Isla Myers-Smith is a globally recognized leader in Arctic ecosystem science and ecology. Renowned for her pioneering Arctic greening research, she is a leading expert on how tundra vegetation responds to climate change, including the process of shrubification. Her impactful, interdisciplinary, and inclusive research is conducted in close collaboration with international partners and communities across the Canadian North.
About the Royal Society of Canada (RSC) College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists
The RSC College is Canada’s first national, multidisciplinary recognition program for emerging intellectual leaders. These mid-career scholars, artists, and scientists bring diverse perspectives to tackle major challenges and drive innovation in both established and emerging fields.
The official inductee ceremony will take place in November 2025.
UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship would like to congratulate the following faculty members and graduate students on receiving Wall Research Awards:
Team Faculty Awards:
William Nikolakis
Tara Atleo
Nicholas Coops
Project Title: How Deep Learning can be Harnessed by Indigenous Fire (Qwen) Stewardship: A Pilot with Yunesit’in William Nikolakis (Lead PI), Tara Atleo, and Nicholas Coops
In partnership with the Yunesit’in Government, UBC researchers are combining Indigenous Knowledge with deep learning to strengthen Indigenous Fire Stewardship. The project will document traditional ecological indicators with Yunesit’in fire stewards and integrate them with satellite and sensor data, supporting wildfire resilience and sustainable forest management across BC and beyond.
Graduate Student Awards:
Jennifer Magel (PhD)
Michael Stefanuk (PhD)
Brandon Weigand (MSc)
Kaitlyn Zinn (PhD)
About Wall Research Awards
Wall Research Awards (Faculty) are available annually to UBC faculty members through the Peter Wall Legacy Fund, an endowment established by Peter Wall, to support research excellence at UBC and invest in those who will help move BC and the world forward.
Wall Research Awards for tenured and track faculty members are available as individual and group awards.
Team awards of up to $200,000, awarded to a group of three to five faculty members over a maximum term of up to three years.
Individual awards of up to $80,000 over a maximum term of three years.
The Wall Research Awards focus on enabling good future work, rather than as rewards for past work, and are intended to support a range of scholars at different career stages. Projects supported by these awards may be exploratory or derived from established programs of inquiry.
Wall Research Awards (Master’s and PhD students)
Graduate awards (Master’s and PhD students) are available annually through the Peter Wall Legacy Fund, an endowment established by Peter Wall, for graduate students whose thesis/dissertation research relates to one of three specific areas of interest of the Wall Legacy Fund.
$30,000 per year for PhD candidates for 1-2 years
$25,000 for Master’s students, for 1 year.
See the full list of 2025 Wall Legacy Award recipients, and read project details here.
Co-op students from Forest Management, Forest Operations, Wood Products, Forest Sciences, Conservation, Urban Forestry and Bioeconomy Sciences & Technology programs will be delivering presentations about their recent co-op work terms. This networking opportunity will include guests from industry and faculty members. Prospective students, employers and faculty members are welcome to register for the event.
Learn more about the UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship Co-op program here.
Date: September 13, 2025 | 9 am – 12 pm Location: Malcolm Knapp Research Forest | 14500 Silver Valley Rd. Maple Ridge COST: $25 +gst per person | Ages 16+
Since 1949, the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest has been home to over 1,000 research projects exploring a wide range of forest topics. Now’s your chance to step behind the scenes and see what decades of research have uncovered. Join a guided van tour through rarely-accessed areas of the forest, featuring a rotating selection of research sites and studies each year.
Led by Hélène Marcoux, Registered Professional Forester and Manager of MKRF, this exclusive tour departs from the forest’s front gate and takes participants deep into areas normally closed to the public. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to explore the forest like never before!
Monday, September 8, 2025 | 1 – 2 pm – FSC 1001 – Register here Wednesday, September 10, 2025 | 11 am – 12 pm – FSC 1003 – Register here
Note: rooms are subject to change
Stand Out Co-op Info sessions
These session will cover everything you need to know about the Co-op program, including:
How to apply
Academic and technical requirements
Benefits of participating in Co-op
Whether you’re just starting your degree or are already on your way, this info session will provide you with the tools and knowledge to make the most out of your Co-op experience. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to stand out!
Walk-ins Welcome!
Co-op Application Deadline: Wednesday, October 1, 2025, by 4pm
Welcome to Your Future in Forestry: UBC’s Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship Undergraduate Information Session
Are you passionate about the environment, sustainability, and the great outdoors? Do you dream of a career that combines your love for nature with cutting-edge science and innovation?
Join us for an exclusive online information session where we’ll introduce you to the exciting world of forestry and our renowned undergraduate programs. Whether you’re a high school student exploring your options or considering a career change, this session is your chance to:
Meet Our Advisors: Interact with our world-class student services team, who will guide you through our programs and answer all your questions.
Learn About Career Opportunities: Discover the wide range of career possibilities in forestry, from sustainable resource management to environmental conservation and beyond.
Experience Campus Life: Get a glimpse of life at UBC, one of Canada’s top universities, and see how our stunning Vancouver campus fosters an environment of learning and discovery.
Financial Aid and Scholarships: Find out about the financial support options available to make your education at UBC’s Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship accessible and affordable.
Why Choose Us?
At UBC, we’re not just educating students; we’re shaping the future of forestry and environmental conservation. Here’s why you should consider us:
World-Renowned Faculty: Our faculty members are leaders in their fields, conducting cutting-edge research that directly impacts global forestry and sustainability efforts.
Hands-On Learning: You’ll have the opportunity to engage in fieldwork, research projects, and internships that provide real-world experience and a competitive edge in the job market.
State-of-the-Art Facilities: Explore our modern labs, research centers, and specialized equipment that support your academic journey.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to embark on a fulfilling and impactful career in forestry. Reserve your spot for our info session now by clicking the button below:
Questions? Contact Us
If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to our admissions team:
Forestry Research Assistant – Natural Resources Canada
As a research assistant, I developed a wide range of skills and experience as a part of Natural Resource Canada. Located at the Northern Forestry Centre, a government research facility in Edmonton, I was given the opportunity to travel all around Alberta and work in forests affected by wildfire, measuring and collecting samples needed for various different research projects.
In addition, I’ve been isolating, growing and collecting mycelium, sorting insects to identify mountain pine beetles and currently, learning how to operate a PCR machine. The focus of this is to identify and learn more about the fungi associated to the blue and brown stains found in wood (these stains are found as a result of mountain pine beetle attacks).
Overall, in addition to gaining research experience in both the lab, the field, and travel to new places, this Co-op term has enabled me to meet many new people and exposed me to a variety of potential career options.
Field Team Member – Surrey’s Natural Areas Partnership (SNAP)
SNAP is a distinctive youth-focused program run in collaboration with three local non-profit organizations and the City of Surrey, administered by the Greenwood Heritage Society. As part of the fall field team, my responsibilities varied daily and included learning to implement restoration projects in Surrey parks. This involved removing invasive species, preparing for community tree planting events, planting trees and seedlings, cleaning up parks, conducting small wildlife projects, and maintaining plantings. I also gained skills in safely and efficiently removing invasive species with power tools, improving my plant identification abilities, and understanding planting techniques at all life stages. Additionally, I participated in public events, focusing on plant species selection, layout, and best planting practices, while practicing my communication skills as an ambassador for SNAP and its partner organizations.
Although this role differs somewhat from my previous work experience and my major in urban forestry management, it has provided valuable insights into the unique characteristics of urban forests and how I can incorporate my prior knowledge. I also had the opportunity to connect with colleagues from various environmental disciplines, enhancing my teamwork and communication skills.
Overall, my time with SNAP has been a highly positive experience, contributing significantly to both my professional and personal development. Over the course of three months, I enriched my knowledge of plant identification, gained confidence in social and workplace settings, and improved my teamwork abilities. The co-op experience has been an excellent avenue for exploring future career paths.
As a Forestry Technician with Forsite Consultants Ltd., I have been contributing to various stages of timber development across multiple projects for different clients, such as Canoe Forest Products and Interfor Forest Products. In the beginning stages of a new cutblock, I have carried out preliminary timber reconnaissance surveys to gather information about wood volume and quality within a block. If the timber is deemed merchantable, I then use a combination of GPS, LiDAR, maps, and field observations to plan and lay out the boundaries of the cutblock and roads throughout it, and more detailed timber cruising is carried out. I have also collected data on indicator plants and soil properties in order to determine the BEC site association, which is then used to inform post-logging restoration strategies.
My time at Forsite has challenged me both physically and mentally, as it involves working outdoors in unfavourable terrain through adverse weather conditions. However, the opportunities to witness different forest types in the southern interior, including post-fire stands, makes the physical demands rewarding. The independent nature of the position has honed my decision-making skills and encouraged me to think critically about how each decision impacts the entire project.
My work with Forsite has been an eye-opening introduction to the world of forestry and an inspiring first co-op placement. I am eager to pursue future academic and co-op endeavours equipped with the field skills and deeper understanding of BC forestry I have gained through this position.
