Malaika is a graduate student pursuing her MSc in Geography at Queen’s University, where she is researching the potential of soil microbes as a sustainable form of nitrogen fertilizer to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector. She completed her Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo, and she is passionate about climate justice, urban design, sustainable food systems and the intersection of art and storytelling for environmental change. Outside of academics, Malaika is an environmental advocate who believes in the importance of local and collective action. She co-created the youth-led community project Reimagining Plastic, which aims to reduce plastic waste through creative reuse, empowering communities to turn plastic waste into art. Malaika is also a World Food Forum Youth Representative advocating for youth voices in global agri-food systems. A professional hobby collector, she spends her free time photographing animals, hiking around Ontario, reading mystery novels, and painting!
