As an undergraduate, Yaba Osifo learned that environments, from big cities to small spaces like school hostels, are deliberately planned yet often exclude marginalised communities. Determined to change this, she chose to pursue a Master of Planning at Dalhousie, drawn by the opportunity to work with the Planning for Equity, Accessibility, and Community Health (PEACH) Research Unit. 

“In working with PEACH, I've engaged in a diverse array of planning initiatives, including community engagements and planning research,” she says. “I have also gained valuable experience in GIS analysis and built environment design modelling.” 

This exposure made it all the easier for Osifo to conduct the research for and write the paper “Addressing Barriers in the University Campus Environment for Neurodivergent Students,” which will soon be presented at the prestigious 6th International Conference on Architecture, Research, Health, and Care in Finland.