Research at IIESL

At IIESL, we are working on place-based frameworks that reclaim inclusion as a tool for transformative change, economic justice, and democratic possibility. We do so by cultivating and facilitating international collaborative partnerships that bring together different disciplines and forms of knowledge as well as government, community-led organizations, non-profits and international agencies. We aim to provide valuable analysis and resources for researchers, teachers, policymakers, planners, and community organizers interested in promoting inclusive economies in Toronto and around the world.

As the world shifts to renewable energies, there is growing demand for minerals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. These minerals are often mined in ways that harm the environment and local communities. Self-Driving Labs (SDLs) are being promoted as tools that can speed up the discovery of alternative materials and reduce reliance on scarce resources. But this shift also raises big questions: Who controls these new technologies? How do they change the work of scientists? And what are the wider impacts on supply chains, global power, and resource governance?