Dr. Karina Benessaiah

Biography

Karina Benessaiah is an Assistant Professor in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences at the University of Guelph, specializing in human-environment geography and sustainability transformations. Her research focuses on understanding how people adapt to rapid social-ecological changes, particularly through crises, and assesses the resulting transformations in society and the environment. Karina employs a variety of approaches, including political ecology and resilience science, to study implications of economic recessions, global trade, and environmental changes on livelihoods. Her extensive work includes examining the impacts of the 2010 financial crisis on rural communities and participation in multiple projects that aim to promote sustainable practices in food systems and governance across regions including Montreal and various African nations. With a keen interest in the interplay of science and arts, she integrates participatory action research methods to communicate her findings and foster community engagement. Karina has collaborated with numerous international teams and her research has been published in multiple reputable journals. She is committed to training the next generation of researchers in sustainability and resilience while creating supportive learning environments.

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