Carrying the legacy of Flight 302 forward: 2025 award recipient spotlight

Linsey Mouatchô, INRS

“I honour Danielle Moore, who learned about the scourge of plastic pollution at Haida Gwaii; Darcy Michael Belanger, wildlife protection activist; and Angela Rehhorn, on ocean lover dedicated to protecting marine life.

By studying plastic pollution — one of the most critical environmental issues of this century — I intend to carry their passion forward and produce useful, lasting scientific knowledge.”

Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury, University of Victoria

“I honour the victims of Flight 302 by carrying forward their legacy of compassion, service and global responsibility. Inspired by Jessica Hyba, Angela Rehhorn, Danielle Moore and Stéphanie Lacroix, I am committed to advancing humanitarian action, environmental conservation and international development through my research and future career.

This award empowers me to transform research into meaningful action and honour the enduring legacy of those who inspired the world through their courage, compassion and commitment to serving others.”

Joseph Bless Darkwa, University of Calgary 

“My scholarship particularly honours the legacies of Dr. Pius Adesanmi, who was committed to challenging colonial structures and uplifting African intellectual contributions, and Micah Messent, who saw Indigenous education and knowledges as essential to protecting the environment.

These values guide my desire to prioritize marginalized and disavowed voices in mainstream curriculum development, accelerating ecological and climate change education among you.”

Joy Karinge, Carleton University 

“Honouring the victims of Flight 302 means continuing the unfinished work of all those who dedicated their lives to bridging cultural divides, whether through lived diasporic realities like the Pauls Family, or through professional contributions in academic and international development like Dr. Pius Adesanmi and Stéphanie Lacroix.

This award enables me to walk the path Dr. Adesanmi illuminated, where African dignity, intellectual rigor and transformative impact converge.”

Farhan Jarif, University of Waterloo

“I honour the victims of Flight 302 by grounding my work in aviation safety and by remembering that every system I study ultimately serves real people with families, futures and trust in the engineers behind the aircraft they board.

My goal is to help ensure that lessons from Flight 302 translate into safe skies, stronger standards and engineering decisions that always put human life first.”