Isaac Luginaah named as a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences

November 20, 2018

Isaac Luginaah, Professor in the Department of Geography, has been named as a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS).

Isaac Luginaah, Professor in the Department of Geography, has been named as a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences (AAS).

The AAS recognizes individuals who have excelled in their fields of expertise, and who have contributed to developing their fields in Africa.

Fellows of the AAS are Africans who may live in or outside the continent, and are elected by AAS fellows based on achievements that include their publication record, innovations, leadership roles and contribution to policy.

Luginaah is a health geographer, and was nominated for his “innovative research in population, environment and health.” His research addresses the impact of environmental hazards and vulnerabilities in population health, and encompasses research in North America, and in Africa.

Luginaah’s North American research focuses on health effects of environmental exposure, and Aboriginal health. With CIHR funding, he is currently researching HIV/AIDS in London, Ottawa, Toronto and Windsor.

His research in Africa focuses on Health Inequalities, HIV/AIDS and food security among vulnerable populations. He was recently awarded NSERC funding for food security research in Malawi. This research includes colleagues from Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and the United States.

In the nomination for the Fellowship, it is noted that Luginaah “has contributed significantly to environment and health as a major focus and policy-related field within health geography, and has been successful in establishing multidisciplinary collaborations both nationally and internationally.”

Luginaah has published extensively, with more than 170 peer-reviewed articles, and his research has been cited in policy debates and interventions.

Along with his research, Luginaah has helped train the next generation of scholars. His students have come from around the world, including Canada, Cambodia, China, Malawi, Norway, Rwanda and South Sudan.

“It’s a real honour to be recognized,” Luginaah said. “It’s nice to have acknowledgement from your peers that they recognize you for your work.”

Luginaah is also a member of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists, and was Canada Research Chair in Health Geography (2007-2017).