Graduate Human Library

Graduate Human Library offers a unique opportunity to “borrow” people instead of books. In this interactive space, participants engage in meaningful, one-on-one conversations with “Human Books“—individuals with rich insights and lived experiences related to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Each Human Book is registered and ready to share their stories and perspectives.

Event Details

The Human Library will be open from 4:00 – 5:00pm in the GSS Loft  on:

Akshara Gera

Topic: Everyday struggles one has to deal with both mentally and physically.

Akshara Gera is a Masters’ Student at Peter A. Allard School of Law. Considering her good story telling skills and engagement in discussions, her chatty behavior is a good deal in human books (but, don’t worry, she can be a good listener too). She will majorly be talking about the arising most common health issue of PCOD, to create better awareness about the things that are unsaid and unfelt. She will discuss around the everyday struggles one has to deal with both mentally and physically, trying to deliver the fact that no one is alone in this. The conversation would be majorly about her story further deriving a discussion between the reader and her opinions. 

Isabella Pojuner

Topic: Social justice.

How is dispossession in England understood, where it is known (and more importantly unknown) as ‘enclosure’? Economic geographers and independent researchers reveal land ownership in Britain to be highly concentrated. My PhD follows in their footsteps, examining how land registration, trespass law, and cartography provide insights into the politics of memory in England.

I am part of the Museum of Enclosure, a collective political education project which seeks to archive continuous experiences of enclosure. My MA and postdoc investigated the politics of civil and criminal trespass in contemporary England and Wales. Throughout my research, I explore how to map trespass.

Indrashki

Topic: Sustainability.

Growing up in a family deeply rooted in naturopathy and healthcare, I was instilled with the values of holistic living and sustainability from an early age. My passion for responsible consumption stems from this upbringing, where natural remedies and balanced lifestyles were the norm. With a strong foundation in sustainability through my professional and educational experiences, I advocate for mindful choices that minimize environmental impact while promoting personal well-being. I firmly believe in saying no to processed foods and embracing natural, wholesome alternatives—a principle that aligns with both my family’s practices and my commitment to sustainable living. Beyond nutrition, I incorporate sports and diverse physical activities into my routine, fostering a lifestyle centered on health, mindfulness, and resilience. Responsible consumption is not just a philosophy for me; it’s a way of life that integrates sustainability, health, and a deep respect for nature.

Marina Viñeta

Topic: Women+ and Children’s Health, public health, epidemiology, physician-scientists.

I am a medical graduate from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in Spain. After graduating, with the desire to pursue a career as a physician-scientist, I enrolled in a PhD program in the Women+ and Children’s Health Sciences program at UBC. My work focuses on understanding the burden of respiratory infections in young children and identifying factors associated with severe disease. During these years, I have learnt how to apply epidemiological methods to large population-based datasets. I am eager to connecting with readers who are interested in public health, epidemiology or careers as physician-scientists.

Muhammad Huzaifa

Topic: Greenhouse gas detection, sustainability, clean technologies, renewable energies.

Hey there. I’m an MASc student in chemical engineering, researching on developing greenhouse gas sensors. Let’s talk if you want to discuss our energy transition; I am a Young Future Energy Leader, Global Ambassador of Sustainability, UBC COP28 delegate, UBC sustainability ambassador, and aspiring sustainability consultant. When I’m not studying, I’m at the gym or swimming and love to discuss open-heartedly on deep topics; morality & ethics, self-growth mindset, purpose of life, and more.

Preeti

Topic: Mental health and emotion regulation.

Preeti is a choose-your-own-adventure encyclopedia — with entries ranging from robotic tinkering and psychology deep-dives to vibrant art scenes and culinary escapades. There’s no single storyline; every chapter is a journey of curiosity and interdisciplinary flair. In her professional plotline, Preeti explores the psychology of emotions and engineers novel technologies, like touchable robots, to support emotional well-being. Outside her main narrative (the lab), her side stories include painting vivid watercolor art, keeping time for 10k runs, hiking mountains, biking seaside trails, and leafing through cities on foot. A storyteller at heart, Preeti organizes an online international open mic and spices up her life with salsa classes and (often questionable) cooking experiments. She can be found doing halfmoon yoga poses at scenic nooks. Whether tinkering with robots or turning pages in psychology books, her life is a bestseller in curiosity and try it alls.

Shintia Arwida

Topic: Climate change mitigation and adaptation, and sustainable forest landscapes.

Indonesian origin. Shintia started her career as a journalist and developed expertise in communications and publishing, both for commercial and nonprofit. She pursued her master’s degree at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, focusing on social studies and the technical environment. Halfway through her career, she cultivated more interest in research and joined CIFOR which shaped her knowledge of REDD+, gender, and the environment. She later joined UNOPS which sharpened her program management skills and knowledge of peatland restoration. She is currently working in the climate change mitigation and adaptation sector, focusing her work on Nature-based Solution Projects in Asia and the Pacific. She is pursuing her PhD, focusing her research on customary government, indigenous people, and sustainable forest landscapes.

Forrest Klamath

Topic: Decolonization studies, Indigenous feminisms, gender and queer studies.

Forrest Klamath (they/them) is an Indigenous researcher and published Indigenous poet currently working through their PhD in Library, Archival and Information Science at the University of British Columbia. They completed their Master’s degree in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies with a Minor in Queer studies. Much of their research focuses lie within the intersections of decolonization studies, Indigenous feminisms, gender and queer studies, Native American studies, and looking at legacies of power structures and oppressions embedded within systems of recordkeeping and places of production of public memory. Their poetry often expresses their experience as a queer Indigenous person undergoing the process of re-integrating into their culture and the struggle of relearning their heritage language.

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Questions?

For general inquiries or questions, please email vpacademic@gss.ubc.ca