Nexus

TASA Bursary Reflection: A. B. M. Enamol Hassan 

Currently, I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Geography, Environment and Population at the University of Adelaide. My research interests include climate change, migration, governance, and participatory approaches, with a strong emphasis on the mixed-method research approach. My doctoral research examines the adaptation processes of climate-induced migrants living in low-income urban communities, focusing on how these migrants reconstruct their livelihoods in relation to infrastructure, social networks, economic opportunities, health, and sanitation services. I also investigate the roles of multiple stakeholders—both state and non-state actors—in enhancing the adaptive capacity of climate migrants by facilitating their access to sustainable livelihood opportunities. In addition, my broader research interests include community-based forestry, participatory approaches, and collaborative governance, based on advanced sociological theories and socio-ecological systems perspectives.  

Attending the conference was a highly enriching experience, as it gave me opportunity to meet with scholars working across diverse thematic areas of sociology. Particularly, I drew my interest on Environment and Society stream, which encompasses the dynamic relationship between humans and nature and how these interactions interchangeably shape our society, social structure and social process. TASA's Conference provided me with an excellent platform to disseminate part of my research findings, where I presented how climate migrants navigate adaptation processes in terms of rebuilding livelihoods during the post-migration period in urban slum settlements. I really enjoyed the Q&A session through which I received thoughtful questions and constructive feedback that will be helpful for further development of my research insights. On the other hand, attending other presentations also offered me valuable exposure to a wide range of sociological perspectives, generating new insights for future research directions and potential collaborations. Moreover, exploring the latest editions of books and journals from various publishers on diverse sociological themes and perspectives was really exciting and intellectually stimulating for me.  

Finally, I sincerely appreciate the bursary committee for approving my travel grant application to attend the conference. As a PhD student, the bursary was truly helpful in enabling my participation in the conference, as it covered the conference registration fee and provided a travel allowance. This financial support allowed me to travel to Melbourne to attend the conference without any financial constraints.