Queen's in the World

For only the third time, a Queen’s University student has been honoured with a Trudeau Scholarship. Doctoral student Sara Pavan (Political Studies) was one of just 14 individuals across Canada to receive the scholarship this year.

Each year the Trudeau Foundation rewards outstanding doctoral candidates who are enrolled in a social sciences or humanities program, and whose research is within one of four themes: human rights and dignity, responsible citizenship, Canada in the world, and people in their natural environment.

“As an international student (from Italy), I am very grateful for the confidence that the Trudeau foundation has in me,” says Ms. Pavan. “The award gives you the opportunity to conduct even more ambitious research. It really changes your perspective about what you can achieve and how you can afford to go ahead with it. It also provides a chance to get to know a network of very interesting people—such as academics, journalists and policy makers.”

Ms. Pavan’s research focuses on institutions in countries that are recipients of large immigration flows and what can be done to help newcomers become part of democratic politics. Her research is supervised by Keith Banting (Policy Studies and Political Studies) and Professor Fiona Kay (Sociology).

Her research compares a Canadian city with a long-standing commitment to multiculturalism to a more laissez-faire American approach. She studies how multicultural policies can impact what we call “social capital,” which in simple terms means “the people you get to know.” She then looks at how knowing a variety of different people encourages newcomers to become active in politics and to develop a trust in political institutions.

"I congratulate Sara on this achievement. To have a third Queen’s student honoured with a Trudeau scholarship is recognition of the high quality of graduate students studying at Queen's," says Principal Daniel Woolf. "The scholarship will allow Sara to concentrate on her research, which is in an area of increasing importance for the development of policy with respect to immigration and citizenship."

Ms. Pavan would like to become an academic and work towards building a more equitable and inclusive world. The Trudeau Scholarship provides up to $60,000 for up to three years and an annual travel allowance to support research-related travel.