I am a Registered Professional Forester with experience in landscape-level planning and forest operations across various regions of British Columbia. I hold a BSc in Forest Ecology and Management (UNBC) and a MSc in Forestry (UBC), where my research focused on modelling stand susceptibility to Douglas-fir beetle. As part of the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest team, I carry out strategic and landscape-level planning. Within the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, I contribute to various programs through teaching and coordination. My interests lie in disturbance ecology and helping others explore the complex dynamics of forest ecosystems and management.
The Advanced Renewable Materials Lab is led by Dr. Scott Renneckar. This lab works with plant based polymers and a range of other natural materials to create sustainable products for a variety of applications.
Raewyn shares what it is like working in a lab, what a typical day at work is like and the unique opportunities this position has provided her with.
In this role, I get hands on experience researching renewable biomaterials, preparing samples, and testing the properties of the materials I create. One project I’m currently working on involves developing foams without the use of fossil fuels.
Through my degree, I’ve taken courses in organic chemistry, polymer science, and applied biotechnology, which provide a strong foundation for many of my daily tasks. My laboratory classes offered hands-on experience, allowing me to practice essential lab techniques and procedures. I’ve also been able to apply research skills, particularly in literature review and data analysis, developed through coursework to real world scenarios.
I’ve had the opportunity to work with a variety of equipment in the lab, including ATR, DSC, DMA, and a rheometer. Building on this, I’m learning how to interpret, analyze, and compare results and raw data generated by these instruments.
A typical day in the lab involves meeting with my supervisor to discuss tasks for the day, planning my schedule, preparing and analyzing samples while updating my lab book, and attending lab meetings to share progress on current projects. The best part of this job is that it allows me to gain meaningful, hands on experience that I can apply both in the classroom and in my future career. I also love having the opportunity to explore scientific topics that interest me and to follow my curiosity in a field I’m passionate about.
Taya Baerg is a third-year student in the Natural Resources Conservation at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship. This summer, Taya is working as a Himalayan Carnivore Research Assistant at UBC’s Gaynor Lab. This position is apart of the WorkLearn program.
In this Q&A, Taya shares her experience working in this position, the skills she has developed and what a typical day at work looks like for her!
What are your role and responsibilities in your summer position?
My role in Gaynor Lab is a Work Learn position – it is as much my responsibility to learn as it is to work! As for the ‘work’ portion, my day-to-day responsibilities involve organizing and annotating images collected from camera traps in Shey Phoksundo National Park, Nepal, to support ongoing research studying human impacts on two of the region’s top predators: wolves and snow leopards. As for the ‘learn’ portion, I participate in meetings and discussions in which my labmates and I gain insight into each others’ research and critically read relevant scientific literature.
How has your degree prepared you for this role?
My degree in forestry has helped me in developing many skills crucial for this role, including interpreting data and scientific communication. My courses have introduced me to a number of concepts that have amplified my understanding of the lab’s research, such as niche partitioning and human-wildlife conflict. In particular, CONS 454 (South Africa field school) introduced me to the world of camera traps, inspiring me to further pursue work in this field.
What skills have you developed from this role?
This role has immensely strengthened my skills in data management and statistical analysis. I have had the opportunity to explore ways in which GIS and R can be used to manage data and synthesize results.
What does a typical day at work look like for you?
A typical day involves putting on some good tunes and looking at thousands and thousands of images of leopards, wolves, people, livestock, and so much more! It also involves collaborating with my supervisor and labmates to discuss our findings and overcome difficulties with the data.
What is your favorite part of this job?
The highlight of my job is hearing about what everyone else in the lab is doing! The lab’s research varies in terms of topic, location, and study subject – from bobcat range shifts here in BC, to ungulate niche partitioning in Mozambique, to predator-prey interactions in California. It is a privilege to be immersed in such diverse studies among such a passionate team
Join Elder Leonard Williams for a hands-on cedar bark harvesting demonstration and cedar weaving project, open to all UBC faculty, staff, and students. While the event is primarily aimed at STEM faculties as part of regular EDI.I programming, anyone interested—especially those enrolled in the IDEAL or Cascades of Change programs—is welcome to attend. This experiential opportunity fulfills Stage 2 requirements for both programs and offers a unique chance to learn directly from Indigenous knowledge and practice.
Isabelle Roth is a fourth-year student in the Natural Resources Conservation program – Science and Management major at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship. This summer, Isabelle is working as a Summer Seed Associate at Bayer CropScience.
She shares her experience thus far, how her time and coursework at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship have prepared her for this role and what she has been working on this summer!
As a Summer Seed Associate at Bayer CropScience in Cranbrook, I’ve developed a wide range of skills related to sustainable agriculture. My main responsibilities include maintaining drip irrigation systems, managing the quality of various canola varieties, supporting soil fertility, and conducting field assessments to monitor crop health.
This role has shown me how closely forestry and conservation connect with sustainable agriculture—through work in soil analysis, plant biology, data collection, and species identification. It’s also given me the chance to explore a diverse range of ecosystems throughout the East Kootenays.
One of the highlights of my summer has been working with leafcutter bees to enhance pollination across our fields, as well as installing soil and atmospheric sensors to monitor changing field conditions. Another favourite part has been operating heavy-duty farm equipment and driving tractors—getting hands-on experience with the machinery that makes large-scale agriculture possible.
Bayer CropScience’s motto, “Health for all, hunger for none,” reflects the meaningful impact this work can have, and I’m grateful to be part of an effort that contributes to more sustainable and resilient food systems.
When: September 18, 2025 | 10:30-11:30 am (PST) Where: Online via Zoom
Online Micro-Certificates
Designed for working professionals, UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship’s wide array of programs offers an accessible opportunity to elevate your skills, engage with industry leaders and advance in your career. Delivered exclusively online, UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship’s micro-certificates are paving the way to providing quality, industry-aligned and accessible forestry education across Canada. Join one of the information sessions below to hear from the program director and past alumni to learn more.
August 21, 2025 | 10:30 am (PST)
Natural Resource Management: Comprehensive Strategies for Managing Natural Resource Environments and Systems
This session will cover the following micro-certificate programs:
With extensive experience in large-scale climate vulnerability assessments across different sectors and organizations, Dr. Andrews-Key brings her expertise in the development and implementation of adaptation, specifically as applied to business cases for adaptation across all sectors. She is passionate about exploring how we can bridge science, theory and action to provide students with the comprehensive and applied knowledge necessary to excel in their careers.
We are pleased to announce the UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship faculty members who have been awarded new NSERC and SSHRC grants this year. The NSERC Discovery Grant supports foundational research in the natural sciences and engineering, while the SSHRC Insight Grant honors excellence in the social sciences and humanities. Congratulations to the following recipients on their success in these highly competitive programs:
NSERC Discovery Grants
Cole Burton(Forest Resources Management) Caribou conservation and mammal community dynamics under top-down and bottom-up influences
Tzeng Yih Lam (Forest Resources Management) Particle Filtering in Forest Growth: Closing the Gap between Modelling and Sampling
Eliot McIntire (Forest Resources Management) Advancing predictive ecology within a changing world: improving inference, forecasts, and policy influence
Monika Fischer (Forest & Conservation Sciences/Botany) Elucidating the mechanisms of fire-response in fungi
Emily Cranston (Wood Science) Functional-by-design nanocellulose for sustainable bioproducts
Kwang Ho Kim (Wood Science) Advancing Universal and Greener Biomass Fractionation Technologies for a Circular Bioeconomy
Minghao Li (Wood Science) Developing next generation seismic resilient mass timber structures
Scott Renneckar (Wood Science) Recipient of NSERC Discovery Grant & Research Tools and Instruments Grant Biobased Polymer Engineering: Better Bonds via Deconstruction and Derivatization
Taraneh Sowlati(Wood Science) Optimization of forest-based biomass supply chains: considering sustainability, uncertainties and government policies
SSHRC Insight Grant
Hamish van der Ven(Wood Science) The Indirect Impacts of Internet Use on the Climate Crisis
Insight Development Grant
TahiaDevisscher (Forest Resources Management) Enabling equitable nature-based solutions for social-ecological resilience to climate change
Here’s a look at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship in the media throughout June 2025.
June 21, 2025
Why the summer solstice is a ‘celestial starting gun’ for trees Elizabeth Wolkovich The Guardian
June 19, 2025
Trouble in the Headwaters: the hidden impacts of clear-cut logging in B.C. Younes Alila The Narwhal
June 11, 2025
Claims Canadian wildfires are caused by arson and not climate change are misleading Jen Baron The Canadian Press
City of Dawson Creek warns residents to prepare for floods even as wildfires loom Younes Alila CBC
June 10, 2025
Summer solstice is an optimal day for plants—but climate change could disrupt this timing Elizabeth Wolkovich Phys.org, Earth.com
June 9, 2025
This wildfire season is going to be intense. Here’s what to expect. Lori Daniels Environmental News Network
June 7, 2025
B.C. climate news: Latest updates on wildfires ravaging Western Canada | How UBC’s sustainability hub is helping reduce embodied carbon in the construction industry | Sunday is World Oceans Day Lori Daniels Vancouver Sun
June 6, 2025
Smoke knows no boundaries: What Canada’s fires mean for the U.S. in the future Lori Daniels NPR
