Amrit Tiwana
Being a Public Scholar means bridging academic research with the real-world challenges faced by communities. It reflects a responsibility to ensure that scholarly work is accessible, actionable, and impactful beyond the university. For me, it means co-creating knowledge with partners in urban planning, public health and community organizations to improve access to health services in Metro Vancouver.
Research description
What does being a Public Scholar mean?
Being a Public Scholar means bridging academic research with the real-world challenges faced by communities. It reflects a responsibility to ensure that scholarly work is accessible, actionable, and impactful beyond the university. For me, it means co-creating knowledge with partners in urban planning, public health and community organizations to improve access to health services in Metro Vancouver.
In what ways do you think the PhD experience can be re-imagined with this Initiative?
I think the Public Scholars Initiative re-imagines the PhD experience by moving away from a purely academic trajectory and emphasizing real-world, applied research. Instead of working in isolation, doctoral students can collaborate across sectors, share knowledge outside of academic journals and co-design solutions with the community. This makes the PhD a training ground not only for scholarship but also for leadership in addressing pressing societal challenges.
How do you envision connecting your PhD work with broader career possibilities?
Beyond academia, I envision my PhD work leading to careers within health authorities and municipal planning departments, where this type of research can directly inform urban policies that advance population health. For example, I would love to work as a Senior Scientist at the BC Centre for Disease Control.
How does your research engage with the larger community and social partners?
My research engages with health authorities, municipal planning departments and community organizations to generate evidence that highlights gaps in access to health services. By working with these partners throughout the research process, my work ensures that findings are relevant, actionable and responsive to community needs.
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I decided to pursue a graduate degree because I am passionate about research. I enjoy using data to uncover new insights and generate evidence that can meaningfully improve people’s lives and inform fairer policies.
Why did you choose to come to British Columbia and study at UBC?
I chose to study at UBC for the opportunity to work with the Urban Predictive Analytics Lab, where I am gaining hands-on experience with cutting-edge methods and urban analytics. I love being part of a supportive team that is passionate about advancing inclusive and sustainable urban development.
