Congratulations to the 2023 recipients of the B. Harper Bull Scholarship Awards! Let’s celebrate these incredible individuals who are shaping a more sustainable and equitable future.
Tomisona Oludairo
Tomisona Oludairo is a solution builder and community visionary through her interdisciplinary work in the sustainability space. She is currently completing her BES in Sustainable Environmental Management at York University, Toronto.
Tomisona has an extensive experience and skill set in the environmental sector, working to establish green career partnerships, inclusive community development, and climate policy analysis. She is a lead volunteer at a youth non-profit running climate literacy and political advocacy programs; a team associate at a regional climate group calling for meaningful climate action; and a board member at a community environmental organization empowering students to address environmental and social concerns.
Beyond academia and NGOs, Tomisona recently completed a project investigating opportunities for cities and private finance collaboration towards net-zero. She also spends considerable time on living labs at the heart of the urban downtown, such as a climate solutions park where communities can interact with farming and energy eco-infrastructure.
Tomisona enjoys supporting holistic sustainability governance where humans and the natural world co-exist meaningfully.
“I started down another career path before I stumbled upon the world of sustainability … in just a few years, I have immersed and challenged myself on what biointegrated development entails in our economy. It does not take decades of experience, it takes one step towards meaningful action.” – Tomisona Oludairo
Carolyne Qiang
Carolyne Qiang is a first-year Master of Science student in Geography at the University of Toronto. Her current research focuses on automating land use land cover mapping for precision urban ecosystems using machine learning and earth observation data.
Carolyne has recently completed her undergraduate studies with High Distinction. She was involved in impactful projects such as rooftop precision agriculture research at the University of Toronto Scarborough, and published her work on the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the urban thermal environment in the Journal of Environmental Management.
A recipient of prestigious awards such as the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS), University of Toronto Excellence Award (UTEA), Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Undergraduate Student Research Award (NSERC-USRA), and more, Carolyne combines a diverse skill set with profound research achievements. Eager to contribute further, she aspires to shape a more sustainable and habitable urban future.
“I am deeply passionate about harnessing the transformative power of machine learning to automate the classification of land use and land cover … In my pursuit, I aspire to bridge the gap between advanced technology and environmental conservation, paving the way for smarter, more efficient urban development.” – Carolyne Qiang
Yazan Zamel
Yazan Zamel is a dedicated advocate for clean energy and equitable energy access, with a profound passion for technology, sustainability, and community service.
Yazan worked previously as an environmental researcher at the Transportation and Air Quality Research Group, Market Forecast and Integration Intern at the Independent Electricity Systems Operator, Energy Efficiency Consultant at Posterity Group, and Sustainability Research Assistant at the Committee on Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (CECCS).
Yazan is the President of the Sustainable Engineers Association, Founder and President of the Ambassadors of Tolerance Program, and Operational Director of the Green Student Association. Yazan reached to more than 2,500 post-secondary students in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) by executing and hosting international and regional sustainability conferences, career fairs, and educational programs to mobilize and inspire youth for climate action.
Yazan is also serving as the founder of the Ray of Hope initiative since 2020. Through his initiative, he has reached 4,300 refugees to provide quality education, helped 250 students find jobs, and continues to reach many more young people online. In July 2022, he was named as one of International Diana Award Recipients for His Ray of Hope initiative.
Yazan is also an alumni of the Future Sustainability Leaders (FSL), where he participated and received first place in an AI Hackathon Competition. He is also an alumni of the Student Leaders Programme (SLP) hosted by International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
“This scholarship holds significant meaning for me, as it acknowledges my efforts in advancing clean energy and addressing climate change. My commitment to sustainable education and energy equity perfectly aligns with the values of [the] scholarship.” – Yazan Zamel