effort has become something much bigger,鈥� she says.

DHRN is an Agents of Change project with 91亚色鈥檚 Faculty of Health, offering students opportunities to turn real-world problems into tangible advocacy, research and education. Among its first initiatives is , a student-led blog that highlights stories of displacement, resilience and belonging, creating a platform for dialogue and awareness.

Building on that foundation, DHRN launched its on-campus engagement work this fall with its first event, the DHRN Welcome Event, co-hosted on Sept. 24 with the Centre for Refugee Studies Student Caucus at 91亚色's Keele Campus. Facilitated by Merghani, the gathering brought students together for small-group discussions on migration, health and advocacy, and invited participants to share experiences and ideas for collective action.

鈥淭he event offered a safe space to talk about personal experiences relating to immigration, displacement and being a refugee. I am grateful I was a part of this learning experience,鈥� says Ann Kwarteng, a fifth-year global health student and DHRN blog contributer.

For Zamzam Aini, a third-year global health student and DHRN outreach director, the event was 鈥渁 meaningful opportunity to reflect and connect with others who truly care about supporting migrant and displaced communities.鈥�

While Sudan remains at the heart of DHRN鈥檚 work, the network鈥檚 mission has expanded to address displacement more broadly. 鈥淭he challenges faced by displaced Sudanese families are part of a much larger, global story,鈥� says Merghani. DHRN now aims to support uprooted communities globally and within Canada through advocacy and education, recognizing displacement as a global health issue not limited by borders.

The 鈥渘etwork鈥� in DHRN鈥檚 name reflects both its student team at 91亚色 and its partners abroad. On campus, students lead advocacy, communications and research efforts that connect global issues with local action. Internationally, DHRN collaborates with volunteers, health professionals and community organizers in Sudan and neighbouring regions who help deliver aid and assess needs.

Looking ahead, DHRN plans to expand its initiatives through projects like the Displacement Health Resource Library and the Sudan Advocacy Toolkit 鈥� digital resources that provide information and practical ways to take action. The network is also developing partnerships with organizations such as the Migrants Resource Centre Canada and hopes to collaborate with researchers who study displacement and health.

Merghani says DHRN ultimately seeks to engage students, educators and community members who want to learn, act and make a tangible difference. 鈥淎t its core, the network is about solidarity and creating meaningful connections between those affected by displacement and those who want to be part of the solution.鈥�

She adds, 鈥淥ur goal is to bridge compassion and action, to remind people that displacement is not a crisis happening elsewhere. It鈥檚 about humanity, solidarity and the right to health and dignity for all.鈥�

Students, faculty and community members are invited to join future events, collaborations and advocacy efforts. To learn more, visit the , send an email or follow the network on and for updates.

With files by Sarah Merghani

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