About

Qaiyum Mohammad

An environmental background. A lifelong interest in technology.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Wilfrid Laurier University. My work has focused on how environmental objectives translate into policy and practical decisions, supported by experience in GIS and field research.

I originally entered university in Computer Science before moving into Environmental Studies. That combination continues to shape my interests: I’m comfortable with technical tools, and I want to understand the environmental consequences of the systems we build.

I’m seeking an environmental role that draws on my technical background, whether through GIS, field research, sustainability analysis, or the use of digital tools to improve how work gets done.

Skills & capabilities

GIS & environmental research

ArcGIS, spatial analysis, cartography, and map interpretation. Experience with policy review, survey research, and presenting findings, supported by training in environmental impact assessment, wildlife and resource management, and sustainability.

Fieldwork & observation

Field surveying, transect sampling, acoustic bird monitoring, site records, and environmental data collection. Comfortable working outdoors, with academic training in physical geography, geomorphology and soils, and risks and disasters.

Computing & productivity

Advanced everyday use of Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Strong command of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, with fast typing and the ability to learn unfamiliar software quickly. Self-taught PC assembly, introductory programming, and familiarity with R.

Photography & multimedia

Photography, photo editing, video editing, and multimedia production. Comfortable preparing visual material and presentations, combining technical fluency with attention to composition and clear communication.

Environmental projects

University research and applied projects

Capstone Urban Sustainability ProjectFirst-place team
Paul & Louise Puopolo Award

Rental housing protection
City of Cambridge

Research Analyst · MARQ Consulting · Four-person capstone team

Developed a two-part rental housing protection policy package in response to a live Request for Proposals from the City of Cambridge. The project combined resident consultation with municipal policy review and an implementation cost model.

Our team designed and conducted a resident survey, reviewed zoning and vital services by-laws, and compared rental replacement approaches in Kitchener, Hamilton, and Toronto. We presented the final recommendations to a combined faculty and municipal panel.

The implementation plan accounted for staffing and enforcement requirements, with permit fees proposed to offset part of the cost. This work required the recommendations to hold up against the City’s capacity to fund and administer them.

GIS and spatial analysis

Settlement patterns in
Southern Saskatchewan

Analysed the spatial distribution of settlement populations using weighted and unweighted mean centres and standard deviational ellipses. Compared the results to examine how population weighting changes the apparent centre and dispersion of settlements.

The accompanying map and written interpretation considered the relationship between settlement locations and nearby water bodies, while distinguishing a visual pattern from an established explanation.

Methods: mean centres, population weighting, spatial dispersion, map interpretation.

Field research · Group project

Songbird monitoring in Muskoka

Contributed to a field study across Camp Tawingo, Huntsville, and Arrowhead Provincial Park. The team used transect sampling, Merlin Bird ID, and Swift acoustic recorders to document birds across forest, shoreline, wetland, and developed settings.

Recorded site conditions and location information alongside acoustic observations, then organised the field data in Excel. The study documented limitations affecting detection, including ambient noise, sampling time, and differences in site access.

Methods: acoustic monitoring, transect sampling, field records, data organisation.

Transport and sustainability

New Dundee–Kitchener transit proposal

Developed the capital and operating model for a proposed regional transit connection. Compared electric, hybrid, and diesel fleet options on lifecycle emissions and operating costs, and explored a federal funding pathway for implementation.

The assessment made the financial implications of fleet selection explicit, connecting the emissions objective to a proposal that could be evaluated and funded.

Further research

Food systems and agricultural technology

Individual research presentation

Examined Southern Ontario’s food system through production, imports, and waste. Assessed examples of agricultural technology, including automated weeding, robotic harvesting, and approaches to reducing livestock methane. The research connected an interest in emerging tools with questions about their environmental purpose.

Bill 23 and land-use policy

Group policy analysis

Contributed to a group analysis of Bill 23 and the wider Ontario Greenbelt policy debate. Examined stakeholder interests, development pressures, and implications for wildlife and conservation. The project considered how housing objectives and environmental protection enter land-use decisions.

Carbon pricing and environmental incentives

Individual research report

Prepared a research report on carbon footprints and economic instruments for environmental protection. Examined how taxes, incentives, and tradable permits can influence decisions, with attention to the different responsibilities of households and large organisations.

Northern Rockies Secure Landfill

Group environmental assessment

Contributed to an environmental assessment case study examining pre-planning, screening, and mitigation commitments. Reviewed potential effects on wildlife and water quality, public participation, and compliance issues identified in the project record.

Mining and regional assessment

Research and analysis

Researched proposed mining development in Ontario’s Ring of Fire, considering peatland disturbance, regional assessment, and Indigenous participation. Examined the tension between demand for battery materials and the ecological consequences of extraction.

Consumer electronics and resource use

Individual research presentation

Investigated device replacement, electronic waste, and opportunities to extend product life. Examined repairable design, second-hand markets, and policy as responses to the resource demands of consumer technology.

Technology & computing

Hands-on experience

Growing up alongside technology

I’ve been fascinated by computers since childhood. Growing up in the early 2000s, I watched technology change rapidly and become part of almost everything around me. I wanted to understand how it worked, and that interest led me to build PCs, explore new software, and participate in game playtesting.

I studied computer science in Grades 11 and 12 and continued with programming in my first year at university. After moving into Environmental Studies, I found a subject I genuinely connected with. It gave my interest in technology a broader purpose and brought together my enthusiasm for computing and the outdoors.

My environmental education has added another question to that interest: how do we keep the benefits of technological progress while making its resource demands sustainable? I’m interested in the point where technical possibility meets environmental responsibility.

Ubisoft

Playtest participant
2021–2024

Video game playtesting

Participated in multiple Ubisoft video game playtests between 2021 and 2024. This gave me experience evaluating games as a participant in a structured testing process and reflecting on the player experience.

Independent experience

Self-taught

PC building

Built multiple computers for friends over the years, developing practical familiarity with PC components and system assembly. Learning independently has made me comfortable researching unfamiliar hardware and working through the details needed to put a system together.

Photography

Observing the natural world

Photography gives me a more direct connection to the environments I study. My photographs range from mountain landscapes to wildlife close to home, with a particular interest in the details that are easy to overlook.

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