Our lab seeks to understand the population genetic structure of temperate and boreal trees, and the evolutionary dynamics that have resulted in that structure. We are particularly interested in the extent of local adaptation to climate in tree populations, the phenotypic traits and genes involved in local adaptation, and the capacity of those populations to adapt to new climates. To investigate this question we are using genomic tools as well as phenotypic data from common gardens and controlled environment experiments. We also infer the phylogeography, demographic history, and levels of gene flow of these populations using a variety of selectively neutral genetic markers. Finally, our work is applied to guide genetic conservation and management strategies for our forests. Our research is funded through Genome Canada, Genome BC, the Forest Genetics Council of BC, Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions, the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
AdapTree: Assessing the adaptive portfolio of reforestation stocks for future climatesCurrent July 2011 – June 2014
The primary objective of this large-scale genomics project funded by Genome Canada, Genome BC, Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions and the Forest Genetics Council of BC is to improve provincial seed transfer policy and operational forest management response to climate change by: 1) comparing the adaptive portfolio of operational seedlots from tree breeding programs and seed orchards to the climatic distribution and landscape genomics of natural populations; 2) developing strategies for operational seed transfer that will reduce the risk of loss of forest productivity and health due to maladaptation in planted forests; and 3) evaluating ecological, economic, social, and legal implications of these results for forest-dependent communities and ecosystems. In the process of meeting these objectives, we are learning a great deal about the genomic basis of local adaptation in conifers, microevolutionary processes in conifer populations, and the capacity of these populations to respond to climate change through adaptation and through phenotypic plasticity.
Awards
Canadian Forestry Scientific Achievement Award, Canadian Institute of Forestry 2009 UBC Killam Teaching Prize 2010 IUFRO Scientific Achievement Award 2014 Wall Scholar, Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies 2014
Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada 2017
Genome BC Award For Scientific Excellence, Life Sciences BC 2018
Scholarships totaling approximately $15,000 are awarded annually to one outstanding student in each of the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship’s Professional Master’s programs (MGEM, MIF, MSFM, and MUFL). Eligibility criteria include high academic standing, as well as demonstrating exceptional engagement and leadership within their cohort.
Congratulations to the 2022/23 recipients of the Binkley Family Graduate Scholarship:
MGEM
Melissa Birch: MGEM is thrilled to announce Melissa as this year’s recipient of the Binkley Family Graduate Scholarship. Her academic success is evident through her participation in class and office hours, and through continually asking questions that demonstrate deep understanding of the material. Melissa highlights leadership through empathic listening, ensuring that all voices get heard, and advocating on behalf of her classmates. Melissa is understanding, compassionate, open-minded and approachable. She fully embodies what is means to be a Binkley Award Winner.
MIF
Rory Read: Unanimously selected by the faculty of MIF. Rory achieved the highest program-wide GPA average among his cohort. He has demonstrated a diversity of leadership styles, all of which advance the inclusivity and cohesion of the MIF family-style cohort. He brings creativity and critical perspectives to the learning environment, constructively challenging his colleagues. Leading from the front, leading by interrogating consensus, leading by eliciting the inputs of others, leading by aspiring for betterment of his colleagues and for their contribution to society, are all ways in which Rory deserves the prestigious Binkley award.
MSFM
Pauline Flottat: Pauline is a model for professionalism in the MSFM program and exemplifies the qualities of Binkley award recipients. She emerged as a clear leader through high academic achievement combined with productive engagement in all class and team activities which addressed the complexities of forest management.
MUFL
Clara Jeanroy: Clara joined our Master of Urban Forestry Leadership program while finalizing another master’s degree. Despite these challenging circumstances and heavy workload, Clara has remained engaged, positive, and kind. She maintains a high-grade point average while contributing to a collegial classroom environment. Her questions are thoughtful and encourage us to look deeper into how urban forestry can contribute to better city life. She brings a love of learning to the classroom that inspires us all to embrace the complexities of urban greening and aspire to do our best.
Interested in this Scholarship?
Learn more about all the scholarships available to our Graduate students:
Quantitative analysis of complex forestry datasets in various areas: tree improvement, tree plantation, experimental trials, permanent sample plots (PSPs), fertilization trials etc.
Educational research on subject-specific teaching evaluation and identify effective implementation plans.
Effectiveness of open sources for teaching and learning geospatial data analysis using Python.
Quantifying quality control tool based on machine learning approaches
Meta-modelling and meta-analysis of tree mortality, damaging agents (rust), tree growth and yield, tree fertilization
Modelling and forecasting improved genetics
Projects
Hybrid Teaching and Learning Pilot Project Current March, 2021 – August, 2021
Awards
2020 Natural Sciences Education Outstanding Reviewer, Natural Sciences Education, American Society of Agronomy
Best poster award, 3rd prize, UBC, Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship 2015
Brenda Hanson Memorial Scholarship, UBC, Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship 2015
Mary and David Macaree Fellowship, UBC, Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship 2013
Wilderness Foundation Africa Representativewith Wilderness Foundation Africa Association in Vietnam
I’m excited to return to Wilderness Foundation Africa as a Wild Rhino Representative and Project Coordinator for my fourth Coop term. As the only member of this South African organization who’s working in Vietnam, I have learned how to work independently and responsibly. Because this is my second term in this position, my responsibilities have increased from establishing new connections, outreaching, and hosting school events to also include initiating new projects such as developing educational materials, hosting more formal seminars, training volunteers, and kickstarting a new comic book for Wild Rhino. Working for an NGO has taught me to become a Jack-of-all-trades and enhanced my ability to be flexible and adaptable. Everything that I do for Wild Rhino is to raise awareness about the rhino poaching crisis and to stop the demand for rhino horn in Asian countries, especially Vietnam. The Forestry Coop Program has provided me with the opportunity to reconnect with the NGO that guided me to conservation in the first place as well as to gain work experience in Vietnam, my hometown.
Summer Camp Leader with North Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association in Vancouver, BC
During my first Co-op term I have been working with the Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association (VBGA), and most closely with VanDusen Botanical Garden as a Summer Camp Leader. The VBGA was founded in 1966 by a group of activists hoping to preserve natural green spaces in a sprawling urban environment. As a Summer Camp Leader, I have been able to utilize my understanding of key plant species of British Columbia, to help educate youth about the importance of appreciating and respecting natural ecosystems of our province. During each week of camps, I help to organize and run a fieldtrip for the all the campers to visit Bloedel Conservatory where they can learn about many tropical plants and birds. The Forestry Co-op program has provided me with the key foundational skills to help me successfully enter the work force. It has been an amazing way for me to apply my academic knowledge in a workplace setting.
Farm Hand with North Shore Neighborhood House in North Vancouver, BC
During my co-op work term, I have been working as a farm hand at the Edible Garden Project. My responsibilities include helping with farm tasks such as watering, harvesting and processing as well as helping to teach and coordinate volunteers in helping with these farm tasks. I have learned a lot about how to smoothly coordinate volunteers and communicate instructions and information to others. Thanks to the support of the EGP, I have also been working on other creative projects such as making a series of fundraising veggie pronoun pins that help make the farm a more inclusive community. Through this opportunity, I have been able to learn more about how non-profit organizations work and how to engage with dedicated volunteer communities, and I look forward to applying these skills in my own career.
Summer Program Coordinator with Burns Bog Conservancy in Delta, BC
Summer Program Coordinator at Burns Bog Conservation Society. I have been in charge of planning weekend tours, summer camp learning materials, an open house for the society and educational workshops. I love working with kids and the environment so getting the chance to teach kids using nature as a classroom during the summer camp has been a great opportunity. I have also had the chance to improve my event planning skills while also building by knowledge about bog ecosystems! Being a part of co-op gave me this unique chance to get hands-on experience with the kind of work I’ve been wanting to do and I cannot wait to see what’s in store for the rest of this work term.
The Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship Student Services is hiring 2 Forestry Peer-Assisted Study Session (PASS) Leaders for the 2023-24 academic year (September-April). Please see the attached job description for more details, and apply by Sunday, April, 16th (deadline extended).
Environmental Co-op with Teck Resources Limited in Hinton, AB
I spent the last 8-months working for Teck Resources Limited as an Environmental Co-op Student at their Cardinal River mine near Hinton, Alberta. The mine operated for 51 years as an open-pit metallurgical coal mine, which is high quality coal used for steel-making, before it halted operations and transitioned into closure in June of 2020. My role here was mainly split between the Environment and Reclamation teams taking on water management programs, and being the lead environmental monitor for the Harris Reclamation Project. I was responsible for water sampling and monitoring in accordance with regulatory approvals and compliance parameters. I reviewed lab results and input data for regulatory reporting to the Government of Alberta. As environmental monitor for the 7-month reclamation project, I developed the water monitoring and step-by-step replicable overburden soil sampling procedures for the project. I completed all pre- and post-contouring overburden sampling across the reclamation site and reported upon results from the lab to determine the soil suitability for cover soil spreading. I also dug over 90 soil pits to verify the depth of cover soil spread was compliant. I was responsible for granting approval for reclamation crews to rough mound verified areas. I took on smaller projects, in addition to my daily tasks, working on natural forest regeneration assessments and weed regrowth surveys on herbicide-applied areas. I was fortunate to have numerous opportunities to collaborate with consultants and third-party contractors on specialized projects and programs. A few of my favourites include, bathymetry surveys of settling ponds and end pit lakes, benthic invertebrate surveys, a Harlequin duck banding survey, and acute lethality test sampling. This work experience opened my mind to career opportunities I never thought were possible. I feel well-equipped with the industry experience I gained in this position to take on new, interesting and challenging positions post-graduation. Working at a previously operational coal mine on conservation-, environmental-, and reclamation-focused projects has changed my perspective and given me a better understanding about the role conservation plays in the natural resources sector. I thoroughly enjoyed my time working for Teck and am grateful for all the experiences I had while working and living in the Canadian Rockies.
Lab and Field Assistant with UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, Department of Forests and Conservation Sciences in Vancouver, BC
For my first work term, I’ve been working as a research assistant for a fuel mitigation research project in UBC’s Tree Ring Lab. The project I’m involved with has us traveling through the Kootenays and gathering data on post treatment sites so that the efficacy of various treatments can be modeled. I’ve learned how to measure tree heights, surface fuels, stumps, duff, and shrubs, pretty much everything that can burn! In the photo attached I’m triangulating plot center, the first thing we do when we arrive at a plot. This job has been an amazing opportunity to learn a lot of the basic skills that foresters use in research and timber cruising. It has been really interesting to see firsthand how we can actively manage community forests to build resiliency and move closer to a historic stand structure. My plant biology and silviculture courses have given me a fundamental understanding of our forests which has been crucial to success in my position, and it has been exciting to see what I’ve learned in the classroom in person. My journey with COOP has just begun but I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to gain technical skills, explore career paths, and take their learning outside of the classroom.
