Who We Are

An interdisciplinary team of experts, early career scholars, practitioners passionate about this topic

The platform is hosted within the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the Ontario Agriculture College, University of Guelph. It is currently led by Dr. Ataharul Chowdhury. The platform includes research and post-doctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students, as well as practitioners interested in the fields of misinformation in agri-food, climate change, and rural development issues. Some members work closely with Dr. Chowdhury on this topic, while others collaborate on various activities. The affiliates are scholars and practitioners from different organizations who wish to contribute to this platform.

Our Team

Dr. Ataharul Chowdhury

Dr. Chowdhury has over sixteen years of experience in agricultural science, extension education, communication and innovation studies, and rural and regional development in both Canada and abroad.

His expertise and academic background intersect in the sub-fields of agricultural science, extension education, communication and innovation studies, and rural and regional development.

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Research and Post-doctoral Fellows

Dr. Khondokar Humayun Kabir

Khondokar Humayun Kabir has worked in agricultural extension and education as a researcher and practitioner for the past 10 years. He studies a bachelor’s in agriculture and master’s in agricultural extension education from Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh.

He is currently working as a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph, Canada. Kabir has a doctoral degree from the department of rural sociology, the institute of social sciences in agriculture, University of Hohenheim, Germany. He conducted a research project funded by DAAD: German Academic Exchange Services on:

capacity development issues in participatory forest management

He took part in modules related to research methodology in different universities in Germany. He has advanced skills in SPSS, Atlas-ti software, PQ-method software, and basic skills in ‘NVivo’ and ‘r’ software.

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Dr. Nasir Abbas Khan

Dr. Nasir Abbas Khan is a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, University of Guelph, Canada, and has recently received the prestigious Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship in the 2022-23 competition and will work with his current adviser, Dr. Ataharul Chowdhury, during the fellowship tenure. Dr. Khan has a doctoral degree in rural development from China Agricultural University, Beijing, China, and a master’s degree in agricultural extension education from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan. Dr. Khan works on the nexus of information and communication technologies (ICTs), climate change adaptation, and rural livelihoods. Specifically, he studies rural livelihoods’ vulnerabilities to climate change risks by exploring farm-level adoption of climate-smart agriculture technologies and adaptation strategies. His research particularly investigates the institutional dimension of climate change governance, where he evaluates the role of advisory support (including digital extension) and institutional preparedness in providing risk management support to rural communities. Nasir has expertise in microeconometric analysis to study complex rural development issues using various regression and impact assessment models. During his PhD, he worked on assessing climate change adaptation and governance in rural Pakistan, funded by the China Scholarship Council (CSC).

Before joining the University of Guelph in June 2023, he was a postdoc fellow at the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, China, during 2021-2023, where he worked on ICTs and climate change governance. He also held another role as a Guest Researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, between 2021 and 2023. Along with these positions, Nasir has also been working with the International Poverty Reduction Centre China (IPRCC) as a researcher during his PhD, where he worked on exploring community development programs in developing nations. He has also been involved in various rural development projects in China, where he had the opportunity to survey several model villages in five provinces of China.

Nasir’s current research focuses on climate change and social inequality, climate misinformation in the agri-food context, pluralistic agricultural extension and advisory services, digitalization in advisory services, social media, and climate-smart agriculture.

Nasir has a great interest in joining this platform as he is passionate about the issues that affect socially marginalized communities around the world, whether they are related to climate disasters or risks of polarization and rising misinformation; therefore, he has a keen interest in resolving them by advocating the use of contemporary media and social learning platforms like this. He is working with Dr. Ataharul Chowdhury on a number of projects and initiatives as part of his post-doctoral position at SEDRD.

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Dr. Mahatab Uddin

Mahatab Uddin, Ph.D. in Law (Aarhus), LL.M (Intellectual Property Law) (Stockholm), MSc. (Sustainable Development) (Uppsala), is an expert in intellectual property law, technology law, and various branches of public international law concerning climate change and sustainable development.

His advanced-level scholarly contributions in the fields of intellectual property law, technology law, and sustainable development have been published by various leading journals, including those from Yale Law School, San Diego Law School, The George Washington University Law School, Pace Law School, and San Francisco Law School. He is the sole author of the book ‘Climate Change Law, Technology Transfer, and Sustainable Development,’ published by Routledge, UK. Additionally, he serves as the Chief Editor of IP & Brand Bulletin, a biannual online magazine.

Dr. Uddin currently holds positions as an adjunct professor and post-doctoral researcher at the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development at the University of Guelph, Canada, where he researches potential legal frameworks for AI-driven climate-smart agricultural practices. He is also a Digital Policy Hub Fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) in Waterloo, Canada. He can be reached at mahatab@uoguelph.ca

Doctoral Students

Milad Zhoolideh

Milad Zhoolideh is currently pursuing his PhD in the Rural Studies program at the University of Guelph, focusing on climate change misinformation and rural livelihoods. Prior to this, he served as a research assistant, concentrating on rural livelihoods within Iran’s rural communities.

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Amina Asfour

Amina is a PhD student in the Rural Studies program at the University of Guelph, with the aim of contributing towards linking science to humanitarian interventions, ensuring that maximum benefit is achieved through creating evidence-based solutions.

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Uduak Edet

Uduak Edet’s research interests include climate change misinformation as well as climate smart investments and finance. Her current research examines the influence of climate change misinformation on farmers’ ability to adapt to climate change in Northern Nigeria.

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Graduate Students

Sultana Yeasmin

Sultana’s current research focuses on “Influence of misinformation on participation of young people with disabilities in agriculture in Bangladesh”. It explores how people with disabilities (PWDs) suffer from discrimination, social stigma, and misinformation, which makes them less confident and frustrated about life and leave them as unproductive.

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In Bangladesh, most of the PWDs are young and stay in rural areas, and in general, they are considered as burden to their families because of unemployment. Furthermore, they don’t get proper treatment and nutrition because of the financial crisis. On the other hand, the increasing population of Bangladesh requires extra food, and we can notice many unused spaces in rural areas where people with disabilities can demonstrate their ability skillfully in vegetable gardening.

Vegetable gardening is a very productive activity for them as it can be done in the bare places around the home. Therefore, tackling misinformation endangering participation of PWDs in agriculture and confirming their participation in vegetable gardening, can be a pragmatic solution in order to empower them, eliminate poverty, reduce hunger, and attain food security. As a result, their nutrition and food security will be confirmed, and they will not be considered as a burden of their family. Moreover, if it is ensured along with the improvement of their livelihood, environmental and economic development of the country will be accelerated. Thus, tackling influence of misinformation on participation of young people with disabilities in agriculture in Bangladesh for food security and livelihood improvement has a great research significance as it will enable vulnerable people to work and contribute to our food system development.

Sultana Yeasmin is an international student from Bangladesh at the University of Guelph pursuing a master’s degree in Capacity Development and Extension. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, from Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh. She has been working as an Assistant Director in the Department of Social Services under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Bangladesh.

Her present posting is in the Employment, Training and Rehabilitation Center for the Physically Handicapped, which is an apex vocational training institute for the people with disabilities in Bangladesh. In addition, she served in various fields of social services including community development, children development center, hospital social services, and district level offices.

Bangladesh scouts is another place where she has volunteered while she was a student at the university. However, her experience as a civil servant and an agriculturist influenced her decision to enroll in this master’s program at the University of Guelph. She hopes to work as a researcher in international NGOs because by doing it she wants to find out the way how we can improve the livelihood of rural community and vulnerable people.

Francesca Solomon

Francesca is a passionate advocate for leadership, public policy, and international development. Fun-loving and grounded in strong family values, she comes from a close-knit family of five and shares their life with a lively dog named Ragna. She lives in Guelph, Canada, where she is currently pursuing an MSc in Capacity Development & Extension with a focus on International Development Studies and Public Policy at the University of Guelph.

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Research Affiliates and Visiting Researchers

Saeedeh Nazari Nooghabi

Dr. Saeedeh Nazari Nooghabi is an expert in rural development, statistical modeling, and decision support systems. She serves as a Research Assistant Professor at the Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Organization (AREEO). Her research primarily focuses on socio-economic and human-environmental issues, employing mixed-method approaches. Her work covers various topics, including vulnerability, climate change adaptation and mitigation, risk analysis and resilience, agricultural education and learning, and innovations in agricultural and food systems. Moreover, she has collaborated with agri-food industries and innovation-focused organizations to support high-tech businesses within the agricultural sector.

Edward Kusi Asafo-Agyei

Mr. Edward Kusi Asafo-Agyei, is an agriculture policy development and extension professional whose extensive background and unwavering commitment to advancing the agricultural landscape makes him a beacon of knowledge and insight, particularly within Sub-Saharan African context. Mr. Asafo-Agyei holds a prominent position at the intersection of academia and practical experience, with a rich tapestry of qualifications and achievements, he is at the forefront of unraveling the intricate web of agricultural policy misinformation in Ghana.

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He began his career as Assistant Agricultural Economist with the Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Ghana where he worked for over 8 years. He also worked with ECOM Agro-industrial Corporation – a global commodity trading and processing company based in Switzerland, where he worked with over 120,000 cocoa farmers across Ghana. Mr. Asafo-Agyei has also been into international development working with the prestigious International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) as well as the International Centre for Evaluation and Development (ICED). As a dedicated scholar, he holds two master’s degrees, one in Agricultural Economics and another in Monitoring and Evaluation and he is currently pursuing further graduate studies in the Capacity Development and Extension program at the distinguished University of Guelph, where his academic pursuits are firmly grounded in cutting-edge research on Agricultural Policy Misinformation and sustainable agricultural practices and a passion for positive change.

His boots-on-the-ground experience has endowed him with an intimate understanding of the inner workings of agricultural policy development and extension delivery, the challenges faced by farmers, and the complex dynamics of misinformation that can take root within these vital sectors. Through his pivotal role within the Ministry, Mr. Asafo-Agyei has been instrumental in shaping policy dialogues, fostering collaborations, and driving impactful initiatives that resonate with the core needs of Ghana’s agricultural community. His unique vantage point allows him to bridge the gap between theory and practice, enabling him to identify the critical touchpoints where misinformation can flourish and to propose pragmatic solutions.

Beyond his illustrious career, Mr. Asafo-Agyei is a beacon of inspiration, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to empowering farmers with accurate information. His tireless efforts in promoting evidence-based decision-making have ignited a spark of change that ripples through the agricultural landscape, offering hope and clarity in the face of confusion. His unique insights and wealth of experience will undoubtedly shed light on the challenges we face and illuminate a path toward a more informed and resilient agricultural future.

He is a family man with a wife and three children. When he is not busy with research and studies, you can find him singing.

Hadis Azizi

Hadis Azizi is pursuing her master’s degree in Capacity Development & Extension at the University of Guelph, after acquiring a BEng in Agricultural Extension & Education at the University of Tehran.

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Kasuni Sachithra

Kasuni Sachithra’s current research focuses on online Communities of Practice, knowledge sharing, learning, and misinformation’s impact.

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Dr. Sonia Goel

Dr Sonia Goel has done PhD in Biotechnology while working at National Institute on Plant Biotechnology, Indian council of Agricultural research (ICAR), Delhi, India.

She has served as associate professor and Head of the department Genetics and Plant breeding, SGT University, Gurugram, India.

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Dr. Jeet Ramjattan

Dr. Ramjattan is an Agricultural Extension Agent with 21 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. He has an academic and practical background in agriculture and extension, having received his Diploma in Agriculture from the Eastern Caribbean Institute of Agriculture and Forestry in 1995 and a BSc. in General Agriculture from the University of the West Indies (U.W.I) in 2010. Following that, he received his MPhil.

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in Agricultural Extension from (U.W. I) in 2015, and in 2022, he submitted his Ph.D. dissertation in Agricultural Extension at (U.W. I). which focused on the topic of Social Capital development among virtual agricultural communities emerging online.

Dr. Ramjattan is a change agent who helps rural communities and organizations enhance their operations and meet their development goals. His interests include e-Extension, rural advisory, social networking, climate-smart agriculture, and capacity building for extension agents, farmers, and youth. He has mentored farmers and youth in sustainable agronomic practices, environmental and biodiversity preservation using principles such as Good Agricultural Practices and Integrated Pest Management using Farmer Field Schools and Plant Clinics. Jeet has collaborated in solution focused partnerships and networking between farmer associations and research organizations such as Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Inter-American Institute for Co-operation on Agriculture (IICA), and Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI).

In his extension programmes he has employed a variety of extension techniques, including, individual farm visit methods; group methods, such as discovery-based learning, participatory approaches; and mass methods leveraging social media platforms to promote digital participation. Jeet has collaborated in multidisciplinary projects for capacity-building initiatives, such as the Farmer-to-Farmer Extension Officer Training with Purdue University, the Technology Stewardship Extension Officer Training (Universities of Guelph, Alberta and UWI), and the Caribbean Fishers Climate Change Adaptation project (FAO). As a course facilitator at the Farmers Training Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture Trinidad and Tobago, he has assisted with the incorporation of digital ICTs and e-extension technologies utilizing social networking platforms, e-learning and e- conferencing tools in online training courses, virtual and live online presentations. Using these strategies, he has contributed to improved client decision-making by offering online and face-to-face learning that is demand-driven, responsive, and efficient. These initiatives have led to the development of effective services by fostering stakeholder interactions and alliances. To enable advances in agricultural growth and achieve sustainable food security, he is constantly seeking out new opportunities to employ innovative approaches that can help vulnerable communities build resilience.

Md. Kamruzzaman

Md Kamruzzaman is a PhD student at the Fenner School of Environment and Society and Institute for Water Futures at the Australian National University, Australia.

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