We are pleased to announce the recipient of the 2024 Sandy Lapsky Award is hydro-geomorphology Masters student Raju Ahmed. This annual award is offered to a student in good academic standing and recognizes the additional challenges faced by international students. It has been made possible thanks to a generous donation from the department’s former long-time administrator Sandy Lapsky. Originally from Bangladesh, Raju came to UBC in 2023 joining Dr. Marwan Hassan’s UBC Mountain Channel Hydraulics Experimental Laboratory. He embarked on a project studying the catastrophic Coldwater River flood of 2021 that placed the City of Merritt and much of the Nicola Valley underwater as a result of an exceptional atmospheric river event. This once-in-a-century disaster formed the basis of Raju’s thesis research, which was composed of historical flood analysis spanning over seventy years, drawing on data from 1951 to 2022.
Raju on a drone survey
Raju uses advanced remote sensing and geospatial technologies for this work, combining LiDAR, satellite imagery, historical aerial photos and stream flow data. He utilized a deep learning model to measure channel width to evaluate river channel responses to different magnitude of floods.
“To protect ourselves, infrastructures and the environment from hydrological extremes, we need to study these historical patterns. This will allow us to enhance flood risk management policies and strategies,” Raju explains.
Flooding caused by atmospheric rivers is very destructive, as the 2021 Coldwater River flood cost an estimated 9 million dollars to repair the damage. This flood also washed-out areas of the Coquihalla highway. The post-glacial landscape history in British Columbia makes the river systems complex, therefore studying the landscape of the enormous Thompson River basin (which includes the Coldwater River) is key to improving our understanding of river dynamics and the risks associated with them.
Measuring stream flow
Raju is the first of his family to study outside Bangladesh and the only second Bangladeshi graduate student at UBC Geography. Despite travelling over 12,000 kilometers to be here, Raju says his transition to life at UBC and his time in the department has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Everyone here, the faculty, staff and students were so welcoming when I arrived. Their kindness, care and guidance were really instrumental in my success here. They foster an environment where we face challenges with optimism and confidence.”
Although Raju received scholarship offers from other competitive institutions, he was committed to studying at UBC Geography.
“UBC is incomparable with any other institution based on the educational environment, research facilities, architectural beauty, and especially Marwan Hassan’s reputation inspired me to come.”
Long-time faculty member Dr. Marwan Hassan has a remarkable reputation for not only his scientific achievements, but also his exceptional mentorship and ability to foster connections with the students in his lab.
“I am very grateful to have Marwan as a supervisor and especially as a friend. He shows care to me as my father would. His approachable nature, guidance and wisdom are exceptional. These qualities are coupled with his ability to solve any challenge like a magician. It is my true pleasure to have Marwan as an incredible supervisor, friend and collaborator,” Raju shares.
In the field at the East Creek Station survey
Raju is an outstanding student and very hard working. He can be found in the halls of the Geography building nearly every day, even on weekends and holidays. His dedication has been notable since the day he arrived at UBC. Having published over fifteen scientific papers already in his early career and presented at several international conferences, the recognition of this award is very welcome.
“This award means a lot to me. It really validates all my hard work and helped me push my boundaries in the pursuit of new challenges,” he reflects.
Raju and award founder Sandy Lapsky share a special connection as well. Also a former international student at UBC several decades ago, Sandy has a reputation for helping ease the transition to a new culture and academic environment for new folks entering the department. Of Sandy, Raju says:
“I have never met someone so joyful and kind as Sandy. She always has a smile on her face, she’s very open, a quick learner and amazing listener. She’s an excellent problem solver. It’s an honour to receive this award in her name.”
It is always a pleasure to honour the challenges and hard work students face with an award like this, and Raju Ahmed is no exception. We are as thrilled to have him in the department as we are to see him receive this recognition. Congratulations Raju – we look forward with great excitement to your next steps academically and beyond.
- Learn more about Raju Ahmed’s scientific work here
