Dr. Mette Bendixen, Assistant Professor (Group leader)

I am an Assistant Professor in geomorphology and coupled human-natural systems in the Department of Geography at McGill University. My research addresses various topics such as Arctic landscape changes and global sand scarcity. I'm increasingly focused on understanding Anthropogenic pressure on and interlinkages with the landscape to create a sustainable future. Previously, I’ve worked at The Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), Uni. of Colorado, Boulder and The Department of Food & Resource Economics, Uni. of Copenhagen. I have my PhD in Arctic landscape dynamics from the Center of Excellence, Center for Permafrost at the Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, Uni. of Copenhagen.

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Nakiya Noorbhai, PhD student

I recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Mcgill University with a focus on statistical computing and a minor in Linguistics. I am interested in applying computational and statistical methods to real-world applications in a variety of fields and topics – especially sand mining. My current research focuses on investigating the extent to which sand mining activity in sub-saharan Africa has been addressed by the literature. In doing so, I hope to better understand the complex nature of both sand mining activity in Africa, as well as the availability of sand-mining-related literature about Africa. Moreover, I hope to gain insight on the many widespread issues and multifaceted relationships with sand mining that exist across the sub-saharan African continent.

Luke Martin, Honors Student

I am an undergraduate student in my second year pursuing a dual major in Physics and Latin American & Carribean Studies, with an interest in geophysics and global networks of extraction. Working alongside Nakiya Noorbhai, my research focuses on how silica sand extraction has been addressed in the literature globally. I hope to uncover current trends and disparities in scholarship on sand, with the goal of connecting these trends to parallel dynamics in the geopolitics sand extraction, and to use these insights to produce a set of recommendations to guide future scholarship in this area.

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Ada Collins, Honors Student

I am an undergraduate student at McGill University pursuing an honours BA in Economics and the Earth's Environment in the Bieler School of Environment with a minor in English Literature. My honours research is a policy analysis of sand-mining policy in Kenya and South Africa and its potential applications to Rwanda, given the unique cultural, political and economic of the respective three countries. My primary goal is to determine what makes sand-mining policy effective and how it can promote sustainable practices in urban development. Outside of the lab, I play Varsity Field Hockey and enjoy hiking, climbing, cycling, and looking for cool rocks.

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