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I grew up on the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuu T'ina and the Stoney Nakoda First Nations. The City of Calgary is also home to the Metis Nation of Alberta, Region III. I have a BA(H) in Sociology from Acadia University, a BSW and MSW (specialising in Leadership in International Social Work) from the University of Calgary and completed my PhD from the University of Edinburgh. I have worked and/or volunteered in Canada, US, Vanuatu, St. Lucia, England and Scotland. I currently volunteer my time with the Give Back Yoga Foundation and when I'm not working you can find me out in the hills, nose in a book, or in a yoga studio.
National Newspaper Award Special Recognition Citation
2023 National Newspaper Awards Special Recognition Citation for trauma-informed working covering the frontlines of climate change. The award is designed to recognize “exceptional journalism that does not fit into any of the existing categories” and “is meant to open the door to experimentation in journalism: transcending categories, newsrooms and the industry.” It honours the educators, journalists, students, and survivors who led the project in 2022 and 2023 and produced/supported work that was published, broadcast, and performed by our news media partners during those years
Research Culture Award
University of Stirling
Highly Commended award for Best Activity That Contributes to Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity, Research Culture Award
Research Culture Award
University of Stirling
Nominated for Best Collaborator
Research Culture Award
University of Stirling
Nominated for Best Collaborator
British Association of Social Work
International Committee Member
Give Back Yoga Foundation
Trustee
Trauma Informed Social Work Services – Partnership Delivery Group
Scottish Government
Urban Uprising Volunteer
UK based charity that supports and runs projects that get children from disadvantaged backgrounds outdoors climbing.
Podcast Interview
The human-nature relationship within an eco-social worldview (Audio podcast). Eco-Social Work in Australia. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eco-social-work-in-australia/id1573546673
PhD Examinations
I have been an external PhD Examiner for Deakin University
Icelandic Research Foundation
External reviewer
Strathclyde University UG Social Work
External Examiner
Climate Disaster Project
University of Victoria
Project Member
https://climatedisasterproject.com/
Water Resilience in Scotland
Scottish Water
The proposed research has multiple objectives, specifically to:
• Address the current gap in understanding of how engagement and action can build water resilience in Scotland;
• Develop a co-produced definition of water resilience in Scotland;
• Map the determinants of water resilience in Scotland through interviews and a workshop guided by the Sniffer PSTCL;
• Create a summary report mapping the emerging determinants of water resilience;
• Make recommendations for future participatory place-based approaches;
• Establish the groundwork in pilot evidence and partnerships to create a larger research project funded by the UKRI.
GCRF-FCDO Climate Resilience Programme
Resilience+: Integrating Equity into Climate-Resilient Development
One year project funded by the ESRC/GCRF (2020-2021 - on hold due to UK DFID Budget restraints)
Role: Co-investigator
Amount: £200,000
Over the last two decades, Rwanda has experienced periods of severe flooding and drought, resulting in severe damage to crops affecting more than two million people, destruction of infrastructure and even loss of life. These climate impacts affect certain people more than others, and women and persons with disabilities are two such disproportionally affected groups. It is therefore vital to build their resilience to climate shocks. However, policies, programmes and projects aiming to do so have been criticised by many critical scholars as affording insufficient attention to the needs of marginalised and vulnerable groups. In some cases, this has been shown to lead to increasing inequalities and vulnerability rather than resilience. This project aims to address this challenge by building a Network of citizens (local women and people with disabilities from the Eastern Province), development practitioners, policymakers and academics who would come together to discuss what resilience means for different people, and what kinds of resources, knowledge and capabilities are necessary for the Rwandan context for making resilience policy and programming more equitable in its outcomes.
Partner Institutions are:
Glasgow Caledonian University (Project Lead)
Send A Cow (UK)
Send A Cow (Rwanda)
University of Coventry
University of Rwanda
Rwanda Ministry of Environment
National Union of Disability Organisations of Rwanda
Rwanda Women's Network
The project was cancelled due to UK Governmental Department for International Development (DFID) budget cuts.
The British German Forum
Invited Speaker
The British German Forum: A focus on building resilience. University of Stirling Public Policy Blog. https://policyblog.stir.ac.uk/2021/11/26/the-british-german-forum-a-focus-on-building-resilience/
Alberta College of Social Workers
Yoga Alliance
Equality, Diversion and Inclusivity Committee
University of Stirling
Race Equality Steering Group
University of Stirling
Scottish Social Sciences Graduate School
University of Stirling
Pathway Rep for Sociology and Social Work
Service User and Carer Group Convenor
University of Stirling
https://unity.wordpress.stir.ac.uk/
My research centres on community resilience as well as the role of social work in combating the climate crisis such as the emotionality of climate change. This often takes the form of looking at community mental health, trauma and eco-grief. I have experience working with vulnerable populations as well as community groups within a research and teaching capacity. I primarily work within interdisciplinary settings and work with ecologists, health psychologists, public health, geographers, sociologists, anthropologists and archaeologists. I work within the umbrella of qualitative methods and have experience with focus groups, in depth interviews, photo-voice and autoethnography. I am Co-Lead of the Extreme Events research group.
Covid19 & Community Resilience With A Focus On Preparedness Flooding
PI: Dr Tony Robertson
Funded by: Scottish Flood Forum (SFF)
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Building a Movement: Community Development and Community Resilience in Response to Extreme Events
PI: Dr Sandra Engstrom
Funded by: National Centre for Resilience Scotland
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Book Chapter
Social Work Climate Change And Colonialism
Engstrom S & Choate PW (2024) Social Work Climate Change And Colonialism. In: Baikady R, Sajid SM, Nadesan V, Przeperski J, Islam MR & Gao J (eds.) The Palgrave Handbook of Global Social Change. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87624-1_330-1
Book Chapter
Decolonization has thus far mostly failed – drawing from Canadian lessons
Engstrom S & Choate PW (2023) Decolonization has thus far mostly failed – drawing from Canadian lessons. In: Baikady R, Sajid SM, Przeperski J, Nadesan V, Islam MR & Gao J (eds.) The Palgrave Handbook of Global Social Problems. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan.
Book Chapter
Can we keep the environment in mind while we adjust to renewed freedoms?
Engstrom S (2022) Can we keep the environment in mind while we adjust to renewed freedoms?. In: Turner D & Fanner M (eds.) Digital Connection in Health and Social Work: Perspectives from Covid-19. Critical Publishing. https://www.criticalpublishing.com/digital-connection-in-health-and-social-work
Website Content
The British German Forum: A focus on building resilience
Engstrom S (2021) The British German Forum: A focus on building resilience. University of Stirling Public Policy Blog [Blog post] 26.11.2021. https://policyblog.stir.ac.uk/2021/11/26/the-british-german-forum-a-focus-on-building-resilience/
Website Content
COP26: Reflections of a first-time attendee
Engstrom S (2021) COP26: Reflections of a first-time attendee. University of Stirling Public Policy Blog [Blog post] 12.11.2021. https://policyblog.stir.ac.uk/
Article
Theory and practice of building community resilience to extreme events
Robertson T, Docherty P, Millar F, Ruck A & Engstrom S (2021) Theory and practice of building community resilience to extreme events. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 59, Art. No.: 102253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2021.102253
Website Content
A thread usually breaks where it is thinnest – lessons for building communities back better
Robertson T & Engstrom S (2021) A thread usually breaks where it is thinnest – lessons for building communities back better. University of Stirling Public Policy Blog [Blog post] 07.05.2021. https://policyblog.stir.ac.uk/2021/05/07/a-thread-usually-breaks-where-it-is-thinnest-lessons-for-building-communities-back-better/
Article
Embracing an Ecosocial Worldview for Climate Justice and Collective Healing
Engstrom S & Power M (2021) Embracing an Ecosocial Worldview for Climate Justice and Collective Healing. Journal of Transdisciplinary Peace Praxis, 3 (1), pp. 120-144. https://jtpp.uk/archive/
Consultancy Report
Covid-19, Community Resilience Survey and Flooding Preparedness
Robertson T & Engstrom S (2020) Covid-19, Community Resilience Survey and Flooding Preparedness. The Scottish Flood Forum. Edinburgh.
Article
Radical Self-care for Social Workers in the Global Climate Crisis
Engstrom S & Powers M (2020) Radical Self-care for Social Workers in the Global Climate Crisis. Social Work, 65 (1), pp. 29-37. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swz043
Newspaper Article
From bush fires to terrorism: how communities become resilient
Robertson T & Engstrom S (2020) From bush fires to terrorism: how communities become resilient. The Conversation. 21.01.2020. https://theconversation.com/from-bush-fires-to-terrorism-how-communities-become-resilient-129932
Article
Recognising the Role Eco-grief Plays in Responding to Environmental Degradation
Engstrom S (2019) Recognising the Role Eco-grief Plays in Responding to Environmental Degradation. Journal of Transdisciplinary Peace Praxis, 1 (1), pp. 168-186. https://jtpp.uk/archive/
Policy Document
Building a Movement: Community Development and Community Resilience in Response to Extreme Events
Engstrom S, Docherty PJ & Robertson T (2019) Building a Movement: Community Development and Community Resilience in Response to Extreme Events. University of Stirling. Stirling. https://www.stir.ac.uk/research/public-policy-hub/policy-briefings/
Project Report
Engstrom S, Docherty P & Robertson T (2019) Building a Movement: Community Development and Community Resilience in Response to Extreme Events - End of Project Report. National Centre for Resilience. Stirling, UK. https://extremeevents.stir.ac.uk/files/2019/12/Community-Resilience-to-Extreme-Events-Final-Report-Dec-2019.pdf
Research Report
Befriending Services for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children in Scotland
Scott J, Grant M, Rigby P & Engstrom S (2019) Befriending Services for Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children in Scotland. Scottish Government / EU Integration Strategy. Stirling: University of Stirling.
Article
Interpersonal Justice: The importance of relationships for child and family social workers
Engstrom S (2019) Interpersonal Justice: The importance of relationships for child and family social workers. Journal of Social Work Practice, 33 (1), pp. 41-53. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2017.1400957
Book Chapter
Engstrom S (2018) Reconnecting with the Earth. In: Powers M & Rinkel M (eds.) Social Work: Promoting Community and Environmental Sustainability, Volume 2. Rheinfelden, Switzerland: International Federation of Social Workers, pp. 255-263. https://www.ifsw.org/product/books/social-work-promoting-community-and-environmental-sustainability-volume-2/
Book Chapter
PhD: Pivotal Heart Development
Engstrom S (2018) PhD: Pivotal Heart Development. In: Black A & Garvis S (eds.) Women Activating Agency in Academia: Metaphors, Manifestos and Memoir. Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 157-163. https://www.routledge.com/Women-Activating-Agency-in-Academia-Metaphors-Manifestos-and-Memoir/Black-Garvis/p/book/9781138551138
Article
Improving the Protection and Wellbeing of Children in Europe: Enhancing the Curriculum
Rigby P & Engstrom S (2017) Improving the Protection and Wellbeing of Children in Europe: Enhancing the Curriculum. Revista de Asistenţă Socială, 2017 (3). http://www.swreview.ro/index.pl/improving_the_protection_and_wellbeing_of_children_in_europe_enhancing_the_curriculum
Article
The “Good Enough” Parent: Implications for Child Protection
Choate PW & Engstrom S (2014) The “Good Enough” Parent: Implications for Child Protection. Child Care in Practice, 20 (4), pp. 368-382. https://doi.org/10.1080/13575279.2014.915794
Article
Organisational Justice and Child Protection Social Work
Engstrom S (2013) Organisational Justice and Child Protection Social Work. Journal of Workplace Rights, 17 (3-4), pp. 347-366. https://doi.org/10.2190/WR.17.3-4.f
Article
International migration and social work: A review of the literature
Shier ML, Engstrom S & Graham JR (2011) International migration and social work: A review of the literature. Journal of Immigrant and Refugee Studies, 9 (1), pp. 38-56. https://doi.org/10.1080/15562948.2011.547825
