The OpenThink Initiative

Launched in 2019 as the successor to the Public Scholars Program, the OpenThink initiative empowers a small cohort of PhD students from across Dalhousie with the communication skills and platform necessary to inform public discourse and influence policy.

A new OpenThink cohort is named annually, with IDPhD students being featured in each year of the initiative.  Discover more about their research areas below and read monthly blog posts from them and other OpenThinkers.

photo of Alison Brown

Alison Brown

A Novel Solution for Social Isolation

Alison Brown studies how bringing people together to read aloud and discuss compelling literature can strengthen wellbeing and build social inclusion in our diverse communities.  Read more of their work in the OpenThink blog.

Photo of Keahna Margeson

Keahna Margeson

Social science for people + the sea

Keahna studies how places interconnect and constantly change, along with the people who are involved with them, with the goal of better planning for nature-based adaptations.  Read more of their work in the OpenThink blog.

Photo of Daniel Martinez Calderon

Daniel Martinez Calderon

Generating change in the management of coastal and marine areas

Daniel Martinez Calderon uses his research to generate change in the way coastal and marine areas are managed.  Read more of their work in the OpenThink blog.

Photo of Weishan Wang

Weishan Wang

Examining the shipping governance regime in the Canadian Arctic

Weishan Wang examines the shipping governance regime that exists in the Canadian Arctic and the challenges it faces.  Read more of their work in the OpenThink blog.

Photo of Hillary Ferguson

Hillary Ferguson

Investigating burnout in critical care medicine

Hillary Ferguson explores burnout syndrome and moral distress in intensive care practitioners. Read her work in the OpenThink blog.

Photo of Megan Rector

Megan Rector

Examining eco-certification in aquaculture

Megan Rector examines the criteria fish farms must meet to become eco-certified, and how this impacts sustainability. Read her work in the OpenThink blog.

Photo of Jee In Kim

Jee In Kim

Examining superbug evolution

Jee In Kim explores how the genomes of superbugs can predict how bacteria will behave against specific antibiotics. Read her work in the OpenThink blog.

Open Think Alumni