Current student research

Below you will find a sample of research profiles for some of our current NRES graduate students.


Sorour NasimiSorour Nasimi (PhD candidate, NRES)

Supervisor: Dr. Jianbing Li

Dissertation topic: Enhancing water security in rural and remote areas incorporating traditional knowledge

Additional degree

  • Master of Environmental Engineering (University of Tehran, Iran)

Yihang Zhang

Yihang Zhang (MA, NRES)

Supervisor: Dr. Zoë Meletis

Thesis topic: Bringing dinosaurs into the 2020s: considering current visitation and future virtual tourism possibilities for the Tumbler Ridge Museum and Geopark (B.C.)


Benjamin HagertyBenjamin Hagerty (MA, NRES - Geography)

Supervisors: Dr. Zoë Meletis and Dr. Mark Groulx

Thesis topic: Examining vegan philosophy in sustainable tourism and entrepreneurialism

Additional degree

  • BA, International Relations and Global Studies, French Studies (University of the Pacific - Stockton, California, 2010)

Amy Abdel-Malak

Amy Abdel-Malak 

Supervisor: Dr. Zoë Meletis

Thesis topic: Keystone species, tourism, and conservation in British Columbia (tentative)

Additional degree

  • HBSc, Geography (Lakehead University, 2020)

Richard Darko

Richard Darko (MA, NRES - Geography)

Supervisor: Dr. Greg Halseth

Thesis topic: Economic restructuring in resource-dependent communities in the aftermath of mill/mine closure in northern British Columbia​

Additional degrees

  • BA, Economics (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology - Kumasi, Ghana, 2012)
  • MA, Development Economics (University of Northern B.C., 2019)
  • BA Honours, Archaeology (Archaeology Field School, SFU)