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Meet 2022 Global Health Scholar Maya Côté

Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Global Health Scholar Maya Côté is an Environment student working with Professor Jill Baumgartner of the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health.

Maya Côté is an Environment student and Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Global Health Scholar supported by the Spencer-Hick Family Global Health Education and Training Fund. This summer, Maya studied air temperature, pollution, and health in Accra with Prof. Jill Baumgartner.

"My internship with Dr. Baumgartner and Ph.D. candidate Emmalin Buajitti was part of the Pathways to Healthy Equitable Cities Consortium. The research project in Accra aimed to analyze indoor and outdoor air temperature in various neighbourhoods. This was done in collaboration with Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Imperial College London and the University of Ghana.

Prior to the trip, I regularly met with the team to discuss various aspects of the field campaign. In Accra, I had the pleasure to assist the researchers with sensor calibration, environmental measurements and field data collection. This internship also taught me useful insights into conducting online surveys and managing data with OSF.

Reflecting on this experience, I was surprised by the multidisciplinary aspect of research in epidemiology. We all came from different backgrounds, from environmental sciences or nursing to physics. This myriad of skills nurtured collaboration, with the local field team’s expertise occupying a central role in the sensor deployment. Finally, I was amazed by the technology we used to collect data, and the willingness of local people to participate in the study. With simple temperature sensors and protective radiation shields made of PVC, we were able to collect compelling results."

Learn more about the Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Global Health Scholars Undergraduate Program.

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Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ is located on land which has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst Indigenous Peoples, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg Nations. Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ honours, recognizes, and respects these nations as the traditional stewards of the lands and waters on which peoples of the world now gather. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous Peoples from across Turtle Island. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land.

Learn more about Indigenous Initiatives at Âé¶¹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾.

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