UBC Library recently hosted students from the Urban Forestry program in its Rare Books and Special Collections (RBSC), offering them a hands-on experience with archival materials to support their studies. What began as a conversation between archivist Claire Malek and Dr. Susan Day, an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, has grown into a long-standing collaboration that integrates archival research into urban forestry coursework.
During these sessions, students learn how historical records like flood photos, city planning maps, and old theses, can deepen understanding of topics such as urban ecology, greenspace planning, forest systems, and sustainability. Archivists Malek and Helen L. Brown have worked together to introduce a range of sources that help students explore how historical patterns and decisions continue to impact present-day urban environments.
The class, now taught by Dr. Matthew Mitchell, emphasizes the value of archival data for research and future careers, giving students unique skills for investigating long-term changes in urban ecosystems.
See the original article by Anna Moorhouse, UBC Library welcomes urban forestry students into the archives, UBC Library (January 19, 2026) here.