UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship wishes to congratulate Dr. Nicholas Coops who has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC).
Coops is considered a global leader in the application of remote sensing technology for the management and monitoring of forest ecosystems. He is an esteemed professor with the Department of Forest Resources Management and holds a Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in remote sensing.
Multi Scientific Award Recipient
Among his many Canadian and international scientific awards is the world’s most prestigious forestry honour, the Marcus Wallenberg Prize. In 2020, Coops and his colleagues Richard Wang of Oregon State University and Joseph Landsberg of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Australia received the award for their satellite imagery work in addressing one of the most significant global challenges of our time – understanding forests’ response to climate change.
Prior to coming to UBC in 2004, Coops obtained his PhD from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Australia and then worked in government research labs for a decade. He is highly cited with many peer-reviewed publications attached to his name.
Coops is recognized alongside 12 other UBC faculty members named new Fellows and new Members of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.
About the Royal Society of Canada (RSC)
The fellowship of the RSC comprises over 2,500 Canadian scholars, artists, and scientists, peer-elected as the best in their field. They are distinguished individuals from all branches of learning who have made remarkable contributions to the arts, humanities and sciences, as well as Canadian public life.
The official inductee ceremony will take place in November 2022.
When UBC faculty of forestry researcher Dr. Lorien Nesbitt studied patterns of vegetation and green spaces in the United States a few years ago, she found widespread inequities. In many of the 10 metropolitan areas included in the study, comprising over 100 cities and towns, income and education were strongly correlated to the amount of access to green space.
Bari Hanus is a fourth-year student in the B.Sc. Natural Resources Conservation Program, majoring in Science and Management and is also a Forestry Co-op student. In our interview with her, she shares her story about why she chose this program and her experiences throughout her time at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship.
Q: What drew you to UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship and the Natural Resources Conservation program?
“I was drawn to UBC forestry because of the unique programs that it offers.
“The Natural Resource Conservation Program has a broad focus on many environmental, and societal challenges.”
With an expansive focus on many issues, you are able to find your niche and explore certain issues and topics you are more interested in. Many of these programs have the opportunity to obtain professional designations, in addition to my degree. I wanted a program that I could see myself utilizing in the future and as we move towards a more sustainable future, and the Natural Resource Conservation program was a good fit for me.”
Q: Can you tell us a bit more about your Co-op experience so far at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship? What has been your favourite part of Co-op so far?
“Throughout my co-op experience, I have really enjoyed being able to try out various types of jobs within the natural resource industry. I enjoy being able to gain practical field experience while working on my degree, and it has given me the opportunity to gain skills that will help me in my future career path and create connections within the industry. My favourite part of Co-op has been working as a forestry field technician for Coastal Natural Resource Management. I have really enjoyed the amazing learning opportunities and am grateful for the skills that I have learned through this experience.”
Q: What areas/topics of study are you most interested in right now? What inspires and motivates you?
“I’m really interested in learning more sustainable forestry practices. Being in the field and outdoors inspires me. Moreover, I’m also interested in pursuing Registered Professional Foresters (RPF) and Registered Professional Biologist (RPBio).”
Q: What is the most interesting/cool/favourite thing you’ve learned from your classes so far?
“My favourite thing I’ve learned from my classes is plant identification! It has become a very useful skill in the field. I have enjoyed studying forest plant biology-related courses – FRST 200 and FRST 201. I’ve also appreciated learning about climate change and its complex challenges.”
Q: What kind of impact do you hope to make in the future, with your background in Natural Resources Conservation?
“As a woman in STEM, I hope to make a positive impact and inspire more women to join the natural resource industry. According to the ABCFP’s 2021 annual report, 22.3% of people in the forestry profession are women, and I hope to be a part of the change that creates more opportunities and spaces for women to excel.”
Q: Do you have any advice for incoming Forestry students?
“Join the Co-op program! It’s a great way to gain practical work experience while continuing to work on your degree. Set goals for yourself and network with others however much you can. Ask lots of questions and take everything as a learning experience. Take advantage of the opportunities around you and that the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship provides students with.”
Still, have questions? Check out our program page to read all about degree opportunities, career pathways, application details and more!
Congratulations to Sarah Smith-Tripp, 2022/23 recipient of the Gordon and Nora Bailey Fellowship in Sustainable Forestry!
About Sarah
Sarah considers herself an interdisciplinary ecosystem scientist with a passion for landscape management. Understanding the complexity of successful landscape management, Sarah has prioritized gaining a diverse research background, with research projects that include deep-ocean carbon sequestration and climate adaptations of herders in Mongolia. She is most interested in landscape responses after dramatic and catastrophic disturbances. As a result, her Ph.D. work investigates patterns of forest growth after disturbances such as fire and harvest. She specializes in remote-sensing techniques to assess forest structure using technologies like lidar (light detection and ranging), DAP (digital aerial photogrammetry) alongside satellite imagery. The overall aim of Sarah’s work is to provide forest managers with accessible and accurate tools to characterize growth after catastrophic disturbances in our novel and rapidly changing climate conditions. Applications of her research include monitoring and predicting future forest health – particularly the large areas affected by the 2017, 2018, and 2021 fire seasons.
About the Gordon and Nora Bailey Fellowship Award
Gordon and Nora Bailey Fellowship in Sustainable Forestry have been made available annually through an estate gift from Gordon Bailey (1930-2020) and Nora Bailey (1925-2017), for graduate students in the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship whose studies focus on issues related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, such as sustainable forest management practices, wildfire prevention and carbon capture.
Originally from England, Gordon (M.F. 1964, Ph.D. 1970) and his wife Nora settled in British Columbia, where Gordon pursued his graduate degrees at UBC. He worked in the British Columbia forestry sector, both in government and the private sector, throughout his working life. As a student recipient of scholarship support, Gordon understood the impact of such support and left a gift in his will to support the next generation of researchers working to enhance the health and sustainability of our forests and address climate change issues.
Established in 2016, this prize was made available by ForesTrust, a registered charity of the Association of BC Forest Professionals (ABCFP). Each year, students enrolled in the Master of Sustainable Forest Management program who have demonstrated academic excellence and leadership skills through their studies will be selected for the prize.
Congratulations to the 2022 recipients of the ABCFP Sustainable Forestry Management Prize!
Nicole Smith
Renee Flipot
Barbara Happy-Narouz
MGEM Best in Class Award
Each year two graduating students in the Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management (MGEM) program will be selected for the MGEM Best in Class Awards. The recipients have demonstrated outstanding leadership and teamwork skills during their studies and show exceptional career promise in the field of Geomatics.
Congratulations to the 2021/22 recipients of the MGEM Best in Class Awards!
Olivia Waite
Kyle Melnik
MGEM GTA Award
The MGEM GTA Award recognizes outstanding contributions by graduate teaching assistants (GTA) from the Master of Geomatics for Environmental Management (MGEM) program. Each year one GTA who has demonstrated exceptional teaching excellence will be selected for the award.
Congratulations to Martin Queinnec, 2021/22 recipient of the MGEM GTA Award!
About Martin
GTA’s are essential to the MGEM program; without them, the program would cease to run. In a group of people who all do so much, Martin’s dedication stood out. He assisted students outside his mentorship group, never hesitating to share knowledge, advice and technical assistance. In term 1 Martin created and led an R-intensive session out at Loon Lake. This workshop set the foundation for Martin to play a crucial role in helping the students learn coding and R. Students have highlighted that without Martins’s help they would still be struggling with R and nowhere near as proficient. Martin has dedicated time and effort above and beyond what is expected of a TA and as a small repayment, we are delighted to award Martin the Best MGEM GTA award!
The Colleen Findlay Foundation recently made available a bursary fund for Metro Vancouver families who might not otherwise be able to participate in Wild & Immersive programming which ranges from fully supervised overnight summer camps to weekly forest school sessions during the school year.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer this bursary to families as we recognize that every child deserves the chance to connect with nature and experience the benefits of it firsthand,” says Liz Smith, MKRF Business Improvement Coordinator. “The programs help participants build their physical, mental and social wellbeing and generates awareness about the role we all play in creating a healthy and sustainable planet.”
Although 2022 summer programs are full applications for the bursary are currently being accepted for fall and spring programs.
“We have popular programs that run all year round,” assures Smith.
Bursary Application Considerations
Applicants must explain their financial needs, and proof of hardship or income confirmation will be requested
Children and youth must be in the age range for the program they are applying for. The value of the bursary will vary according to the needs of the qualifying family
An application does not guarantee the receipt of a bursary, or the amount that you have applied for
Receipt of a bursary one year does not guarantee funds for the following year. Families will need to reapply for the program at each registration period
Forestry Summer Student at Lil’wat Forestry Ventures LC in Whistler, BC
For my first co-op term, I have been working as an Summer Forest Technician with Lil’wat Forestry Ventures Ltd., in the unceded territories of the Lil̓wat7úl (Lil’wat) and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nations. This opportunity has introduced me to many different aspects of the forestry industry.
We started the summer with tree planting, one of the more physically demanding jobs within forestry. Then, we learned how to conduct silviculture surveys, by taking data on tree species, heights, pests, brush, and overall plot characteristics. We then use the data we collected in the field to compile recommendations for future management of the block. Currently, we are preparing for fire season as a type 3 wildland firefighting crew.
This job has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of trees and forestry as a whole than I ever would have from a classroom. I am very fortunate to be able to work for a company that not only practices sustainable forestry, but also combines indigenous knowledge and values. Through this experience, I have gained a better understanding of forest management and how it can be improved in the future. I am honoured to work for a company that not only works with their community but also strives to help them any way they can.
Summer Forest Technician at Lil’wat Forestry Ventures in Mount Currie, BC
For my first co-op term, I am working as a summer forest technician with Lil’wat Forestry Ventures Ltd. (LFV), based out of the unceded territories of the Lil̓wat7úl (Lil’wat) and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nations. This position has provided me with a unique experience where I have been able to learn a multitude of new skills and gain experience in a variety of works within forest management. LFV has taught me how to conduct both regeneration surveys and land planning surveys in which we collect data in the field and use this data to prescribe future management. More recently, we have been moving into fire season, and I have been preparing to be a member of a contract firefighting crew. I am extremely grateful to be working for LFV and working within the Lil’wat community, for I believe this company is upholding important values often overlooked in forest management and I hope to carry all I learn here with me throughout my career
Summer Student Intern at Lower North Thompson Community Forest Society in Barriere, BC
For my first co-op work term, I am currently employed by the Lower North Thompson Community Forest Society (LNTCFS) in Barriere, British Columbia. I work with two other fantastic summer students where we spend the majority of our days in Barriere’s forests contributing to various projects for the LNTCFS.
We recently completed our tree planting project where we planted about 4000 trees between the three of us in seven working days. Although tree planting was extremely tough and we were exceptionally slow at it compared to the professional tree planters we got to meet, we loved the work and felt fulfilled at the end of each day. We also created and delivered a presentation for two classes at the local high school centered around climate change and a smartphone app called iNaturalist. Some of our current projects include quickly wrapping up brushing and moving into pre-commercial thinning before a fire ban is implemented. We are also responsible for recording and emptying the bark beetle traps scattered across the community forest.
Summer Field Technician at Silvicon Services Inc in Smithers, BC
For my co op term this summer I chose to work in Smithers BC with Silvicon Services Inc. My main job is assisting in completing waste and residue surveys of cut-blocks. We do work for multiple different clients, including CANFOR. I have learned various skills related to my specific job such as how to operate a quad and properly use a compass, and have also gained valuable insight into how the forestry industry works. I find this part of my job the most interesting, since forestry is such a large part of BC’s economy. If you are forestry student who is unsure if they want to pursue a career in the forestry industry I would highly recommend joining the Co-op program, as doing this job has allowed me to see what my potential future in the industry could be. It is impossible to get the same kind of understanding of the industry in a classroom.
