Measuring Urban Sustainability in Transit (MUST) project

Project Summary: This project is driven by the need to shift to renewable energy sources and determine its impact on community well-being. The success of this program requires understanding of how communities can access, adopt and integrate renewable energy sources to improve living standards without threatening economic activities and cultural identities. Thus, an impact analysis will be conducted using primary data and causal inference methods to evaluate the project's effect on the community's welfare, renewable energy adoption, climate change adaptation, alternative energy substitute use and local energy prices. An integrated cost-benefit and transaction cost analysis will evaluate the preference for clean energy alternatives in pursuit of social benefits rather than financial benefits. The proposed project will seek to improve our understanding of how the living standards of Northern, remote and Indigenous communities can be strengthened by adopting and integrating renewable energy sources in ways that enhance community identities through sustainable energy use, as well as mitigate global environmental change.  

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Greg Poelzer and Dr. Oscar Zapata

External Mentor(s): Guy Lonechild, First Nations Power Authority

Innovation and Interdisciplinary Research to Explore the Social Aspects in Software Engineering

Project Summary: Software engineering is fundamentally an orchestrated collaboration involving individuals, functionalities, components, and services to construct a software product. The organizational social structure within a software development community, encompassing interactions among developers and third-party software products, stands as a crucial prerequisite for the success of software endeavors. Given the increasing reliance on third-party software products to enhance developer productivity and deliver high-quality software, our mission is to pioneer an innovative and interdisciplinary program that addresses critical knowledge gaps hindering the effective management of social aspects in software engineering and companies. Our objectives are delineated across three distinct scopes: software ecosystems, crowdsourcing, and developers’ teams, specifically targeting suboptimal patterns referred to as "community smells." We aim to scrutinize the influence of these aspects on software product quality and the software development process, unraveling the potential consequences they might entail. Our innovative and inclusive project is committed to comprehending and mitigating threats posed by social aspects to software systems, rooted in community well-being. At its core, our proposal is centered on equipping stakeholders with the tools, knowledge, practical options, and inclusive capacity needed for developers and managers to monitor their systems.

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Chanchal Roy, Dr. Banani Roy, and Dr. Kevin Schneider

External Mentor(s): Dr. Iman Keivanloo, Amazon

Evaluation of Pulse Value-Chain from Producer to Consumer in East Africa

Project Summary: The value of pulses in crop diversification, food and nutrition security and sustainable crop production systems is well-recognized. East Africa, as in other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, remains one of the most food and nutrition-insecure regions in the world. Post-harvest losses are especially serious in sub-Saharan Africa, where up to 50% of crop production may be lost before produce reaches the consumer. Reducing post-harvest losses helps to improve availability of food without extra production and negative effects on the environment. This research will investigate how post-harvest variables including storage, marketing and processing affect food loss, nutrient digestibility and bio-accessibility, with specific emphasis on plant-based foods. The project seeks to gain a deeper understanding of challenges, gaps, opportunities and successes of pulse production, storage, processing, marketing and consumption in East Africa (Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda) so that to determine the possible intervention. The impact of this research will be increasing food availability.

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Carol Henry, Dr Matthew Noseworthy and Dr. Robert Tyler

External Mentor(s): Dr. Sheleme Beyene, Hawassa University; Kebede Abegaz, School of Human Nutrition and Food Sciences; Dr. Jean Claude Rubyogo, Pan African Bean Alliance, Alliance Diversity-CIAT; and Dr. Eliud Abucheli Birachi, Alliance Diversity-CIAT

Governance and Regulatory Enablers and Constraints for Remote Energy Solutions

Project Summary: The energy landscape is changing. Local and decentralized energy is viewed not only as a solution to meeting climate commitments, but also to ensuring energy security in remote regions. The success of decentralized energy systems and technologies hinges on effective and supporting policy and regulatory environments. The first part of this project is focused on identification of the dominant factors (e.g., regulatory, ownership, policy) that either enable or constrain decentralized energy in remote northern communities. The second part of this project is technology-specific and futures-oriented, focused on the policy and regulatory reforms required to support small modular nuclear reactors as a viable energy source. This research responds to national and provincial commitments to transition energy systems, power remote regions and to introduce small modular nuclear reactor technology to the energy mix. This project is connected with the broader Community Appropriate Sustainable Energy Security (CASES) research initiative.

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Bram Noble and Dr. Greg Poelzer

External Mentor(s): Grant Crawford, SaskPower

• CASES Research Initiative

Chemical analytical characterization and environmental forensics of stormwater contaminants with investigation of potential treatment opportunities

Project Summary: Traditionally, safe handling of the stormwater focused on quantity with quality only recently becoming of major interest and importance. Stormwater runoff washes off a wide range of contaminants (nutrients, heavy metals, organic chemicals) form roads, parking lots, roofs, facades, and lawns, and discharges them into receiving waters. This project identifies the complex composition of chemical (and other) contaminants found in urban stormwater originating from the City of Saskatoon. After identifying target contaminants, preliminary investigation of treatment options is also being conducted in conjunction with the health risk assessment of stormwater. This research follows upon ongoing (and future planned) stormwater-focused studies being done in collaboration with the City of Saskatoon (Mitch McMann) with the results being proposed for treatment of stormwaters thereby minimizing impacts on downstream communities.

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Kerry McPhedran 

External Mentor(s): Mitch McMann, Stormwater Utility Manager, City of Saskatoon and Mike Sadowski, Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager, City of Saskatoon

Health Risk Assessment of Storm Water for Downstream Ecosystems and Communities

Project Summary: The health implications of exposure to the diverse contaminants present in stormwater for both humans and wildlife are largely unknown and poorly understood. Knowledge about the biological activity of key constituents in these mixtures is critical information needed for the development of efficient remediation technologies and sustainable policies to safely manage stormwater and protect downstream communities and ecosystems. This project assesses the specific mechanism of toxicity of stormwater using next generation in vitro and fish embryo test systems developed by our groups. In combination with chemical analytical characterization of the same samples (work of PDF 1), this research will allow prediction of potential health outcomes in humans and wildlife, while pinpointing the main constituents of concern. In collaboration with the City of Saskatoon (Mitch McMann) and consultation with downstream communities, the results are anticipated to support the development of effective remediation, mitigation and/or adaptation strategies to minimize stormwater impacts to ecosystems and communities.  

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Markus Hecker

External Mentor(s): Mitch McMann, Stormwater Utility Manager, City of Saskatoon

Developing Lung Organoid Models for SARS-CoV-2 and Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Co-infection Studies

Project Summary: One quarter of the world’s population carries latent tuberculosis (TB), which can turn to active TB when other diseases that suppress the immune system appear. TB cases increased for the first time in 10 years during the COVID-19 lockdown, erasing years of efforts to control TB. Individuals infected with both COVID-19 and TB experience enhanced mortality compared to those suffering from COVID-19 alone. No models exist to study COVID-19 and TB coinfections. We aim to develop these models to understand how COVID-19 and TB together worsen health outcomes. Developing models that resemble and reflect the lungs and a functioning immune system and that can be infected with the pathogens that cause COVID-19 and TB will help us understand how lungs work, how these microbes interact and their impact on therapies and lung health. This project opens the door for studies addressing virus-bacteria coinfections in the lungs, including complicated lung diseases like respiratory syncytial virus with secondary bacterial infection in pediatric patients.

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Arinjay Banerjee and Dr. Neeraj Dhar

External Mentor(s): Dr. Boyang Zhang, McMaster University and Founder of Organo Biotech

Multi-project postdoctoral work in The Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science and Justice Studies

Project Summary: As part of my role, I have been involved in multiple interdisciplinary research projects through the Living Skies Post-doctoral Fellow program. I have been involved in projects such as evaluating the Gang and Violence Reduction Strategy Program (GVRS) and collaborated in a grant application for Public Safety Canada titled Gladue Practices: Investigating Lived Experiences and Stakeholder Perspectives on Their Impacts on Reintegration and Recidivism. I have also been reviewing the literature in the area of patient-oriented risk assessment to examine the extent to which service providers practice collaborative risk assessment in forensic settings. And lastly, I have been reviewing the role trauma plays in sexual offending. Overall, the research I have been involved with aims to improve the practices in criminal justice system which leads to better reintegration of individuals convicted offences and improved public safety.

Internal Mentors(s): Dr. Mansfield Mela and Dr. Phillip Woods

External Mentor(s): Correctional Service Canada; and Research and Implementation Branch of the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety

Establishing Next-Generation Bioprinted Respiratory Tissue Models to Study Highly Pathogenic Respiratory Pathogens

Project Summary: My research at VIDO as a Living-Skies Postdoctoral Fellow focuses on establishing a novel approach to develop respiratory tissue models using next-generation bioprinting technologies. Current respiratory research platforms face a critical challenge – relevance to human lung architecture and low success rates in translating studies performed in conventional 2D cell culture models. I am interested in finding a solution over traditional two-dimensional cell culture systems, which lack the fidelity to replicate the true physiological condition of human lungs. These 3D respiratory models will serve as a powerful tool for studying the interactions between host cells and respiratory pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a controlled environment to better understand lung homeostasis and infectious disease mechanisms. The presence of advanced 3D respiratory models will also offer an opportunity to explore respiratory treatments and potential therapeutics to improve patient outcomes.

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Daniel Chen, Dr. Gurpreet Aulakh, Dr. Arinjay Banerjee and Dr. Neeraj Dhar

External Mentor(s): Dr. Boyang Zhang, McMaster University and Founder of Organo Biotech

A Transdisciplinary Approach to Understanding and Modelling Coupled Human-water Systems

Project Summary: Amidst a pressing water crisis amplified by climate change, socio-economic development and environmental challenges, this project explores the intricate complexities of human-water interactions. Within this context, human influences are profoundly interrelated with water resources. Envisioned as part of the Living Skies Post-doctoral Fellows program, this collaborative project unites scholars specializing in social, environmental, and computer sciences. The primary goal is to construct an all-encompassing conceptual and computational model capable of capturing the dynamic interplay between human behaviour and water across diverse scales and contexts to achieve transformative insights. By doing this, the research aims to pave the way for exploring various water-related scenarios and formulating effective risk management strategies, fostering resilience and equity in front of water-related threats.

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Corinne Schuster-Wallace, Dr. Raymond Spiteri, Dr. Martyn Clark, and Dr. Patrick Lloyd-Smith

External Mentor(s): Bridgette Andrews, Saskatchewan Watershed Association and Diego Costa, Alberta Environment

A Comparative Analysis of ChatGPT-generated Responses and Human Answers

Project Summary: Nowadays, with the advancement of technology, especially artificial intelligence, we are witnessing the emergence of novel tools. In the latter part of 2022, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT, an AI tool built on top of existing Large Language Models (LLMs), to facilitate interactive communication through a conversational interface. Notably, ChatGPT exhibits the capacity to generate diverse forms of text, encompassing scientific abstracts, domain-specific question responses, programming code, lifelike conversational exchanges, summarizations, translations, suggestions, and recommendations. In addition to all the capabilities of ChatGPT, it also has drawbacks like the possibility of spreading fake information. We aim to compare the responses of ChatGPT to those generated by humans. The study underscores potential risks associated with AI-generated content being mistaken for human-written text, raising concerns about misinformation. The research objective involves a comparative analysis to evaluate the quality, accuracy, and stylistic differences of ChatGPT's responses compared to human-generated answers. To evaluate our idea, we utilize a dataset containing programming code written by programmers, as well as the responses generated by ChatGPT. This project opens the door for studies addressing  ChatGPT's strengths and limitations, user preferences, and the challenges of differentiating between AI-generated and human-written content.

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Chanchal Roy and Dr. Julita Vassileva

External Mentor(s): Dr. Aaron Genest, Siemens Company

Production of Transgenic Pigs for Xenotransplantation

Project Summary: The primary cause of death in most developed countries is organ failure, such as heart, lung, kidney, or liver failure. According to the World Health Organization, only 10% of the worldwide organ demand is met by organ donation. Moreover, the donor organ shortage is expected to worsen due to the aging population. Various strategies have been implemented to address this issue, but the most practical solution to meet the organ demand is through xenotransplantation, which involves the transplantation of animal organs into humans. Pigs are considered the best choice because they have organ sizes comparable to humans, breed quickly, have large litters, and share several pathophysiological compatibilities with humans. However, immediate organ rejection and potential transmission of animal diseases have made transplanting pig organs into humans problematic. Fortunately, new-age genome editing technology has made it possible to eliminate undesired elements from the pig genome while adding desired genes. Therefore, the current project aims to explore novel genetic modification approaches, such as CRISPR, to produce transgenic pigs suitable for xenotransplantation.

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Ali Honaramooz

External Mentor(s): Dr. Paul Keown, Founder and CEO of SYREON Corporation

Guiding Public Health Policies in Indigenous Communities through the Development of Analytical Tools to Assess Molecular-Level Interactions between Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Mold

Project Summary: We spend most of our time indoors, and indoor air pollution can harm our health. Mold and environmental tobacco smoke are common air contaminants found in homes, especially in First Nations communities. When mold and environmental tobacco smoke are together in a house, they can seriously affect the respiratory health of the people living there. The smell of mold is linked to respiratory problems and can increase the need for medical treatment and hospitalization. The existing data cannot clearly determine the health risks from smoking and mold contamination. Dr. Kirychuk hypothesized that the combination of tobacco smoke and mold may have chemical interactions that make the health risks even worse. The research aims to create tools to improve air quality and health in remote Indigenous communities for residents, property managers, builders, researchers, and governments. The resources and tools will be First Nations community-driven and will directly reflect the wants and needs of the communities.

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Shelley Kirychuk

External Mentor(s): Sturgeon Lake First Nation, Beardy's & Okemasis Cree Nation, and Montreal Lake Cree Nation

• Website

Study on the Potential of Quantum Computing for Software Quality Assurance: Defect Prediction Perspectives

Project Summary: Software defect prediction plays an important role in software quality assurance because it helps the software quality assurance team to manage resources optimally during software maintenance. Moreover, predicting defects in the early stages not only improves the quality and reliability of the system, but also reduces the cost of software development. To build software defect prediction models, statistical analysis, machine learning techniques, and more recently, deep learning approaches are commonly employed, all of which are solved on classical computers. Because of the presence of high-dimensional data in software defect prediction tasks, classical solvers often encounter challenges in identifying appropriate features, conducting training, and optimizing learning models. Recently, quantum computing has emerged as a new computational paradigm that offers significant computational advantages over conventional classical computing by harnessing the intricate principles of quantum physics —superposition, quantum entanglement, and interference. Given its potential to solve computationally complex problems that classical computing struggles with, several quantum computing paradigms have emerged.  In this project, our main objective is to leverage quantum computing models to address the software defect prediction problem. We study the capabilities of two quantum paradigms: quantum annealing and universal quantum gate models, in expediting various phases of defect prediction tasks. Although quantum computing is still in its emerging stage, we anticipate that the quantum computing paradigms we employ can be utilized to identify quality feature subsets and enhance the accuracy of software defect prediction.

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Chanchal Roy, Dr. Banani Roy, and Dr. Kevin Schneider

External Mentor(s): Dr. Ripon Kumar Saha, Meta

Empowering Smallholder Farmers: Scaling up Collective Action Through Co-operatives

Project Summary: Co-operatives are viewed as a powerful tool that can be used to empower smallholder farmers and improve their ability to manage resources. There is evidence that co-operatives can help smallholder farmers to access inputs, adopt technologies, and market products, however, their contribution to improving food security and their impacts across heterogenous groups is still misunderstood. There are still questions regarding the inclusiveness of co-operatives, particularly, their ability to serve women. This project explores how co-operatives contribute to improving food security among smallholder farmers and to what extent do they present opportunities to women. The project also explores how co-operatives can scale their efforts to serve the dynamic global agricultural market. To promote evidence-based policymaking, the project will quantify the benefits of co-operatives in terms of their effects on food access, availability, stability, and utilization (nutrition). Findings from this study will provide baseline information that will guide interventions aimed at empowering smallholder farmers.

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Marc-André Pigeon and Dr. Eric Micheels

External Mentor(s): Qian Wan, Financial Guarantee Programs Division, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Synergy in Mineral-Microbe Interaction for Hybrid Remediation Technology for Disturbed Environments

Project Summary: The Canadian energy and mining industries face the challenge of reducing their environmental footprint, which urgently requires innovative remediation technologies for soils and groundwater impacted by mixed organic and inorganic contaminants. My research in collaboration with Imperial Oil is developing innovative hybrid bioremediation and desalination (HBD) processes for the removal of mixed organic (hydrocarbons) and inorganic contaminants (NaCl) from soils and groundwater impacted by subsurface energy and resource extractions in Western Canada. We are leveraging the synergy between natural mineral processes and stress-tolerant microbial degradation to develop non-energy-driven remediation and reclamation approaches. My research team working on this hybrid remediation technology is composed of USask experts in environmental engineering, environmental chemistry, and microbiology with Dr. Wonjae Chang (PI), Dr. Lee Wilson and Darren Korber. This research will foster site remediation technologies for environments impacted by resource extractions in Canada.

Internal Mentors(s): Dr. Wonjae Chang, Dr. Terry Fonstad, Dr. Lee Wilson, Dr. Herbert Lardner, and Dr. Darren Korber 

External Mentor(s): Krista Stevenson, Environmental Programs Lead - Applied Process Research, Sarnia Technology Applications & Research, Imperial Oil Limited; Linda Eastcott, Technical Advisor, Environmental & Property Solutions, Imperial Oil Limited; Marianne Possberg, Beef Production Specialist, Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association

Innovative Agriculture Water Desalination Adapted to Saskatchewan’s Livestock Producers

Project Summary: Recently, about 200 cattle were found dead on a pasture in Saskatchewan due to concentrated salt ions. The salinization of freshwater resources around the world has amplified, which eventually leads to unpredictable water salinity hazards. The wide dispersion of concentrated salt ions, often derived from non-point sources, makes the problem difficult to control, and it is uneconomical to develop solutions using conventional, sophisticated desalination plants. I am currently developing cost-effective, on-site water desalination technology adapted for livestock operations. The new clean technology is non-energy intensive because it leverages natural mineralization in desalination minerals we developed, which fix sulfate and sodium. This approach will be expanded for the removal of excess nutrients, algae, and microbial. This research is interdisciplinary with Drs Wonjae Chang (PI), Terry Fonstad, Herbert Lardner, Gregory Penner, Lee Wilson, and Darren Korber.

Internal Mentors(s): Dr. Wonjae Chang, Dr. Terry Fonstad, Dr. Lee Wilson, Dr. Herbert Lardner, and Dr. Darren Korber 

External Mentor(s): Krista Stevenson, Environmental Programs Lead - Applied Process Research, Sarnia Technology Applications & Research, Imperial Oil Limited; Linda Eastcott, Technical Advisor, Environmental & Property Solutions, Imperial Oil Limited; Marianne Possberg, Beef Production Specialist, Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association

Understanding First Nations Human-Plant Relationships From Past to Present in Saskatchewan

Project Summary: As a Living Skies Postdoctoral Fellow, I research First Nations human-plant relationships using archaeological, archived ethnographic, and community knowledge to create a cohesive narrative of human-plant relationships across time. Long-term narratives containing Indigenous and Western lines of knowing have been useful in other regions such as British Columbia for communicating the interconnectedness of Indigenous relationships to lands, waters, and nonhuman communities and can be used for legal processes and food sovereignty efforts. Through collaborations and conversations with Mistawasis Nêhiyawak First Nation, Muskeg Lake Cree First Nation, and urban First Nations community members, this research will recognize how historic and ongoing colonialism disrupts Indigenous relationships with plant communities and assess how aspects of past human-plant relationships may be re-integrated into First Nations foodways. 

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Melissa Arcand and Dr. David Natcher

External Mentor(s): Katherine Finn, Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab and Steve Wiig, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation

Pulse Crops as a Strategy for Enhanced Household Food Security, Income Generation, and Empowerment in Selected sub-Saharan African Countries (Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda): A Scoping Review

Project Summary: Pulse crops have become significant sources of fiber, dietary protein and micronutrients. Four East African countries (Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda) have huge potentials, but are constrained by several challenges in the pulse value chains affecting production, consumption and marketing. Evidences from these countries show that the historic huge gender gap and low participation of youth in the sector had detrimental effect on production of pulses. There are also social and cultural barriers that severely constrain pulse consumption among youth, women and children including poor knowledge and befits of pulses, less developed value addition culture, stigma and negative beliefs on pulse consumption. From nutritional health perspective, the degree of youth and women’s access to and control over pulse crops and associated resources may determine how well they nourish themselves and the family as a whole. This calls for context specific gender and youth inclusive pulse-based nutrition approach to promote pulse production, and consumption. Realization of this requires extensive review of the dynamics of change in pulse production and consumption, best practices, challenges and gaps in improving nutrition and food security in these countries.

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Carol Henry, Dr Matthew Noseworthy and Dr. Robert Tyler

External Mentor(s): Dr. Sheleme Beyene, Hawassa University; Kebede Abegaz, School of Human Nutrition and Food Sciences; Dr. Jean Claude Rubyogo, Pan African Bean Alliance, Alliance Diversity-CIAT; and Dr. Eliud Abucheli Birachi, Alliance Diversity-CIAT

PDFs in the Forensic Centre work on multiple projects simultaneously. See project summary for details.

Project Summary: The first main project involves identifying policing services in First Nations communities, as well as in-kind supports and/or services that support policing services in First Nations communities across Saskatchewan. The goal is to write a report that will consist of a catalogue of in-kind supports for First Nations Policing in Saskatchewan. This catalogue will support future decisions regarding implementing policing services for First Nation communities. The second main project is related to an evaluation of  Praire Harm Reduction (PHR), a community-based center that offers services for people who uses substances. The project will have two stages. In the first stage, I will carry out an evaluation of services delivered by PHR, while the second stage will be focused on understanding the role of pets in supporting the wellness of people who use substances. This exploration is key to understanding which factors contribute to the wellness of people with substance use concerns. Also, the project can support PHR decisions when designing services for the community.

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Mansfield Mela and Dr. Colleen Dell

External Mentor(s): Correctional Service Canada; and Research and Implementation Branch of the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety

A Transdisciplinary Approach to Understanding and Modelling Coupled Human-water Systems

Project Summary: Amidst a pressing water crisis amplified by climate change, socio-economic development, and environmental challenges, this project explores the intricate complexities of human-water interactions. Within this context, human influences are profoundly interrelated with water resources. Envisioned as part of the Living Skies Post-doctoral Fellows program, this collaborative project unites scholars specializing in social, environmental, and computer sciences. The primary goal is to construct an all-encompassing conceptual and computational model capable of capturing the dynamic interplay between human behaviour and water across diverse scales and contexts to achieve transformative insights. By doing this, the research aims to pave the way for exploring various water-related scenarios and formulating effective risk management strategies, fostering resilience and equity in front of water-related threats.

Internal Mentor(s): Dr. Corinne Schuster-Wallace, Dr. Raymond Spiteri, Dr. Martyn Clark, and Dr. Patrick Lloyd-Smith

External Mentor(s): Bridgette Andrews, Saskatchewan Watershed Association and Diego Costa, Alberta Environment

PDFs in the Forensic Centre work on multiple projects simultaneously. See project summary for details.

Project Summary: In one of the projects I am involved in, we are developing a scale to investigate the human-animal bond from an animal-centric perspective (i.e., the advantages of this bond for the animal), as the current literature focuses exclusively on the benefits of this relationship to humans. The impact this study could hace is to help pet owners and professionals who work with pet owners have stronger, healthier relationships to their animals while protecting the animal's welfare. Another project I am working on explores obstacles for Indigenous policing having wider implementation. The extant research demonstrates that Indigenous policing is beneficial yet is systemically underfunded, preventing proper implantation of such models. The impacts of this study could help shape policy at both provincial and federal levels as well as highlight recommendations for better understanding of Indigenous policing with the potential to reduce over-incarceration of Indigenous persons.

Internal Mentors(s): Dr. Mansfield Mela 

External Mentor(s): Correctional Service Canada; and Research and Implementation Branch of the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety

• Website

Exploration of the Historical Land Cover/land use Change for First Nations Reserves From a Remote Sensing Aspect in Saskatchewan.

Project Summary: As a Postdoctoral Fellow, my research focused on the historical land use/land cover change in the Mistawasis Nêhiyawak First Nation and Muskeg Lake Cree First Nation. Back in the 1960s to 1980s, a large amount of band lands was surrendered to non-indigenous owners. From the 1990s to now, the bands are recapturing fields, and registering them as reserved lands. However, the recaptured lands are not identical to the surrendered lands. My research is to investigate the historical land use and land cover change of these band lands, including surrendered and new-purchased fields as well as the surrounding regions through remote sensing imagery. The study of land stewardship and land ownership for these two First Nations will towards a common goal of improving the surrounding environment while committing to the protection of Indigenous values, treaties, communities, lands, and resources.

Internal Mentors(s): Dr. Melissa Arcand, Dr. David Natcher and Dr. Christy Morrissey

External Mentor(s): Katherine Finn, Bridge to Land Water Sky Living Lab and Steve Wiig, Muskeg Lake Cree Nation