During the 2026 UPEI Convocation Week (May 12-15), four PhD graduates (Dr. Rana Ali Nawaz, Dr. Emmanuel Okine Neokye, Dr. Muhammad Qasim Mahmood, and Dr. Tianze Pang) and two MSc graduates (Lucy Li and Christine Parsons) are celebrated for their wonderful achievements. Dr. Rana Ali Nawaz (PhD in Sustainable Design Engineering) and Dr. Muhammad Qasim Mahmood (PhD in Environmental Sciences) are awarded the Faculty of Graduate Studies Awards of Distinction […]
Title: Mental health impacts of Hurricane Fiona in Prince Edward Island, Canada Journal: Next Sustainability DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w18070777 Abstract: Extreme climate events are increasingly linked to acute stress and mental health disorders, yet limited research exists for Atlantic Canada. On September 23, 2022, Hurricane Fiona struck Prince Edward Island (PEI) as a record-setting post-tropical storm, causing severe wind damage, flooding, and widespread infrastructure loss. This study examined the immediate mental health […]
On May 7, 2026, Professor Emeritus Dr. Ron Baecker from the University of Toronto visited Climate Smart Lab and presented a research initiative for visualizing climate risks using 3D modeling and visualization technologies in order to increase public awareness of climate change and encourage real climate actions. An internationally recognized innovator, author, speaker, teacher, and mentor, Dr. Baecker co-founded the Dynamic Graphics Project (DGP), and founded the Knowledge Media Design […]
The following paper about the mental health impacts of Hurricane Fiona in Prince Edward Island, Canada, has been recently accepted for publication by Next Sustainability. Kinay, P., R. Guild, L. Lildhar, and X. Wang. Mental Health Impacts of Hurricane Fiona in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Next Sustainability, accepted on May 05, 2026. Abstract Exposure to extreme climate events has been linked to acute stress and mental health disorders, but limited […]
On April 28th, 2026, Aylar Fathnezhad successfully passed her PhD candidacy exam! The title of Fathnezhad’s candidacy exam presentation was: “Housing Exposure and Vulnerability to Climate Hazards.” Congratulations to Aylar Fathnezhad!
On April 24th, 2026, Gleniese E. McKenzie successfully passed her PhD candidacy exam! The title of Gleniese’s candidacy exam presentation was: “Geophysical Impacts of Tropical Storms on Coastal Regions.” Congratulations to Gleniese E. McKenzie!
Title: Metaheuristic optimizer combined with advanced machine learning algorithm for accurate wildfire susceptibility in Western Canada: A novel approach Journal: International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2026.105304 Abstract: Increasing wildfire activity in a warming climate is a threat to ecosystems, communities and infrastructure, requiring accurate, interpretable and spatially robust susceptibility mapping. Existing hybrid wildfire susceptibility studies tend to focus on predictive correctness and pay little attention to […]
On April 22, 2026, Emmanuel Neokye successfully defend his PhD thesis. Title of Emmanuel Neokye thesis is: “Assessment of Climate Change Impacts on Oyster Aquaculture: A Case Study in Prince Edward Island, Canada” Short Abstract: In recent years, climate change and its hazards have had severe effects on the culture of oyster in coastal communities, especially in Prince Edward Island. The oyster industry is vital to PEI’s economy; however it […]
On April 21, 2026, Muhammad Qasim Mahmood successfully defended his PhD thesis. The title of Muhammad Qasim’s thesis is: “Modeling Groundwater Dynamics Under Anthropogenic and Climatic Changes for Prince Edward Island, Canada”. Short Abstract: This thesis investigates how groundwater in Prince Edward Island (PEI) is being affected by climate change and growing water demand. Because PEI relies almost entirely on groundwater for drinking water, understanding these pressures is essential for […]
Title: Modeling groundwater dynamics in a low-lying sedimentary island driven by recharge variability, climate change, and water demand Journal: Journal of Hydrology DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.135495 Abstract: Climate warming is reshaping seasonal recharge variability with growing implications for groundwater-dependent regions. Although seasonal recharge variability is increasingly recognized as a key control on groundwater dynamics, uncertainties remain regarding how hydraulic head and baseflow respond to these seasonal shifts, particularly across aquifers with varying […]
Here in the Climate Smart Lab, we are a group of people developing sustainable climate solutions with cutting-edge technologies to help build climate-resilient communities. Collectively, we are working together with experts from all disciplines to build a climate-smart future for the next generation and many generations to come.