I am in my fourth year of the PhD program in Political Science. My research interests centre around political theory and ethics related to outer space travel and exploration. In particular, I am interested in the so-called 'billionaire space race', and the colonization of outer space. I am also interested in what we can learn from contemporary political theory, and its application to current issues and tensions both on our planet and in our quest for greater expansion into the cosmos.

For my doctoral dissertation, I an conducting research starting from a phenomenon known as the Overview Effect. The Overview Effect asserts that astronauts on space flight missions develop a sense of awe and an increased sense of connection to our planet and to other humans, beyond borders, nationalities, and political divides. According to this effect, many astronauts that travel to space see the Earth from a completely different vantage point, and report an enhanced sense of global citizenship and interconnectedness, and an increased commitment to social justice values. Similarly, cosmopolitanism is a normative political theory that affirms and emphasizes human equality, asking us to give the same consideration to the political, social, and material needs of distant others as we give to ourselves. However, theorists tend to agree that despite these moral obligations, there remains a gap between what is morally expected, and how we practically conduct ourselves. The Overview Effect provides evidence that by removing oneself from their familiar vantage point, one can develop a stronger connection with distant others, thus engaging with a cosmopolitan understanding of our duties to others. My research asks: How does the Overview Effect align with and support contemporary cosmopolitan political theory? By developing a deeper understanding of the Overview Effect, how might we creatively operationalize the Overview Effect here on Earth in order to advance attitudes and behaviours of social justice?

More personally, I am a second-generation Canadian settler, with roots in the Caribbean, born in amiskwaciwâskahikan / Edmonton. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Middle Eastern and African Studies, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Alberta, as well as a Master’s in Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa. I am an associate consultant with the Centre for Race and Culture, where I provide support, research, and training on issues related to diversity, inclusion, equity, and anti-racism. I am an organizing member of the Teaching and Pedagogy in Political Science working group, former President of the Board of John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, and engaged in various other volunteer activities. In my free time, I enjoy puttering around in the garden, hanging out in the woods with my dog Kosdoglotov, and working on improving my very amateur astronomy skills.