Since 2009, the Liu Institute for Global Issues has brought together exceptional PhD students at UBC who are interested in using their research and disciplinary expertise to work on public policy and global issues. The program has over 100 Liu Scholar alumni and Liu Scholars have organized and received funding for almost 300 projects, ranging from Liu Lobby Gallery photography and art exhibitions to webinar series.
Now part of the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs (SPPGA), the Liu Institute for Global Issues is piloting a new model wherein four students enrolled in a UBC Ph.D. program are selected to carry out work on a chosen theme for a year. The themes for 2022 are (1) Sustainable food systems; (2) Climate crisis politics; (3) Global health; (4) Online communication; and (5) Energy transitions.
The projects are carried out in collaboration with, or under the mentorship of, one or more core faculty members at SPPGA. Professor M. V. Ramana, Director of the Liu Institute for Global Issues, said: “The Liu Institute has historically benefitted from the insights and enthusiasm of Liu Scholars, and we expect that these benefits will be more pronounced in this model, which fosters a closer collaboration between Liu Scholars and our SPPGA faculty members”.
This year, we are thrilled to welcome Raphael Deberdt, Karen Wong, Zana Mody, and Khadija Anjum as our 2022 Liu Scholars. Learn more about each of them below:
Raphael Deberdt is a PhD student in the Department of Anthropology at UBC. His project is mentored by Dr. Philippe Le Billon and addresses the development of deep-sea mining and the impacts of the nascent industry as it reorients supply chains outside of the DRC.
Karen Wong is a PhD student in the School of Social Work at UBC. Her project examines online communications and access to health care for elders in BC and aims to produce an infographic on ageing and access to online communication as a human right. She will be mentored by Dr. Heidi Tworek.
Zana Mody is a PhD student at the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at UBC. Her project is mentored by Dr. Rashid Sumaila and addresses the emerging field of blue carbon, marine policy surrounding carbon credits, and the socio-economic valuation of coastal blue carbon ecosystems.
Khadija Anjum is a PhD candidate at the School of Community and Regional Planning at UBC. Her project is mentored by Dr. Matias Margulis and focuses on studying how the policy instruments propounded by the Community and Regional Planning (CRP) and Social Network Analysis (SNA) disciplines can importantly complement the sociocultural, technological, and policy innovations put forth for sustainable food systems reform by the more traditional disciplinary vantage points on this subject.
