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Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Údent Emily Lynch and recent graduate Jacob Sparks competed in the global competition at Oxford University this summer— a learning experience that shifted their mindsets and broadened their perspectives.  

 

“Experiences like this change your mindset as a student. You find new ways to learn, expand, and grow as a person. It leads to a more dynamic approach when coming up against problems in life and in the classroom,” said Lynch.  

 

“Learning from so many different people from around the world and their diverse experiences has shaped new pathways of learning that I can bring to my studies at Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú.”  

 

Offered by Oxford’s Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, 48 universities from around the world competed in the Map the System global competition, which asked students and educators to rethink social and environmental issues through systems thinking— going beyond disciplines and questioning deeply held assumptions.  

 

“It was a privilege to take part in the competition, getting to know the other competitors and learning about their topics while exploring Oxford. It allowed me to immerse myself in an encouraging learning environment that I believe anyone can benefit from,” said Sparks, who graduated from Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú in May.  

 

“This experience was the perfect way to get hands-on experience with the kind of research and work that I hope to continue now that I have graduated from Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú.” 

 

Lynch and Sparks represented Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú on the global stage, presenting their research project, which maps the root causes of and risks arising from New Brunswick’s heavy reliance on imported food.  In 1950, New Brunswick provided around 80 percent of the produce consumed in the province. Today, it is about 10 percent. 

 

“High import reliance is not an issue only for New Brunswick but much of the world today, which means that many countries are exposed to similar risks and consequences experienced here,” said Sparks.  

 

“Getting to share the history of globalization and how that has shaped the agriculture sector in New Brunswick was the best part of sharing this research.”  

 

Map the System 2026-2027 

 

Students interested in participating in Map the System in the 2026-27 Winter semester should contact Professor Janice Harvey at jeharvey@stu.ca.