The EcoShores project is led by faculty members at the University of Saskatchewan’s School of Environment and Sustainability. Project leadership provides academic direction, partner engagement, and coordination of project activities.
Project Lead
Dr. Varuni Jayasooriya
Dr. Varuni Jayasooriya is an Assistant Professor in the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan and the Project Lead for EcoShores. Her research sits at the intersection of GeoAI, spatial data science, and urban sustainability, with a focus on understanding complex urban and environmental systems.
She develops data-driven models that integrate satellite imagery, environmental data, and urban form metrics to support climate adaptation, green infrastructure planning, and sustainable urban development. Through EcoShores, Dr. Varuni leads international collaboration and knowledge-sharing activities focused on coastal climate resilience and nature-based solutions across the Indo-Pacific region.
Co-Project Lead
Dr. Oscar Zapata
Dr. Oscar Zapata is an Assistant Professor in the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan and the Centennial Chair in Community Energy Development. His research focuses on community energy transitions, sustainability, and the ways renewable energy, climate conditions, and economic decisions shape long-term community resilience.
Through EcoShores, Dr. Oscar supports interdisciplinary research collaboration, student mentorship, and knowledge-sharing activities focused on coastal climate resilience and nature-based solutions across the Indo-Pacific region.
Faculty and Research Partners
EcoShores is supported by faculty and research partners across Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and New Zealand. These partners provide regional expertise, student co-supervision, field access, institutional coordination, and knowledge-sharing support for research on coastal climate resilience and nature-based solutions.
Sri Lanka regional Lead
Dr. R. T. Nilusha
Dr. R. T. Nilusha is a Senior Lecturer at the Ocean University of Sri Lanka and serves as the Sri Lanka Regional Lead for EcoShores. Her work focuses on environmental science, wastewater treatment, water quality studies, environmental impact assessment, and sustainability research.
She brings more than 12 years of research, consultancy, and teaching experience across Sri Lanka and China. Through EcoShores, Dr. Nilusha supports student placements, field engagement, local coordination, and knowledge-sharing activities focused on coastal resilience, nature-based solutions, and sustainable coastal and marine resource management in Sri Lanka.
New Zealand Regional Lead
Dr. Iresh Jayawardena
Dr. Iresh Jayawardena is a Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning and Deputy Head of School (Urban Planning) at the University of Auckland. His research focuses on climate adaptation, resilience, nature-based planning solutions, environmental co-design, and regenerative planning.
With professional and academic experience across New Zealand and Sri Lanka, Dr. Iresh brings expertise in urban planning, environmental management, and sustainable urban development. Through EcoShores, he supports research collaboration, student placements, and knowledge-sharing activities focused on coastal climate resilience and nature-based solutions in New Zealand.
Philippines Regional Lead
Dr. Margaux Angelica A. Cruz
Margaux Angelica A. Cruz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geodetic Engineering at the University of the Philippines Diliman and the Philippines Regional Lead for EcoShores. Her work applies remote sensing and geographic information systems to environmental monitoring, biodiversity conservation, coastal management, and smart city research.
In EcoShores, she contributes geospatial and coastal management expertise to support student research, field-based learning, and regional collaboration in the Philippines. Her role strengthens the project’s use of spatial data and applied mapping approaches to better understand coastal climate risks and nature-based solutions.
In EcoShores, she contributes geospatial and coastal management expertise to support student research, field-based learning, and regional collaboration in the Philippines. Her role strengthens the project’s use of spatial data and applied mapping approaches to better understand coastal climate risks and nature-based solutions.
Project Coordination
Alima Zhu
Alima Zhu is the Project Coordinator for EcoShores at the University of Saskatchewan’s School of Environment and Sustainability. She supports project communication, student placement logistics, website updates, event coordination, financial administration, and day-to-day collaboration between project leads, graduate students, and partner institutions.
Her work helps coordinate activities across Canada and the Indo-Pacific region, including graduate student placements, partner engagement, knowledge-sharing events, and project documentation related to coastal climate resilience and nature-based solutions.
Her work helps coordinate activities across Canada and the Indo-Pacific region, including graduate student placements, partner engagement, knowledge-sharing events, and project documentation related to coastal climate resilience and nature-based solutions.