Dear Diary,
It’s been a while since I’ve sat down to really think about who I am and who I aspire to be. I hope you (The diary, of course) are excited to dive into the unique traits and passions that make me Joseph Cornelio.
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Though I'm a social butterfly in many situations, I'm a homebodied INTP who loves to catch up on reality television. I come from a hardworking family who knows how to play travel just as hard. If you want to see where I've been, feel free to take a peek into this map! Unless I'm studying/working, you can catch me in the kitchen cheffing it up, grinding in the gym, or dancing with some close friends!
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​If you’re interested in learning about a well-rounded first-generation Canadian with a strong passion for fostering sustainable and social-impact in municipalities, keep reading!
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Academic Background
I’m currently a second-year student at the University of Waterloo, working towards a Bachelor of Environmental Studies. Ambition isn’t a stranger to me, and I’ve learned to embrace it by pursuing a major in Honours Planning Co-op, a Diploma of Excellence in Geographic Information Systems, and a Global Experience Certificate. I know it seems like I’m collecting credentials like Pokemon cards, but I’ve learned to tame my ambition and dedicate my energy into topics that truly interest me.​
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The work that I’ve done is a representation of my interests, including but not limited to data collection & analysis, bottom-up community engagement, and sustainable urban design. I’m excited at the opportunities to explore these topics deeper and broaden my understanding of planning practices, maybe even discovering a new interest!
Research Interests
As I continue my academic journey, there are two main topics I’m especially eager to explore.
In an introductory first-year planning course, I wrote a descriptive paper titled "The Intersections of Vision Zero and School Zones," investigating child-pedestrian motor vehicle collisions (CPMVCs) in GTHA school zones. One of the most interesting discoveries I found was that soft infrastructure (Such as crossing guards) do not decrease the likelihood of CPMVCs. These geographic hotspots where children congregate often aren’t designed with their safety and wellbeing in mind. In the future, I’d love to take a remedial approach to examine the dimensions of school zones that compromise child safety and explore urban solutions to ensure children thrive in these hotspots.
Another topic I’d like to gain a deeper understanding of is rooted in my Asian heritage and Canadian upbringing. North American municipalities are heavily influenced by European history, as evidenced by the urban policies shaping Canadian cities in a very Eurocentric way. While I admit I’m still learning (Aren’t we all?), I know Asian cities operate differently. For instance, Japanese cities view housing as a consumable good, a stark contrast to the Canadian view of housing as a profitable asset. I’d love to take an innovative approach to shaping Canadian cities; exploring Asiancentric methodologies and assessing their potential impact if implemented to solve problems Eurocentric principles are yet to address.