Ethics, Society & Law students and their impactful CRPE research projects
An innovative community engagement course – Community Research Partnerships in Ethics (CRPE): TRN407 – provides Ethics, Society & Law (ES&L) students in their final year of study an incredible opportunity to conduct independent, community-based research with real-world impact.
“CRPE provides a special enrichment and experiential learning opportunity for students,” said Professor Jennifer Leitch, ES&L’s Associate Director and CRPE Course Coordinator. “Along with invaluable experience working directly with community-based organizations, CRPE students acquire research skills second-to-none in the undergraduate space, and they view the experience as transformative.”
As research interns with a non-profit, governmental office or grassroots organization, CRPE students undertake an independent research project and are each matched with a U of T faculty supervisor. Through the course, students learn about and conduct ethical community-based research of direct relevance to the organization, generate community tools that the organization requests, and produce a substantial research paper.
“ES&L faculty and staff, U of T faculty supervisors, and community partners all work together to make CRPE happen each year – but the program thrives because of the high-achieving ES&L students,” said Professor John Duncan, ES&L’s Director and CRPE Co-Founder, noting that the small and competitive ES&L major – which is open to all students in the Faculty of Arts & Science on the St. George campus regardless of college affiliation – is one of three U of T academic programs hosted by Trinity College. “Along with other initiatives in ES&L and at Trinity College, CRPE co-constitutes a hub of excellent community-engaged experiential learning on the St. Georges campus.”
CRPE in 2023-2024 included 15 students, 12 faculty supervisors and 12 community partners. Three ES&L graduates from the Class of 2024 talk about the ES&L program and what they learned from their CRPE experience.
Dummie Abdul
College Membership: Woodsworth College
Class of 2024: BA (Hons): Double major in Criminology & Sociolegal Studies, and Ethics, Society & Law
Photo: Dummie Abdul celebrating his graduation at Woodsworth College Convocation 2024
CRPE Community Partner: Justice for Children and Youth
Faculty Supervisor: Professor Zachary Levinsky
Trinity College (TC): Why were you interested in studying Ethics, Society & Law?
Dummie Abdul (DA): I decided to pursue a degree in Ethics, Society & Law because I wanted to explore academia from an interdisciplinary lens while still being exposed to challenging material. When I took courses like TRN203 or TRN303, I learned about theoretical concepts and material that were never approached in other classes – the ES&L program felt unique.
TC: What interested you in taking the Community Research Partnerships in Ethics (CRPE) course?
DA: I took CRPE because I wanted to expand my learning beyond the traditional settings of lectures and textbooks. In university you are given numerous theoretical frameworks to critically analyze socio-political issues that affect marginalized people, yet often the understanding stops there. CRPE gives you the opportunity to engage in qualitative research projects, be more hands-on, and apply what you have learned to the real-world.
TC: Can you describe the research you conducted with your CRPE partner organization and its importance?
DA: I conducted my research project under Justice for Children & Youth (JFCY), a legal aid clinic representing youth and other vulnerable members in our society. I produced a paper analyzing the potential abuses of facial recognition technology by state actors and proposed legislation in Bill C-27 regulating artificial intelligence, to determine its social impacts on police legitimacy. This was highly relevant after the ClearView AI scandal revealed the RCMP had been illegally using facial recognition technology to surveil marginalized communities.
My research findings demonstrated that the provisions in Bill C-27 designed to regulate tools that utilize AI are ill-equipped to prevent privacy invasions and over-policing of racialized communities. This results in a content where core democratic principles are violated, reducing societal trust in state institutions. It truly is a surveillance state!
TC: What are your favourite university memory?
DA: I just enjoyed my overall 4 years as an undergrad and will look back on this period of my life as a wonderful time.
TC: Any words of advice for students interested in studying ES&L and taking the CRPE course?
DA: I would advise current students in ES&L to really leverage the unique experiences the program affords you. Use the smaller class sizes to get to know your classmates and course instructors on a more personal level. In particular, in your 4th year, look out for the special invite courses like TRN425 or CRPE, they’re definitely more experiential and you’ll love the difference in comparison to more traditional classes.
TC: What are your future plans?
DA: I’m currently working a summer internship at McCarthy Tetrault. In August, I’ll be an incoming 1L at Osgoode Hall Law School. As for the practice I’ll end up in, too early to say.
Yannie Mork
College Membership: Trinity College
Class of 2024: HBSc, Double Major in ES&L and Psychology, Minor in Sociology
Hometown: Hong Kong
Photo (right): (left to right) CRPE course instructor & ES&L Associate Director Dr. Jennifer Leitch, Yannie Mork and EcoSpark community supervisor Dana Buchbinder after the final CRPE presentation
CRPE Community Partner: EcoSpark
Faculty Supervisor: Professor Robert Soden
Trinity College (TC): What you have enjoyed the most about the ES&L program?
Yannie Mork (YM): I really enjoyed the required program courses that all ES&L students take (e.g. TRN203, 204, 303). I found them to be the most intellectually stimulating courses I have taken throughout undergrad. I have also developed some great friendships through the program, making my time inside and outside of class much more enjoyable.
TC: Why were you interested in taking the Community Research Partnerships in Ethics (CRPE) course?
YM: I was looking for opportunities that would allow me to gain practical experience out of knowledge learnt in the classroom. I was interested in understanding how academic work can be applied or be helpful outside academia to create impact. CRPE seemed to be a good place for me to get a taste of it.
TC: Can you talk about your community partner and research project?
YM: I partnered with EcoSpark as an undergraduate student researcher and investigated the mental health benefits of their outdoor citizen science programs. EcoSpark is huge on citizen science, often organizing events that allow for public participation in scientific research. The organization has always been interested in knowing how students’ wellbeing is influenced by joining their programs.
I reviewed prior literature to see what academic research had found regarding the benefits of citizen science programs. Based on that, I designed a survey that was distributed to EcoSpark’s staff and program facilitators to gather insights specifically into EcoSpark’s citizen science program. I also volunteered EcoSpark workshops to check the workshops out myself. Ultimately, I hope that my research can serve as a foundation for future studies for EcoSpark to build upon, potentially inform the creation of program assessment tools, and provide insights on EcoSpark’s program enhancement.
Generally speaking, participating in outdoor, hands-on environmental work helps people feel happier, more satisfied and connected to nature. Literature also suggests that these types of workshops can help enhance self-efficacy, reduce stress and increase connection with other people. These benefits are related to being exposed to natural environments, engaging in physical activities, and being able to contribute to a larger scientific project while enjoying outdoor education.
TC: What was your biggest learning from your CPRE experience?
YM: One of the biggest things I learned through working with EcoSpark is how different academic research and community research is, and how important it is to tailor the research for the needs of the partner. Because we can only study one part of a whole issue at a time, it is crucial to focus the research effort as precisely as possible on what will most benefit the community partner.
TC: What is your favourite university memory?
YM: Random chit-chats at the Buttery [at Trinity College] with ES&L people! I’ve had many interesting academic conversations and also silly tea-spilling sessions there!
TC: What are your future plans?
YM: I will be spending a year back at home in Hong Kong to work and volunteer in the mental health field as well as spending time with family and friends. After that, I am planning to return to Canada in fall 2025 to pursue a master’s degree in social work/psychotherapy.
Dashreen Sanghera
College Membership: Woodsworth College
Class of 2024: BA (Hons): Major in Ethics, Society & Law; Minors in Sociology and Diaspora and Transnational Studies
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
CRPE Community Partner: CAAN: Communities, Alliances and Networks
Faculty Supervisor: Professor Anita Benoit
Trinity College (TC): Why were you interested in studying Ethics, Society & Law?
Dashreen Sanghera (DS): I have always been passionate about learning more about law and social justice, so I was initially drawn to the program in high school. After doing some research about the program and hearing from students that had already graduated from ES&L, I realized that this program prioritizes critical thinking and thoughtful discussion, which was what I enjoyed most. The discussions and dialogue with professors and my peers in the program allowed me to learn, grow and gain deeper understandings of the origins and aspects of Canadian law as well as several social justice issues.
TC: What interested you in taking the Community Research Partnerships in Ethics (CRPE) course?
DS: I was interested in taking the CRPE course as it is extremely unique due to the special opportunity to work alongside a real-world, justice-oriented organization and conduct meaningful research that aims to support and further the cause of the organization.
TC: Can you describe the research you conducted with your CRPE partner organization and its importance?
DS: CAAN (Communities, Alliances & Networks) is an Indigenous non-profit organization based in Canada that provides a national forum for Indigenous people to holistically address the diseases of HIV and AIDS, HCV, sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBIs), TB, mental health, aging, and related co-morbidity issues. The organization prioritizes Indigenous ways of knowing and doing and generates community-driven responses to these health concerns through resources and support. Many studies have established TB as a prevalent disease among Indigenous people, particularly among Inuit communities living in Northern Canada. Furthermore, the association between the effects of overcrowding and inadequate housing on exposure and transmission of TB is clear. We also know that inadequate and substandard housing conditions is a longstanding issue of concern for Indigenous people along with rates of homelessness being much higher in comparison to non-Indigenous people living in Canada. My research explored the missing link, which is the association between homelessness and Indigenous individuals with TB using the 12 dimensions of Indigenous homelessness as a guiding framework.
My biggest findings involved the fact that although Canada claims to be fully committed in addressing the disparities and factors that contribute to the spread of TB such as inadequate housing, the solutions offered are not inclusive of Indigenous cultures and perspectives. Having used the 12 dimensions of Indigenous homelessness as a comprehensive and culturally relevant framework for understanding the multifaceted nature of homelessness and TB, my research showed how both issues are shaped by cultural and historical contexts.
TC: What are your favourite university memory?
DS: My favourite university memory would be the CRPE gatherings that brought together students, members of our partner organizations, and the professors involved in the course. These events for me represented moments of gratitude, togetherness and a varied pursuit by all for bettering the world.
TC: Any words of advice for students interested in studying ES&L and taking the CRPE course?
DS: Everyone in ES&L is intelligent, the professors are extremely distinguished, and the courses are challenging. If instead of complaining and feeling anxious, you are willing to push yourself and embrace the difficulties that you come across, you will come out of the program as a better version of yourself with a plethora of knowledge and opportunities at your doorstep. I would highly recommend taking part in ES&L and CRPE if you are eager for growth and passionate about things like philosophy, law, policy making, etc.
TC: What are your future plans?
DS: I will be studying law at the University of Ottawa, focusing on health law and working as a part-time graduate research student for my CRPE partner organization.
ETHICS, SOCIETY & LAW – CRPE 2023-2024
15 Students, 12 CRPE Partners and 12 Faculty Supervisors
CRPE Coordinator: Professor Jennifer Leitch
The Mosaic Institute
Mosaic Partner: Rachel Mansell
Faculty Supervisor: Professor Mayo Moran
Student: Amelia Marlowe
The Toronto Integrity Commission
TIC Partner: Jonathan Batty
Faculty Supervisor: Professor Andrew Stark
Students: Isabella Leonardi & Bahaar Razavizand
The National Self-Represented Litigants Project
NSRLP Partner: Dayna Cornwall
Faculty Supervisor: Professor Jennifer Leitch
Students: Rachel Patterson & Nisha Iqbal
CAAN: Communities, Alliances and Networks (formerly the Canadian Aboriginal Aids Network)
CAAN Partner: Trevor Stratton
Faculty Supervisor: Professor Anita Benoit
Student: Dashreen Sanghera
Justice for Children and Youth
JFCY Partner: Mary Birdsell
Faculty Supervisor: Professor Zachary Levinsky
Student: Dummie Abdul
The Samara Center for Democracy
Samara Partner: Beatrice Wayne
Faculty Supervisor: Professor Mike Kessler
Student: Sommer Pesikan
The Canadian Environmental Law Association
CELA Partner: Theresa McClenahan/Anastasia Lintner
Faculty Supervisor: Professor Vianey Leos Barajas
Student: Claire Parish
Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture
CCVT Partner: Ezat Mossallanejad
Faculty Supervisor: Professor John Duncan
Student: Odessa Hewitt-Bernhard
EcoSpark
EcoSpark Partner: Dana Buchbinder
Faculty Supervisor: Professor Robert Soden
Student: Yannie Mork
Women’s Healthy Environments
WHEN partner: Honour Stahl
Faculty Supervisor: Professor Nicole Spiegelaar
Student: Lily Farnaccio
Foundation for Environmental Stewardship
FES Partner: Kat Cadungog
Faculty Supervisor: Professor Simon Appolloni
Student: Lea Jiang
Alliance for a Liveable Ontario
Alliance Partner: Franz Hartman
Faculty Supervisor: Professor Michael Classen
Student: Freya Moser
Categories: Ethics, Society & Law; Student News; Trinity Grads