For many Environment students, that little push from a mentor is a game changer. It transforms uncertainty into confidence and aspirations into reality.听听
Oluwabamise Afolabi, in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management, knows firsthand the impact mentors can have. As he prepares to graduate this spring, he reflects on his time in the Faculty of Environment and the mentors who have impacted his journey.听听
鈥�Mentoring is very important,鈥� he says. 鈥�I am more optimistic about the future after connecting with alumni and other professionals who have made impacts in the industry. This shows me that I can also make a positive change out there鈥澨�听
For the past four years, Afolabi has studied how climate change will impact peatlands, in particular a temperate swamp peatland鈥檚 ability to remain as net carbon sink or source (balance between intake and release) into the future. 滨迟鈥檚 a topic that has received little attention despite the fact that southern Ontario swamps store a substantial amount of carbon (approximately 1.1 Petagram Carbon ).听听
Projecting into the future (2050s), he analyzed how rising temperature and changes in precipitation patterns will impact Beverly Swamp; one of the most well-preserved swamps in southern Ontario under the management of the Hamilton Conversation Authority. His study estimates that by the middle of the 21st century, the swamp peatland may lose substantial amount of stored carbon but will mostly remain a net carbon sink as the carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration exceeds CO2 emission from the swamp.听听
鈥淎s it gets drier and warmer, the swamp supports more mineralization of peat, thus making it less effective in storing CO2 from the atmosphere ,鈥� he says. 鈥�To be able to tackle climate change, we strongly need to consider the role of nature-based solutions like preserving peatlands in climate change mitigation efforts.鈥�听
As much as Afolabi likes research, he is excited to graduate and return to working in industry. He previously worked in the electricity sector and hopes to now secure a job that will help incorporate environmental sustainability in the different sectors of the economy.听听
Helping him map out his route to that next destination has been industry leaders听 Dr. Tej Gidda and Gordon Lambert, and alumni 鈥�. 鈥淭he interactions with these alumni and industry experts have been inspirational,鈥� he says. 鈥�They have shared their career success stories and the pitfalls to look out for in the journey. Overall, it has been a good learning experience and networking process for me.鈥�听听
Looking ahead to the future, Afolabi says that he is grateful for the people 鈥� his supervisor Dr. Maria Strack who is a Canada Research Chair in Ecosystems and Climate, as well as his mentors and peers 鈥� who have made his experience at 蓝莓视频 worthwhile. 鈥�The interactions with these people have tremendously contributed to my success at 蓝莓视频. I look forward to maintaining these relationships into the future.鈥澨�听
In the spirit of the famous Beatles鈥� song, With a Little Help from My Friends, Afolabi鈥檚 journey is a testament to the power of 鲍奥补迟别谤濒辞辞鈥檚 community and reminds us that no one succeeds alone.听听听
