Congratulations to the 2025 recipients of the B. Harper Bull Scholarship Awards! Let’s celebrate these incredible individuals who exemplify our mission to protect the natural environment for future generations and create safe, healthy and resilient communities.
Chetna Agnihotri
Chetna Agnihotri is a Master of Applied Science student in Mechanical Engineering at York University, where her academic work is focused on sustainability-driven research and applied environmental systems. Her work is driven by a commitment to developing practical, science-based solutions to environmental challenges and address practical challenges while contributing positively to the academic community.
She completed her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (Co-op) at the University of Guelph, graduating with Honours and Distinction. Through research experiences in academic, government, and industry settings, Chetna developed strong problem-solving skills and the confidence to take initiative in collaborative research environments. These experiences also shaped her leadership style, which emphasizes accountability, clear communication, and respect for diverse perspectives.
Chetna’s graduate research focuses on nanobubble technology and its potential applications in sustainable agricultural and environmental systems. Her work examines how nanobubbles can influence plant growth conditions, nutrient availability, and overall system performance, with the goal of improving efficiency while reducing resource inputs. This research reflects her broader interest in leveraging emerging technologies to support resilient and sustainable systems.
Beyond her research, Chetna demonstrates leadership through involvement in her school community. As a Graduate Representative and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion on the Lassonde Awards Committee, she contributes to award deliberations, advocates for transparent and inclusive processes, and represents graduate student perspectives in institutional decision-making. She is committed to fostering environments where merit, equity, and opportunity are prioritized.
Overall, Chetna values collaboration and thoughtful leadership, and is committed to learning continuously while contributing meaningfully through her work.
Alexandra Boyadjieff
Alexandra Boyadjieff is a creative and passionate leader in environmental sustainability, with a life-long mission towards conservation advocacy and habitat preservation.
She is currently pursuing a BSc (Hons.) in the Conservation and Biodiversity specialist program, along with a Certificate in Sustainability as part of the Sustainability Scholar initiative at the University of Toronto (U of T). Her passion extends beyond the classroom – serving as a lab assistant dedicated to studying animal communication in the courtship signaling of Noble False Widow spiders.
Her knowledge of ecosystem interactions fueled her drive as a member of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) Conservation Youth Corps, whose engagement in tree planting and garbage clean-up events later translated into her time as a Young Ravine Leader with the Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests (LEAF).
She also has first-hand experience protecting wildlife as a former Rehabilitation Intern at the Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC). From preparing meals to bottle-feeding infants, her appreciation for local wildlife is shown through her care of species including white-tailed deer, opossums, squirrels and songbirds.
Alexandra is an alumna of TRCA’s Ravine Youth Team, where she worked to preserve local ecological communities through invasive species removal, aquatic planting, tree health and soil erosion monitoring and land acknowledgment whilst partaking in Indigenous ceremonies.
Her goal of inspiring others to lead a life of sustainability is further demonstrated through her role in academic community engagement. As Co-President of the Conservation and Biodiversity Students’ Association (CBSA), she aids in organizing fundraisers for native species and networking opportunities for students with environmental professionals. Her role as VP of Operations for Regenesis’s U of T Scarborough chapter further entails the arrangement of student-community experiences, including seed collection and animal-shelter building events in collaboration with TRCA.
Liann Dsouza
Liann Dsouza is an environmental scientist and sustainability educator based in the Greater Toronto Area. A Master of Environmental Science candidate at the University of Toronto, she works at the intersection of algae-based climate technologies, circular bioproducts, and community resilience.
Working in industry, Liann leads applied algae R&D that moves ideas beyond the lab and into real-world systems, including pilot-scale process development and operational planning. She is a co-inventor on U.S. and Canadian patent filings for algae co-products and UV-based sanitation for public health, and has contributed to peer-reviewed research, including publications in the Nature Portfolio. She has also shared her work in high-level forums such as the U.S. Department of Energy’s Germicidal Ultraviolet (GUV) technology round table.
Through consulting and cross-sector collaborations, Liann has supported environmental innovation projects with partners including Tyson Foods, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and Canada’s National Research Council.
Alongside her technical work, Liann’s graduate research examines culturally significant plant foods in immigrant communities across Scarborough and Markham linking botany, ethnobotany, and urban food systems to strengthen conservation outcomes through lived knowledge. She also volunteers with the Toronto Botanical Garden as a sustainability educator, helping children learn about environmental issues, sustainability, and zero-waste habits through hands-on public programming.
Grounded in scientific rigor and lived experience, Liann’s work reflects a commitment to environmental stewardship that is practical, interdisciplinary, and deeply connected to people and place.