July 23, 2026
PhD student pursues solutions at the intersection of critical minerals and Indigenous rights
Driven by a passion for environmental law and a commitment to advancing Indigenous rights, Laura Rivalta Baez (LLM’25) is using her PhD at the University of Ģý Faculty of Law to tackle some of today's most pressing legal challenges.
Motivated by a passion for research and a desire to experience life abroad, Rivalta chose to pursue advanced academic studies with UĢý Law instead of practicing after receiving her law degree at the University of Havana. According to Rivalta, UĢý Law provided the opportunity to deepen her research interests though a community that has supported her journey from master's student to doctoral candidate.
In her master’s dissertation, Rivalta focused on the polycentric and collaborative lithium governance in the Lithium Triangle (Chile, Bolivia and Argentina). Upon completing her master's degree, Rivalta chose to continue her academic research in this area.
“I've always been really interested in the dynamics around natural resources and mining and the interactions and conflicts between the different stakeholders involved,” she said.
Raised in Cuba, environmental injustices against Indigenous communities across Latin America were something Rivalta frequently saw on the news, so following the path of environmental law and resource governance was personal to her. Today, her focus as a PhD student is on the legal and institutional pathways for advancing Indigenous economic reconciliation in Canada’s critical minerals sector.
“Coming to Canada and being in a country where the conversation on Indigenous rights is active and ongoing, made me feel even more compelled to pursue this,” she said.
UĢý Law’s Dr. Elizabeth Steyn has been supervising Rivalta’s academic journey since 2023, first on her master’s thesis, and now in the PhD program.
“Laura is a joy to supervise,” said Steyn. “She is phenomenally bright, a creative and talented researcher, and a thoroughly empathic human being.”
Steyn, whose research is focused on critical minerals, mineral mining, and human rights, believes Rivalta’s research comes at a crucial time for Canada.
“Critical minerals and Indigenous rights are intricately interwoven, and it is vital that we get the balance right,” she said.
Outside of her academic pursuits, Rivalta balances her workload with a number of hobbies. During her undergrad, she won two silver medals in swimming and basketball, and a gold medal in water polo. For her, joining communities outside of academia remains an important aspect of her journey.
"That's something great about university," she said. "You get to have experiences outside classes and researching."
Despite her academic accomplishments, Rivalta admits she doesn’t have a clear plan for what’s next. Taking it one step at a time, she remains open to opportunities both in and outside academia.
As she continues her PhD and research, Rivalta is embracing this uncertainty not as a weakness, but as an opportunity to grow, learn, and discover where her path leads next.