Roda Siad

Roda Siad

Roda Siad is a PhD candidate in Communication Studies at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Her research interests are on the social and political implications of digital infrastructures, particularly in migration management and refugee governance. Her doctoral study examines humanitarian innovation and the implications of emerging technologies and data-driven practices on refugee protection and governance in East Africa.

Interview with Roda Siad

Current affiliation
  • McGill University, Montréal, Canada
Hosting institute
German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
Contact
Key expertise
  • Humanitarianism
  • Science and Technology Studies
  • Critical Data Studies
  • Migration Studies
  • Refugee governance
  • Communication Studies
Regional expertise
  • Kenia
  • Uganda

Profile according to FFVT taxonomy

Fields of research
  • Governance Research
  • Migration Research
Scientific topics
  • Borders
  • Humanitarianism
  • Information And Communication Technologies
  • Infrastructure Of Flight / Forced Migration
  • Integration And Social Participation
  • International Protection
  • Media
  • Refugee Camp
  • Refugee Law
Disciplines
  • Other

Academic education / CV

MA, Toronto Metropolitan University

BA, University of Calgary 

Interview

Q1. Who are you? 

I am a PhD candidate in Communication Studies at McGill University. I am interested in the social and political implications of emerging technologies and data-driven practices, particularly in refugee settings. My doctoral research is a multi-sited ethnographic study of humanitarian innovation and the implications of digital infrastructures on refugee governance in East Africa. 

Q2. What was your motivation for applying for the FFVT fellowship? Why Germany? 

The FFVT fellowship focuses on collaboration, building a global network and knowledge mobilisation. As an interdisciplinary and qualitative researcher, these elements are important to ensure my work reaches beyond traditional academic spaces.  

Q3. What do you expect from the fellowship? 

My time with the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) will allow me to build connections with a network of international researchers and exchange ideas and experiences. I also hope to learn more ways to connect my dissertation research to policy development and the work of practitioners.  

Q4. What is the focus of your work, and what is innovative about it? / What are your planned outcomes and activities for the fellowship period? And how do they relate to your FFVT hosting institution/ the FFVT cooperation project? 

My interdisciplinary research aims to contribute to the emerging scholarship that brings together insights from science and technology studies, critical data studies and forced migration studies, areas of study that have traditionally had little overlap. During my time as a FFVT fellow, I plan to share my research with the IDOS team through a presentation/workshop and potentially develop a policy brief. 

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