Congratulations to the winners of the Jordan L. Burke Memorial Award!
FIRST PLACE | Melike Karaca Bulut – PhD WS, Supervisor – Shawn Mansfield
SECOND PLACE | Rosalia Jaffray – MASc FRM, Supervisor – Gregory Paradis
About the Jordan L. Burke Memorial Award in Forestry
The award has been made available through an endowment established by friends, family and colleagues in memory of Jordan L. Burke (1982-2019) for graduate students in the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship who have demonstrated a passion for teaching in their roles as Teaching Assistants. Jordan was a postdoctoral research and teaching fellow with the Forest Insect Disturbance Ecology Laboratory in the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship. His research focused on the range expansion of the mountain pine beetle in British Columbia and Alberta. Jordan served as a TA and instructor to many undergraduate students in the Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship. This award was established in recognition of Jordan’s legacy as an enthusiastic and encouraging instructor.
Land One participants register in a selection of first-year courses together as a cohort of 50 – 60 students, allowing for a more personalized connection with instructors. Students have access to a designated classroom and study space, and learn through group work, field trips and various hands-on activities, all of which create a stronger social and learning community.
If you’re looking for an immersive first-year experience and the opportunity to be part of a smaller cohort, join the Land One team on either April 16, 2025, at 4 PM (PST) or May 6, 2025, at 4 PM (PST) for online information sessions.
Joseph Doh Wook Kim (left) and Dr. Phil Evans carry twin guitars made with two different types of mahogany. Photo credit: UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship.
UBC researchers have built an electric guitar from sustainably sourced mahogany, showing that environmentally responsible materials can deliver the same high-quality sound as endangered, native-grown wood.
At UBC’s Centre for Advanced Wood Processing, PhD student Joseph Doh Wook Kim plays a flawless riff on an electric guitar made with plantation-grown Fijian mahogany. The sound is deep, warm and perfect—just like a guitar made with native South American mahogany, the industry benchmark for guitar tonewoods.
The difference is that while native mahogany is regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to protect endangered forests, the Fijian variety is sustainably harvested, legally traded and grown in plantations.
Safeguarding wood supply
Dr. Phil Evans, a professor in the UBC faculty of forestry and “wood detective,” has worked with U.S. and Canadian enforcement agencies to identify CITES-listed timbers and combat illegal logging. Partnering with Environment and Climate Change Canada, he co-developed a chemical method for distinguishing plantation-grown mahogany from native wood, ensuring supply-chain transparency and reducing the risk of illegal logging.
Testing a sustainable guitar was the logical next step—and Kim was the natural choice. A UBC cell biology grad, boutique guitar builder and metal guitarist, Kim brought the technical and musical chops to the project.
“Joseph explained how the wood’s properties shape an electric guitar’s sound,” said Evans. “So I challenged him: Could we build a sustainable guitar that plays just as well as the gold standard?”
The team sourced pre-regulation native mahogany from an old shop in the U.K., and plantation-grown Fijian mahogany from Australia. Using computer-controlled machines at UBC, they built two identical guitars—right down to the electronics and hardware.
Can musicians tell the difference?
The guitars underwent three rigorous tests: a blind listening test, a live audience test and a side-by-side comparison of tone, durability and playability.
“The Fijian-mahogany guitar held its own in every category,” said Kim, who has played in bands for more than 15 years and built over 50 custom guitars. “The tone, sustain and playability were just as good—and in some cases, better.”
Professional musicians noticed subtle differences in “attack” (the initial note impact) and some frequencies, but these didn’t affect the overall quality.
“This proves you don’t have to sacrifice sound for sustainability,” Kim adds.
A sound solution
Fijian mahogany has been used in guitars before, but Dr. Evans believes this is the first rigorous evaluation of its acoustic performance.
Combined with the chemical test developed with Environment and Climate Change Canada, the guitar research can help ensure that guitars marketed as sustainable are genuinely so.
“If manufacturers embrace sustainable alternatives like Fijian mahogany, it could reduce pressure on endangered forests without sacrificing quality,” said Dr. Evans. “With over a million electric guitars sold annually worldwide, the potential impact is massive.”
This event is free and will be held in person only.
Seminar Abstract
In this joint presentation, Neil and Qingshi will share innovative, real-world applications of Generative AI that are transforming the classroom experience. Neil will demonstrate how tools like AI-generated voiceovers and the AI Contribution Scale from his Communication Strategies textbook help students engage with content more accessibly while promoting responsible and transparent use of AI. Qingshi will showcase how Claude AI’s Artifacts have been used for rapid prototyping in class activities, grounded in his teaching philosophy of “Encourage, Inspire, Reflect.” Together, they offer practical insights into how GenAI can enhance student engagement, foster inclusivity, and empower learners to explore AI as a creative partner in their academic journey.
Speakers
Dr. Neil Leveridge is an assistant professor in the Department of Wood Science at UBC. With a passion for integrating cutting-edge technology into education, he harnesses Generative AI to create engaging and accessible learning experiences for diverse student communities.
Dr. Qingshi Tu is an assistant professor of industrial ecology. As a big fan of sports and video games, he has integrated GenAI and machine learning (in general) into different learning activities for students to enjoy an interactive learning experience.
About the Teaching & Learning Lunch Seminar Series
The Teaching & Learning Lunch Seminar Series features extraordinary in-house and external speakers highlighting teaching & learning experiences or pedagogical research in UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship and beyond. The lunchtime forum invites the interactive participation of the public surrounding the speakers’ presentations and will open wider discussions about education in Forestry and undergraduate instruction in general.
UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship wishes to congratulate Melike Karaca Bulut on being awarded the Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Award!
About Melike
Melike is a PhD student in the Department of Wood Science. Her research, led by Dr. Shawn Mansfield, focuses on genetically engineering poplar trees to produce alternative cell wall components, with the goal of enhancing their value for bio-based applications.
About the Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Award
This recognition is presented each year to a small number of graduate students who have made outstanding contributions to teaching and learning at UBC.
Advanced understanding of invasion ecology and the complexities of invasive species management globally in the context of a changing climate. This course will meet in-person two times per week and includes a combination of lectures, problem-based learning, group discussion and guest lectures. Find more details here:
Congratulations to Katie Zinn (PhD, Hinch Lab) on winning The Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) Scholar award!
About Katie’s Research
Katie studies the cumulative effects of recreational catch-and-release, temperature, and infectious agents on Chinook salmon: from marine environments to spawning grounds
About The Philanthropic Educational Organization
The P.E.O. Sisterhood is a nonprofit organization that has helped more than 125,000 women pursue educational goals by providing more than $435 million in educational assistance, making a difference in women’s lives through six philanthropies and a foundation.
4-4:45 pm | Defining, implementing, and evaluating integrated landscape approaches
This presentation will reflect on over a decade of research into integrated landscape approaches (ILAs) to conservation and development, including theory, global reviews, and fieldwork in Ghana, Zambia, and Indonesia. It will examine the challenges of defining ILAs, their implementation and evaluation, and offer recommendations for improving their effectiveness.
Speaker: Dr. James Reed is an environmental social scientist in the Governance, Equity, and Wellbeing theme at the Center for International Forestry Research. He is interested in inter- and transdisciplinary research approaches that attempt to better understand the dynamics and potential synergies and trade-offs within tropical landscapes.
4:45-5:30 pm | Not all fire is one: clarifying the Amazon’s burning crisis
Fire is diverse, shaping people-nature relationships for millennia and supporting the resilience of rural communities. However, the widespread conflation of all fire as destructive has marginalized traditional fire users, increased flammability, and led to injustices. Recognizing fire diversity is essential for just and effective fire governance.
Speaker: Dr Rachel Carmenta is Tyndall Associate Professor in Climate Change and Global Development at the University of East Anglia. She is an environmental social scientist specialising in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of environment and development, environmental risk and the relationship between place and well-being.
Partnership between the University of British Columbia Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship and the Mastercard Foundation will expand opportunity for Indigenous students in environmental management
A new program co-developed by Indigenous leaders and the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship will provide Indigenous youth with a unique opportunity to learn Indigenous science and land stewardship approaches. Part of a growing movement, this first-of-its-kind degree program will be part of a globally recognized standard for environmental management by 2050.
The four-year, interdisciplinary Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship (BILS) was created with Indigenous Peoples in Canada in response to the growing need for Indigenous-led land management and sustainable resource stewardship, especially important in the face of climate change. The program will integrate Indigenous science and ways of knowing with courses in ecological sciences, governance, law, economics, and business management.
“Through the BILS program, we unite as Knowledge Keepers, community leaders, academics and the next generation of land stewards,” said Dr. Garry Merkel, Director of the Centre for Indigenous Land Stewardship and a member of the Tahltan Nation. “We will embrace ancestral wisdom and collective action as we embark on this educational journey.”
The BILS program is unique in its Indigenous-led, experiential, and multi-access learning approach. Students will learn directly from Indigenous scholars, Elders, Knowledge Keepers and allies in a culturally safe space. They will gain hands-on experience in environmental stewardship through select field-based courses, which will take them into the forests, waters, and territories they aim to protect. The program also prioritizes relational, community-based education that fosters meaningful connections between students, Indigenous communities, and the land.
“Respect for diverse knowledge systems is at the heart of BILS,” says UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship Dean, Dr. Rob Kozak. “By weaving traditional knowledge with current environmental management approaches, we create a learning environment where both knowledge systems are valued and integrated, empowering future leaders to develop truly sustainable practices and solutions.”
The BILS program is designed to meet Indigenous Peoples where they live, so they have the option to learn and to continue supporting the self-governance goals of their Nations. Students with personal and family commitments will have options for remote learning from their home communities. In addition, learning hubs will be established in three regions of British Columbia to support remote learning. The first will be established in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region.
The program will be supported through a partnership with the Mastercard Foundation EleV Program. With an investment of $8.5 million, the Mastercard Foundation collaboration will make the program more accessible while respecting cultural and geographic ties. This includes contributing to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students’ tuition and relocation costs, as well as work support.
“The Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship shows us the innovation and ultimately the success, that is unlocked through co-creation with Indigenous Nations,” says Jennifer Brennan, Senior Director, Canada Programs at the Mastercard Foundation. “Indigenous youth will develop the skills and experience in their home territories to build meaningful livelihoods in sectors including natural resources, governance, and clean energy. The power of community-based delivery models, like this one, is their alignment with self-determination.”
Career opportunities for BILS graduates will span natural resource management, policy, environmental consulting, and community conservation, ensuring Indigenous leadership remains central to land stewardship.
“As Indigenous governments reclaim stewardship roles, BILS graduates will be prepared to protect lands, restore ecosystems and uphold Indigenous law,” said Dr. Merkel. “BILS is more than a degree – it is the future of land stewardship.”
About UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship
UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship is globally recognized for its award-winning programs, research, and initiatives. Home to innovative minds and approaches, our interdisciplinary team leads forward-thinking research, education, and community outreach to address today’s pressing issues. Our students receive cutting-edge education from top forestry experts across various disciplines, preparing them to be global citizens and leaders in their careers. We are united in our passion for supporting the health and well-being of the planet’s forested ecosystems.
About the Mastercard Foundation
The Mastercard Foundation is a registered Canadian charity and one of the largest foundations in the world. It works with visionary organizations to advance education and financial inclusion to enable young people in Africa and Indigenous youth in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. Established in 2006 through the generosity of Mastercard when it became a public company, the Foundation is an independent organization separate from the company, with offices in Toronto, Kigali, Accra, Nairobi, Kampala, Lagos, Dakar, and Addis Ababa. Its policies, operations, and program decisions are determined by the Foundation’s Board of Directors and leadership. To learn more, visit mastercardfdn.org.
Media Contact:
Jillian van der Geest Marketing & Media Relations Strategist University of British Columbia, Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship jillian.vandergeest@ubc.ca 250.580.3654
UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship’s new Bachelor of Indigenous Land Stewardship (BILS) program provides students with the knowledge and skills to bridge Indigenous science and current land-management practices. We sat down with BILS student Emma Charles as she shares her journey from Seattle to UBC, future career aspirations, her experiences in the program, and how it has deepened her connection to land and community.
Tell us about your background and where you’re from.
I am from Seattle, Washington, the traditional, unceded territory of the Duwamish people. I am Cowichan and Duwamish through my maternal grandmother, and Lower Elwha Klallam through my maternal grandfather. I have lived in Seattle my entire life but have family in Duncan, Port Angeles and Vancouver.
What inspired you to pursue the Bachelors in Indigenous Land Stewardship at UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship?
Coming from the States, there are not many opportunities similar to Indigenous Land Stewardship at the university level. Other Indigenous studies and sustainability options exist, but as a Pacific Northwest Native, I wanted to stay close to home, which I have achieved. Especially with the other opportunities through UBC Forestry & Environmental Stewardship, the First Nations Longhouse, and events and research at UBC, I made the right choice.
How does the program help you connect with the land and understand holistic land-management practices?
This program taught us about land-management practices from so many different communities. We have learned from Indigenous communities in BC, and across North America, Australia and Indonesia. We’ve really been able to look at how Indigenous people from different areas of the world and locally connect their values to the earth and each other.
What has been the most meaningful or impactful part of the program so far?
Our field camp at the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest at the beginning of the program helped welcome me to my new community. We spent a week sharing stories, learning, laughing and participating in great activities. This helped me build meaningful connections to my professors and classmates and make new friends at UBC.
Tell us about your experience learning about weaving together Indigenous science and current land management systems?
Because our program is within a Western system, everything we learn is from weaving together both forms of knowledge, not just from a traditional science perspective. This is often called the two-eyed way of seeing, and we are learning to balance both through classes like Ways of Knowing, Community Engagement, and our field course. This way of seeing and knowing is the future of land management, and it is an important value to our program that we learn how to work with and not leave Indigenous perspectives out as they have often been.
How do you see this program preparing you for a future career?
This program serves as a basis for many different career paths, whether in forestry, government, or Indigenous tourism, to name a few. I want to work in law and policy in the future, and the education I’ll receive through this program will hopefully prepare me holistically. Because this program is so well-rounded, we learn not only how to work in forestry but also in other fields through business, law, ecology, and community development classes we have taken and will be taking.
