IIS Alumnus Dr Karim-Aly Kassam honoured with International Career Achievement Award
IIS alumnus Dr Karim-Aly Kassam (WTEP 1991) has been selected to receive the University of Calgary's Alumni Arch Award for International Career Achievement. The award acknowledges alumni whose outstanding careers have benefited their communities and the wider society. Dr Kassam has been honoured for his exceptional academic and professional contributions, marked by resilience, dedication, and a deep commitment to fostering understanding and peace through education and community service.
Dr Kassam is an International Environmental and Indigenous Studies Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies for the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Programme at Cornell University. His research focuses on cultural pluralism, ecological foundations, and the complex interplay between human and environmental relations. This includes exploring Indigenous ways of knowing, climate change, sustainable livelihoods, and food systems. Dr Kassam's research is deeply rooted in collaboration with Indigenous communities across the Circumpolar Arctic and the Pamir Mountains of Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Xinjiang. Through this work, he combines rigorous academic methodology with a pedagogy of hope, striving to strengthen the voices of Indigenous peoples.
In addition to his role at Cornell, Dr Kassam has served as a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Central Asia (UCA), where he helped design and develop UCA's undergraduate Earth and Environmental Sciences curriculum with an emphasis on the region's unique cultural and ecological characteristics, promoting a deeper understanding of local environments and communities.
Dr Karim-Aly Kassam, with a small team from IIS, researches the continuation of indigenous knowledge and mentors young researchers in the Pamir Mountains of Badakhshan. Images from IIS Alumni Newsletter 2011. Courtesy of Dr Karim-Aly Kassam.
Dr Kassam led an international team conducting a three-year study in Asia's Pamir Mountains. The study aimed to recalibrate the seasonal ecological calendars used by local communities, allowing them to better anticipate the impacts of climate change. This research integrated Indigenous knowledge with scientific climate and biological data, enhancing the anticipatory capacity of Pamiri communities. Dr Kassam and his team also trained local undergraduates at the University of Central Asia, building the region's capacity for scientific research.
Beyond his academic achievements, Dr Kassam has been a longstanding contributor to institutions of the Ismaili community and Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) agencies. Early in his career, he worked as an independent evaluator for the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) in Pakistan, focusing on improving the livelihoods of rural communities in the Northern Areas and Chitral. Additionally, as a member of the Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Board (ITREB) for Canada, Dr Kassam played a key role in developing educational programmes that explore the intersection of religious expression and cultural identity. His contributions to ITREB's policy development have impacted the Ismaili community's approach to education, particularly regarding integrating cultural and religious education.
Dr Kassam's work illustrates the power of combining research, teaching, and community engagement to serve humanity. His lifelong dedication to bridging the gap between nature and culture inspires future generations of scholars, activists, and community leaders worldwide.
The Institute of Ismaili Studies congratulates Dr Karim-Aly Kassam on this well-deserved recognition of his outstanding achievements. His contributions to environmental and Indigenous studies and his commitment to volunteering and community development have made a lasting impact.
