Surbhi Rao

Surbhi Rao (She/Her)

Hello! I am Surbhi and I am in my third year of the Arts & Science program at McMaster University.

I applied to CityLAB SIR to learn more about Hamilton and practice applying the theory we learn in the classroom to real-world issues. I have enjoyed connecting with students who are similarly passionate about climate justice and community engagement and learning from their interdisciplinary perspectives. CityLAB SIR is broadening my understanding of what is possible in a community by showing me a variety of ways to learn and make change.

In my free time, I love playing the guitar, cello, and banjo (poorly), learning French, and exploring Hamilton.

Oyin Aderibigbe

Oyin Aderibigbe is a Level III Arts & Science at McMaster University student seeking Interdisciplinary Minors in both Sustainability and Globalization. Born on the east coast and raised in Hamilton, she is thrilled to be completing a Semester in Residence at CityLAB Hamilton this fall. She is deeply interested in how advocacy, social work, and social support systems intersect with the law and legal systems and how the creation of governmental policies affect specific communities. She holds the philosophy that building deep and genuine relationships is integral in the pursuits of attaining change. She believes that CityLAB provides her with the opportunity to explore these interests and ideas through both explorative learning opportunities and working with community partners, such as the SCORE! Program, which addresses disparities in healthy active living strategies/activities for low-income, newcomer communities in Hamilton.

Outside of CityLAB, Oyin enjoys playing guitar, ukulele, and all forms of literature from slam poetry to gentle prose. During her free time, she can be found playing a game of ONO 99 or Just Dance.

Madhura Kadam

Madhura Kadam (She/Her)

​​Hello! My name is Madhura and I am in my final year of the Biology and PNB program at McMaster University. The most meaningful moments in my life have been of service and of connection. CityLAB is built on the foundation of developing connections and creating meaningful change in the community which aligns with my own beliefs. I am interested in community development, exploring the city of Hamilton and incorporating convenient sustainable practices into cities. I feel extremely grateful to have built strong friendships and learned a framework to create impactful change in communities through CityLAB SIR.

Sifad Chowdhury

Sifad Chowdhury (He/Him)

Hi! My name is Sifad Chowdhury, and I am in my fifth year of Life Sciences at McMaster University. I was born and raised in Toronto and have been calling Hamilton my home during my undergraduate career. My academic interests include science communication and global health.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I applied for CityLAB, but I knew I was interested in stepping outside of my comfort zone and learn about the ways climate change is impacting Hamilton. Now, I can confidently say that the program has been one of the best learning experiences in my university career! By learning about the intricacies of the city and engaging with community members, CityLAB has pushed me to explore my potential as a change agent and address issues within the Hamilton community. This class has provided venues to develop my interpersonal skills, communication, and advocacy skills beyond the conventional, lecture-based classroom. Working with an amazing group of interdisciplinary students and community leaders to create meaningful change in the community has been a fantastic experience, and I am grateful to have been a part of this unique, experiential learning opportunity! I hope to utilize the skills I have learned in my semester at CityLAB towards my future aspirations and be a lifelong agent of change beyond my undergraduate career.

Outside of CityLAB, I enjoy playing ultimate frisbee, volleyball, reading and gardening!

Isabela Sipos

Isabela Sipos (She/Her)

Hi there! My name is Isabela, and I am in my fourth year at McMaster pursuing a Combined Honours BA in Environment and Society and Political Science, with a concurrent certificate in Urban Studies and Planning. I am an avid traveler and learner. I am passionate about art, poetry and music. When not exploring and creating, you can find me planting trees, organizing events for low-income families in my community and engaging in student associations across campus.

Over the last three years, I have developed a profound interest in cities and urban and environmental planning. As a lifelong environmental activist, I am drawn to learning about the connection between climate change adaptation and mitigation and how cities grow and influence human interaction with their built and natural environments. I aspire to pursue an accredited Master's degree in urban planning as I make my way into this field.

CityLAB SIR is a fantastic program that has introduced me to the worlds of human-centred design thinking, effective dialogue for community engagement, project management and city building: all things that are essential in planning our communities. I now have a broader sense of what community means and why all voices are important, who cities are built for and how we can make this more equitable, how to work with others to achieve a common goal, and why activism should be encouraged. I can’t wait for the rest of the semester!

Kiana Craig

Kiana Craig (She/Her)

Hi there! I'm in my third year of combined Honours in Economics and Environment & Society at McMaster. I aspire to merge my passions for finance, planning, economic development, and sustainability into a meaningful and impactful career. I want to have a part in creating a future where economic growth and environmental preservation are intertwined, benefiting both present and future generations.

Through the hands-on projects, fieldwork, and collaborative initiatives we do at CityLAB SIR, I've had the unique opportunity to apply my technical knowledge in economics and geography to address complex societal issues in Hamilton. Meeting inspiring guests from the Hamilton community has also reaffirmed my commitment to fostering positive change.

This opportunity has allowed me to grow as a student, peer, and change maker in my community, and I plan to keep this momentum throughout my academic and professional career!

Ayesha Manal

Ayesha Manal (She/Her)

I am an Honours Life Science student at McMaster University. I applied to the CityLAB Hamilton Semester in Residence program to further better my academic experience in Hamilton and gain hands-on experience in a City setting. Previously, I have had a chance to work as a volunteer on initiatives like Adopt a Road, food drives for the local food bank and homeless shelters in the City of Cambridge, Ontario. However, working alongside the City of Hamilton's community leadership on impactful projects related to climate change impacts has allowed me to engage with the Hamilton community, learn and grow in an innovative environment and contribute using the skills and experience I have in building a climate-resilient Hamilton.

I am confident that the experience I gained from the CityLAB semester in residence program would help me with my future endeavours in the field of science since it also requires and revolves around the use of innovation, knowledge and community engagement for problem-solving and the betterment of the community.

Hannah Horlings

Hannah Horlings (She/Her)

My name is Hannah, I'm in my fourth year of Social Work at Redeemer University. I aspire to work alongside affordable housing initiatives or work in outdoor education in the future. I love hiking, camping, rock climbing and hanging out with my friends and family. CityLAB Semester in Residence has contributed to and broadened my knowledge of initatives in Hamilton surrounding various social and climate issues. The classes that we are currently taking are definately contributing to my knowledge and skills of communication and critical thinking, which is essential for many Social Work streams. I will be able to carry a lot of these skills into the future.

Rand Al-Wazzan

Rand Al-Wazzan (She/Her)

Hi! My name is Rand, and I’m a third-year student in the School of Earth, Environment & Society in the Honours Environmental Sciences program with an interdisciplinary minor in Sustainability and a certificate in Urban Planning at McMaster University.

In my free time, I enjoy baking cakes so much, mainly as a way to de-stress and relax. I’m very passionate about climate change, urban planning, sustainability and sustainable cities, and always seeking opportunities to develop my knowledge in these areas as well as gain hands-on experience and work on real-world projects to serve and provide for my community to the best of my ability. The CityLAB Hamilton SIR program perfectly aligns with my interests and has served as a great opportunity for me to broaden my personal and professional networks, learn from the community, make connections with community partners and stakeholders, and use my knowledge and education to create change.

So far, CityLAB has contributed to the expansion and development of my knowledge about the current issues that the City of Hamilton is facing, provided me with the opportunity to be part of the solution for a more sustainable city, and helped me improve important skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, adaptability, creativity, and communication skills.

Through my journey at CityLAB, I’m hoping to be able to come up with solutions that will help reduce the impacts of climate change in the city of Hamilton and provide Hamiltonians with a better and more sustainable city.

Esther Kok

Esther Kok (She/Her)

I am currently a third year Biodiversity and Environmental Science student at McMaster University. I chose to study plants, animals, and climate because I have a general curiosity and enjoyment of the great outdoors, and wanted to learn how to protect it in a meaningful way. In the future, I want to put my degree to use in a field that allows me to work towards conservation, serve my Hamilton community, and challenges me creatively. CityLAB SIR is encouraging me to explore the ways in which the City of Hamilton could peruse conservation, and how environmental justice is integral to climate resiliency. Learning about design, city building, and dialogue has me thinking critically about Hamilton's current systems and the way that I engage with both the city and my neighbors.

Alicia Au

Alicia Au (She/Her)

Hi! I'm an honours Health Sciences student minoring in Community Engagement and Sustainability at McMaster University. Outside of school, I like to spend my free time hiking, skiing, cooking, baking, and learning about silk road art history and botany. I am currently working on a community cookbook that aims to showcase the unique diversity that exists in one of my homes, the GTA.

Moving to Hamilton, I have been inspired by the city's amount of diverse nonprofit organizations that aim to make the city a better place for everyone. I am excited to hear about people's ideas to improve the city through different lenses and get hands on experience applying concepts that I have been learning about theoretically in CityLAB.

Victoria Cuthbert

Victoria Cuthbert (She/Her)

I am currently a third year Health Sciences student at McMaster University, with interests in psychology and philosophy! That said, I toggle between what I want to do after graduation, but whatever it is, I hope that it provides continuous learning opportunities, collaboration with diverse individuals, and necessitates thinking outside the box!

Being a part of CityLAB has been a unique, fun, and eye-opening experience! I have become better acquainted with the City of Hamilton and been inspired by the stories of community members working towards a more climate-just and resilient city. All in all, CityLAB has prompted me to reflect upon my role in the community while providing me with the tools and support to succeed.

Fatima Hameed

Fatima Hameed (She/Her)

Hi! I am currently in my fourth year of the Applied Psychology program and completing a minor in Community Engagement. I am an aspiring occupational therapist, and after spending my first two university years in an isolated online environment, I developed a new interest in community engagement. Hamilton has been my home for the past 4 years; however, until SIR at CityLAB, I had not been well connected with the city and what it has to offer. I joined SIR to be involved within the Hamilton community and improve my leadership as well as communication skills. So far, I have gained a better understanding of the city of Hamilton, its problems, and how one might work to solve these problems.

Ibreez Asaria

Ibreez Asaria (He/Him)

Hello! My name is Ibreez Asaria and I am in my fourth year of the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) Program with an Interdisciplinary Minor in Community Engagement. I am originally from Vancouver, British Columbia but I have been calling Hamilton my home for the past 3 years.

Collaborating with folks from diverse backgrounds has always been a significant source of inspiration and motivation for me. From designing community-engaged solutions for heat-related illness prevention in the MacChangers program, to hosting safe spaces on campus for BIPOC students with the MSU Diversity and Equity Network, I have come to realize how valuable community engagement work is. Although this work may be complex at times, I always seem to learn something new - both about myself and the world around me.

To me, the CityLAB Semester In Residence program is the perfect opportunity to understand and address community concerns in measurable and fulfilling ways. Using my knowledge of project design and community dialogue-building, I aim to collaborate with my peers and community members to increase the accessibility of healthy active living (HAL) programs for newcomer families and youth. In doing so, I hope to better understand the newcomer perspective and grow as a more informed and involved community member here in Hamilton, and beyond.

Zimo Wang

Zimo Wang (He/Him)

Tell us about yourself:

I am a third year combined Honours of Political Science and Sociology student at McMaster University, serving on the McMaster Senate as a Social Sciences Undergraduate Student Senator from 2023 to 2025, member of Student Representative Assembly & Executive Board of McMaster Students Union from 2022 to 2024. Some interests include politics, advocacy, and I wish to work in the government in the future.

I am from Richmond, British Columbia and moved to Hamilton in September 2021 for McMaster. I wish through CityLAB SIR learning more about the Hamilton community and building more connections within the cohort and further Hamilton.

Jacob Oussoren

Jacob Oussoren (He/ Him)

Tell us about yourself:

Hi, my name is Jacob. I am in my fourth year of Environmental Science at Redeemer University. My hometown in Owen Sound, but Hamilton has been a great change during school. I am passionate about ecological restoration and hope to understand the way that cities are involved in this. I am the leader of SEEDS, Redeemer's environmental club, which hopes to engage students Creatin Care. I also like to find alternative transit options, so far I have bussed, biked walked and ran to CityLAB.

Muhammad Amjad

Mo Amjad (He/Him)

Tell us about yourself:

As a fifth-year McMaster student specializing in Particle Physics and Math & Stats, my educational journey has been deeply rooted in the pursuit of quantitative research and problem-solving. However, my aspirations extend beyond the confines of academia. I aim to channel my passion for quantitative research into the non-profit sector, where I can make a meaningful impact on underserved communities.

In my free time, I actively engage with my interests and the community. Volunteering for underprivileged Indigenous and Uyghur youth groups has allowed me to connect with marginalized populations and work towards equity. When I'm not volunteering, you'll find me immersed in my diverse hobbies, which range from bodybuilding and backpacking to indulging in classics, poetry, and history books. My love for traveling has broadened my perspective and fueled my desire to effect positive change on a global scale.

The CityLAB semester in residence is an exciting opportunity for me, as it offers a unique platform to address community issues directly. This experience will provide me with valuable insights into how tangible impacts can be made on underserved and overlooked populations while maintaining financial viability—a crucial skill set for my aspirations in the non-profit sector. This intersection of education, passion, and practical experience is the driving force behind my commitment to SIR.

Dylan Yu

Dylan Yu (He/Him)

Tell us about yourself:

Hello, my name is Dylan Yu and I’m currently in my fourth year of the Honours Environment and Society program with a focus on urban planning and sustainability at McMaster University. I’m interested in exploring how the built forms of different cities directly affects the way in which residents interact with it. Specifically, looking into ways where we can improve mobility in cities.

After graduation, I plan to gain some hands-on experience in my field of work before committing to postgraduate education. I hope that by then, I’ll have a clearer picture on which specific field I’d like to pursue my career in.

Thanks to SIR, I now have a deeper understanding on how to engage in meaningful dialogue with community partners and stakeholders with the principles of community engagement in mind, while also being able to put on my urban planning lens in exploring the different ways we’ll be able to improve the quality of life for Hamiltonians.

Helena Orteza

Helena Orteza (she/Her)

Tell us about yourself:

Currently, I'm in my 4th year of Mathematics and Statistics. Beyond my education, I have grown to appreciate living in Hamilton, and have found enjoyment being part of initiatives aimed to care for my community and the city at large. Being part of SIR has been teaching me to hone the critical thinking skills I have developed through academics and practically apply it to research and action towards a better future for Hamilton that puts people first.

Simon Batusic

Simon Batusic (He/Him)

Tell us about yourself:

Hello, my name is Simon and in my third year of political science with a certificate in business at McMaster University. Being born and raised in Hamilton, I have felt a duty to give back to the community that has given so much to me. I felt that there was no better way to do that than to participate in CityLAB as we work on projects that help better life for the residents in Hamilton through a social and environmental approach. After university, I hope to land a job at the City of Hamilton as a councilor or paramedic. CityLAB SIR has given me the opportunity to work with the Hamilton Community Benefits Network (HCBN) to find solutions for low income housing and environmental concerns due to the proposed construction of the LRT line. I have now been able to identify the levels of bureaucracy, challenges, and impact that vital infrastructure has on residents of the city. I will continue to work with my team members to find positive solutions to these issues. Outside of school, I am an avid tennis player, sports enthusiast, and am proud of my Croatian heritage.