Funded through the Indo-Pacific Scholarships and Fellowships for Canadians (IPSFC) program administered by Global Affairs Canada, the $519,975 initiative brings together leading scholars from the University of Ottawa to explore how issues such as climate change, economic security, labour mobility, and Indigenous rights intersect in one of the world’s most dynamic regions.
The project, led by Professor Pascale Massot (Faculty of Social Sciences), is structured around four key research areas: climate and livelihoods, critical minerals and economic security, work and migration, and Indigenous rights. Together, these interconnected streams aim to inform Canada’s evolving Indo-Pacific Strategy while strengthening academic partnerships and research capacity between Canada and the region.
An expert in international economic law and the computational analysis of law, Professor Alschner brings a distinctive perspective to the project. As holder of the Hyman Soloway Chair in Business and Trade Law and head of the uOttawa Legal Technology Lab, his research focuses on how legal frameworks – particularly international trade and investment agreements – shape economic relationships and state behaviour. His work will contribute to understanding how legal infrastructures can support more effective and equitable resource governance across the Indo-Pacific.