King's students bring original research to international borders conference
Current and former King’s students continued to take their learning beyond the classroom by presenting their original research at the Comparative Borders conference, an international gathering of undergraduate and graduate students from across North America, which was held at Brock University.
The conference, formerly known as Crossing Borders, brings together students working in Canadian, American and Indigenous studies, along with broader global perspectives on borders and migration. For King’s students, it offers an introduction to the expectations and opportunities of academic research beyond the classroom.
This year, Human Rights Studies student Iman Elkassem and alumna Apeksha Pawanikar, BA'23 (Social Justice & Peace Studies and History) shared their work, contributing to conversations on global and historical issues while gaining experience in an academic conference setting.
Elkassem’s presentation, “Unequal Gateways: Discriminatory Barriers in Canada’s Gaza Temporary Resident Visa Program,” examined how Canada’s humanitarian immigration policies can create unequal access, highlighting systemic barriers affecting Palestinians. Pawanikar, now pursuing a thesis-option History MA at Western, explored how modern border systems reflect ongoing global inequalities shaped by colonial legacies in “Imparting Injustice: A Discourse on Colonial Hangover of Distorted Realities.”
For both, the experience offered more than the opportunity to present: they engaged with scholars from across regions, responded to questions in a professional setting, and built connections with peers working in related fields.
Dr. Stephanie Bangarth, Professor of History and Human Rights Studies, has been taking senior students to the conference for the past several years, helping establish King’s as a consistent and recognized presence. Her continued involvement reflects the value of opportunities that allow students to test their ideas, strengthen their confidence and engage with academic communities beyond campus.
“Both Iman and Apeksha gave wonderfully erudite presentations, handled questions as if they were seasoned academics, and networked with students from both sides of the border,” says Dr. Bangarth. “This conference continues to be an important experiential learning opportunity for students.”
Experiences like this show how King’s combines close faculty mentorship with opportunities that extend learning into the real world, helping students build the skills and confidence to take their next academic or professional steps.
“This is exactly the kind of high-impact experiential learning opportunity that is so valuable for our students,” says Dr. Erin Hannah, Associate Dean of Research. “The opportunity to present original research, engage in scholarly dialogue, and build academic networks at this stage in their careers is incredibly meaningful.”