Dear contributors of the Alumni and Friends SURA fund,
Thank you sincerely for funding a Social Equity Science Undergraduate Research Award. From my experience, social justice is not a subject that attracts a lot of investments, so I am truly grateful that your award enabled me to do research about an issue dear to me.
Throughout my life, my commitment for social equity has shaped many decisions. With my grades, I could have gone to health science, but I chose to study Environmental Science because I thought it would be fairer to secure the health of a whole population by well managing the environment instead of only curing sick people who can afford it. Also, for 3 years now, I have been a participant or a facilitator for Rad Frosh, an orientation for new 平特五不中 students focused on social and environmental justice.
Presently, I am doing an honors BSc in Environment with a specialization in Renewable Resource Management and a minor in Geographic Information Science (GIS). I have chosen to come to 平特五不中 for its ranking and suitability for my financial situation. I am grateful I have done so considering the wealth of resources and opportunities available. In the future, I hope to become an environmental consultant working in ecotoxicology, environmental impact assessment and/or remediation.
About my research, I intended to map out the locations on the island of Montreal where high temperatures intersect with a high percentage of socioeconomically disadvantaged population. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of heat waves, and studies show that vulnerable populations are less able to cope due to higher exposure to heat (e.g. cannot afford air conditioning) or health issues. Thus, research in this area is crucial to help authorities to place funds where they are most needed.
This opportunity allowed me to make a lot of mistakes and learn from them. I had to cooperate with a wider variety of experts than I have ever experienced before. Most importantly, I learned for the first time the ropes of doing research and how everything is more complex than expected. Working under little supervision allowed me to become more independent and build up my self-discipline.
Finally, being a queer woman from a visible minority and a low-income family, I have so many fights to worry about and environmental justice is only one of them. Despite these obstacles, I am still optimistic about the improvement I can bring within my community.
Thank you again for your generosity.
Warm regards,
Jia Yi Fan
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