New Student Welcome: Sian Borden

I am really excited to start my PhD in Environmental Studies at Queen’s University in September 2025! Water has always been a constant feature in my life; I was born and raised in Tiohtià:ke /Montréal and I visited family in Barbados and Nova Scotia plenty of times during my youth. It’s rare that I go a day without seeing a body of water and this has shaped my interest in sustainability and environmental studies. My parents and grandparents were quite involved in Black community organizations in Montréal, and I spent much of my youth in those community centres. My youth shaped my love for community work and the environment. While I was studying at Concordia University getting my BA in Human Relations, Community Development & Sustainability, I worked in the same community associations I grew up in. Seeking to further my environmental knowledge, I pursued my Master of Resource & Environmental Management at Dalhousie University. I really enjoyed taking one of Dr. Harrison’s courses, Integrated Coastal Zone Management, during my master’s and am very thankful to be able to continue to work with her. After my graduation, I have been working in the Centre for Water Resources Studies (CWRS) at Dal as the Outreach Coordinator. In this role, I engage and collaborate with rural communities regarding their groundwater and support research project management.  

Sian at low tide in Burncoat Head Park. Photo taken by Lee Kim.

Water is a basic need and through my work at the CWRS, I have learned how deeply interconnected it is with other necessities such as food and housing. Undertaking a PhD researching small-scale food systems in African Nova Scotian communities offers a pathway towards achieving my ultimate career goal which is to serve my community and care for its holistic well-being. Historic and current colonialism, anti-Black racism, and climate change threaten sustainable food systems. My identity and cultural background are the foundation for my PhD project, and I intend to study the current state of food sovereignty and governance looking at community-level food systems in African Nova Scotian communities and support their sustainable continuation and protection.