June marks the final and most anticipated month of the CAnD3 training program. Leading the way is our Annual Keynote Address, a capstone event celebrating research excellence and community. It will be followed by the Dragon’s Den finals, where Fellows will showcase data-driven solutions developed over the course of their training.
As we bring the year to an end, we sat down with two of our current fellows, Ian Van Haren and Bédel Tsafack, for this final edition of the Fellows Feature 2024–2025 series. They shared pivotal experiences that shaped their research, the work they’re most proud of, and how the CAnD3 program has enriched their academic and professional journey.
Ian Van Haren
Ian, could you take us back to a pivotal moment that shaped your research journey? And how has your time in the CAnD3 program supported your research goals?
A few years ago, while designing a questionnaire for my dissertation interviews, I focused heavily on people’s opinions about migration policies. That’s when Professor Jan Doering, then at McGill, offered game-changing advice: focus on people’s actions, not just their views.
That shift changed everything. It aligned my work with what sociologist Gabriel Abend calls “what-makes-it-possible” questions. Studying what people do, especially those sponsoring refugees, offered clearer insights into how civil society engages with public policy. That advice still guides my research today.
At CAnD3, the emphasis on applied data skills, interdisciplinary thinking, and evidence-based recommendations has been invaluable. CAnD3 has helped me bridge theory with practice—whether through Lunch & Learns, peer dialogue, or methodological workshops.
That’s a powerful shift in perspective. It’s great to hear how the program helped you connect those ideas with practical skills. Now, could you tell us about a recent project you’re especially proud of?
In 2023, I co-led a submission to the Government of Quebec advocating for improvements to the refugee sponsorship program. At the time, I was Executive Director of Action Réfugiés Montréal. We presented our recommendations directly to the National Assembly, engaging with the Immigration Minister and other Members. Preparing for that was intense, but speaking directly to policymakers about such a vital issue was incredibly rewarding.
It’s inspiring to see that kind of direct policy engagement. What’s something that might surprise people about you outside academia?
Before my PhD, I lived and worked in the UK, Lebanon, and South Africa, and traveled extensively across Europe, the Middle East, and Southern Africa. Whether at home or abroad, I love walking, hiking, and biking. It’s a way of reconnecting with the world and my own thoughts.
If you could have dinner with any researcher, who would it be?
Ibn Khaldoun, the 14th-century philosopher and social scientist! I’d love to hear his reflections on social structure and history—and how he’d interpret today’s world through his lens.
Bédel Tsafack
Bédel, what was a defining moment that influenced your research direction? And how has your time in the CAnD3 program supported your research goals?
It happened during my Master’s fieldwork in Demography at Institut de Formation et de Recherche Démographiques (IFORD). I was conducting research in Cameroon’s Centre region and witnessed how delayed rains severely impacted local farmers. That year, the rains arrived two months late, forcing many to replant crops, only to face poor harvests anyway. It was a clear example of how climate change disrupts livelihoods.
That experience sparked my doctoral focus on climate-induced internal migration. When I discovered CAnD3, I immediately saw the value of joining a program that brings together data science, interdisciplinary collaboration, and policy impact. Conversations with alumni like Avelin Péguy Angos (2022-23) and Exaucé Ngadandé (2022-23) further convinced me I was in the right place.
It’s amazing how directly your research connects to real experiences in the field. If you could design your dream project using CAnD3 resources, what would it be?
I’d love to build an interactive visualization platform that maps internal migration in Africa using real-time climate, demographic, and socioeconomic data. It would help researchers and policymakers track the effects of environmental shocks, like drought or vegetation loss, on population movements.
I also see a North American version: a tool that visualizes urban heatwave impacts on vulnerable populations, showing hospital and cooling center capacities in real time. These kinds of tools, supported by CAnD3’s expertise, can turn research into action.
That’s a compelling vision—both practical and timely. Can you share a recent project or publication you’re proud of?
I’m currently finalizing « Migration and Attractiveness: The Impact of Spatial Variations in Climate and Environmental Change on Destination Choice in an Agro-Ecological Approach in Kenya », which I’ll present at ADQ 2025 and International Population Conference (IPC) 2025. It explores how recent and long-term climate variations shape migration choices in Kenya based on agro-ecological zones. The technical challenge was building a conditional logit model from complex climate and demographic data—but the outcome offers powerful insights into adaptive migration strategies.
I also co-authored “Les immigrants, boosters de recherche et développement dans les entreprises ? L’expérience canadienne” with Nong Zhu (my research supervisor) and Jianwei Zhong. It’s going to be published in Canadian Ethnic Studies and shows how international graduates and immigrant business owners contribute significantly to Research & Development (R&D) in Canadian firms.
What helps you unwind and spark creativity outside work?
I find a lot of peace in walking through parks—observing people, nature, quiet interactions. These walks are more than a break; they’re a form of meditation that often leads to new ideas. I’m a bit of a homebody, but I thrive on these quiet escapes into the world around me.
And if you could have dinner with any researcher—past or present—who would it be?
I’d choose Emmanuel Letouzé, founder of Data-Pop Alliance. His work at the intersection of big data, ethics, and development is incredibly inspiring. I’d ask him: “How can we ensure social justice in predictive algorithms used on vulnerable populations, without compromising accuracy or innovation?” That balance between ethics and technical excellence is central to my work.
As we approach the final events of the CAnD3 program, Ian and Bédel remind us that rigorous research is most powerful when it’s grounded in real-world experience, ethical reflection, and a desire to serve. Whether through refugee advocacy or climate-focused migration data, they embody the program’s mission: transforming data into action for a better world.
