Graduate Student Team

Andrea Miller, MSc student, Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology, University of Alberta

Andrea Miller is a Master’s student in Rural and Environmental Sociology in the Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology at the University of Alberta. Andrea has been a part of the interdisciplinary research group Future Energy Systems for two years, with a research focus on community energy, energy justice, and opportunities for Indigenous communities to develop renewable energy. Andrea is the main author on a publicly available report detailing case studies of community energy in Canada and is currently in the process of completing her thesis, a community-based participatory project in partnership with an Alberta First Nation pursuing solar energy.

Nadine Suliman Abdelrahman, PhD student, Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology, University of Alberta

Nadine has a multidisciplinary background with research interests including the dynamics of power relations in the energy sector, energy transitions and environmental, social and governance factors. This encompasses a range of topics such as the efforts of the fossil-fuel industry in addressing climate change, the potential role of the industry in the energy transition to renewables and the associated social and regulatory contexts. Nadine aims to implement a comparative approach to her research in order to investigate energy transition globally and explore different practices around the world. Her recent publication explores issues of power and patriarchy in extractive industries.

Sonak Patel, MSc student, Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology, University of Alberta

Sonak Patel is a Master’s student in Risk and Community Resilience in the Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology at the University of Alberta. During his two years with Future Energy Systems, Sonak and his colleagues have produced the Renewable Energy Map, a publicly available online platform that showcases renewable energy projects in Canada. Sonak is interested in exploring opportunities for sustainability in municipalities and is currently researching opportunities for municipalities to develop renewable energy.