Bayan Shaeri is a third-year student in the Environmental Design program at the University of Manitoba. He is curious to explore how technology enhances learning and strives to contribute to this ongoing process of discovery and synthesis. Constantly seeking new opportunities to inform his perspective, Bayan integrates these insights into his evolving design approach. He is particularly interested in fostering harmony between humans and nature. Progressively learning various software tools enriches Bayan’s ability to visualize ideas, which are often accompanied by the playful addition of comedic scale figures in his renderings. Outside of academics, he enjoys facilitating Junior Youth Empowerment Program sessions and sipping espresso in the sunshine.

Bayan is a recipient of the 2025 and 2026 URA‍ at the University of Manitoba.

shaerib@myumanitoba.ca

Elia is in her fourth year of Environmental Design in the Landscape + Urbanism stream. She loves studying the structure of trees and learning how they grow. She is also interested in digital and analog representations of trees and landscapes. She believes that just as trees grow in communities it is important that people do to and it is important that we find ways to design healthy cities where people can live in community and have a connection to nature. Her past experiences include leading canoe trips on lakes and rivers, rock climbing, lifeguarding and playing water polo.

nikkele1@myumanitoba.ca

Marc is a second-year student in the Bachelor’s of Environmental Design program at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Architecture, where he plans to pursue the Landscape + Urbanism Stream. He is deeply curious about the intersection of philosophy, human interaction, and environmental care, letting these interests guide his understanding and the development of his design language. Outside of school, he likes picking up new hobbies, walking in the park, and singing karaoke with friends. He strives to foster positive interactions, deepens his understanding of the environment, and appreciates the value of the present. Marc lives by the quote: “Those who would climb the ladder must begin at the bottom.

ballelom@myumanitoba.ca

Maryam Hajizarghani is a senior lead landscape architect and urban-sustainability researcher specializing in ecological design, green infrastructure development, sustainable urban systems, and life-cycle environmental assessment. She studied Environmental Design at the University of Tehran and  University of Calgary and completed postgraduate studies in the Master of Advanced Studies in Landscape Architecture program at ETH Zurich. She also has an academic background in natural resources engineering, providing a strong technical foundation for understanding ecological processes and environmental system performance. Maryam’s research explores how design decisions and urban policies influence land and water use, carbon emissions, environmental performance and well being, and the implementation of green infrastructure in urban and industrial environments. Her interdisciplinary training—spanning natural resources engineering, landscape architecture, and environmental design—combined with professional experience in sustainability consulting, supports an evidence-based approach to planning and design that advances ecological resilience in the built environment.

Maryam’s research is supported by Mitacs BSI.

maryam.hajizarghani@umanitoba.ca

Dhrubo is an ED2 student passionate about transforming concepts into meaningful, built experiences. He is deeply interested in computational architecture and landscape design, especially in how data and information can guide smarter, more responsive design decisions. He is fascinated by the evolving relationship between humans and technology, and he believes that advanced digital tools can make the design process faster, more efficient, and more impactful.

Dhrubo is continuously exploring how emerging technologies can enhance human experience and support better design outcomes. This includes understanding how digital workflows, computational methods, and human‑centered thinking can work together to shape environments that adapt to changing needs and improve the way people interact with the spaces.

Dhrubo is a recipient of the 2026 URA‍ at the University of Manitoba.

latifs2@myumanitoba.ca

Shiza is a new master's student in Landscape architecture. She has completed a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design (L+U) and is particularly interested in the safety and longevity of trees, especially in understanding the prospect of a mature urban canopy.  She aims to explore how surrounding conditions affect the development and health of trees and to identify opportunities to strengthen urban forests in Winnipeg. Her interests also extend to sociological issues, such as green space inequity, green gentrification, and environmental racism within the city, and she hopes to address these conflicts through landscape architecture and similar tactics. In her free time, she enjoys aquascaping and sharing design knowledge to enhance the quality of life for other living organisms, not just people. She is also actively involved in community initiatives, including the Indigenous Medicinal Garden Woven Relations.

jaweds1@myumanitoba.ca

Michael Rados is a second-year student in the Master’s of Landscape Architecture program at the University of Manitoba. He is interested in regional planning, ecotourism, sub-tropical environments, and Japanese design, and is therefore pursuing and researching a practicum topic in Okinawa, Japan, surrounding regional planning in relation to tourism and military bases. He enjoys learning about urban environments, having modelled parts of Tokyo and Los Angeles as a passion project over the years. He hopes to continue learning more about mapping, urban and regional systems, as well as drawing and animation. Outside of academics, he loves to travel the world, learn languages such as Spanish, Japanese, and Russian, and perform Taekwondo, in which he holds a black belt.

radosm1@myumanitoba.ca