Mahfida Tahniat
My engaged scholarship does not pursue the traditional form of knowledge extraction; rather, it is deeply rooted in decolonial commitments of shared practice. Thus, support from the larger community of climate research practitioners has created opportunities for co-creation and diverse ways of reciprocity in sharing climate justice knowledge.
Research description
What does being a Public Scholar mean?
For me, being a Public Scholar means expanding my research beyond academia and communicating to the public in many different ways that are easy to understand but, at the same time, action-oriented. It is also an excellent opportunity to collaborate with scholars across disciplines and contribute to shared knowledge that supports the well-being of the wider community.
In what ways do you think the PhD experience can be re-imagined with this Initiative?
I think the Public Scholars Initiative allows the conventional concept of the PhD experience to be re-imagined in more creative and innovative ways. It can create space to integrate academic knowledge and public conversation with the hope of engaging communities in scholarship that is both impact-driven and socially responsive.
How do you envision connecting your PhD work with broader career possibilities?
Given the transdisciplinary nature of climate solutions, I believe my research and scholarly work will help me connect to a diverse range of career pathways both within and beyond academia.
How does your research engage with the larger community and social partners?
My engaged scholarship does not pursue the traditional form of knowledge extraction; rather, it is deeply rooted in decolonial commitments of shared practice. Thus, support from the larger community of climate research practitioners has created opportunities for co-creation and diverse ways of reciprocity in sharing climate justice knowledge.
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I was always studious, and pursuing a graduate program seemed like a natural next step once I completed my undergraduate degree. After years of teaching experience, I felt the necessity to expand my knowledge and skills and pursued a second Master’s at University College London in the United Kingdom. Coming from one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, I decided to work on the climate emergency project, which was both intentional and personal. However, I soon realized that only a doctoral program can do justice to such a complex and urgent area of research; this realization led me to begin my doctoral journey.
Why did you choose to come to British Columbia and study at UBC?
I decided to study at UBC for several reasons, including its consistent global reputation as one of the top-ranked research universities. More importantly, I was drawn to the interdisciplinary academic community within my department, the flexibility of the program and the unique expertise of my supervisor, Professor VanWynsberghe. The Vancouver campus location itself is breathtaking, and I simply fell in love with the natural surroundings of mountains, forest and ocean.
