Forest Technician at Forsite Consultants in Salmon Arm, BC
This summer, I to have had the pleaure to work as a Forest Technician with Forsite Consultants Ltd. for my third co-op term. Through this position, I was responsible for providing technical support to project teams in all aspects of multiphase timber development. This involved conducting timber reconnaissance, field engineering, providing riparian and ecological assessments, prescribing culverts, layout planning, timber cruising, and GPS traversing. Working as a field technician allowed me to utilize my knowledge in forest ecology, soil science, and stream surveying to assess the quality of pre-harvest blocks and engineer post-harvest effects.
I have gained key skills in navigating through the forest, working outside in all types of weather and challenging terrain, maintaining a safety conscious mind, collecting accurate data, and being resourceful with the tools and knowledge I have. This opportunity has taught me valuable knowledge on forest management and operations which has sparked a newfound perspective and appreciation for our timber industry. I am so grateful for the academic, professional, and personal growth I have gained from this work term, as well as all the mentors and friends I have made along the way!
The Faculty of Forestry would like to congratulate Dr. Ingrid Jarvis for winning the Best Dissertation Award and Ms. Marina Melanidis for winning the Best Master’s Thesis Award.
Best Master’s Thesis Award Recipient
Marina Melanidis
Ms. Marina Melanidis is a climate justice activist and has led youth delegations at conferences such as COP 25 and 26. Her research has focused on how to manage for climate change and biodiversity loss with holistic, nature-based approaches. Melanidis’ MSc thesis is entitled Big ideas with big potential impacts: narratives and perceptions of nature-based solutions across scales of governance. To learn more, read her thesis here.
Best Doctoral Dissertation Award Recipient
Dr. Ingrid Jarvis
Dr. Ingrid Jarvis’ research focuses on the connection between urban natural environments and human health and wellbeing. Her work has also looked specifically at the effect of urban greenspaces on childhood development. “Few studies have investigated this pathway linking greenspace and developmental outcomes among children,” explained Jarvis. Her dissertation is entitled Understanding the human health benefits of urban green space across the life course by integrating epidemiological and novel geospatial approaches. To learn more, read her dissertation here.
Congratulations to all 3 Master’s and 5 Ph.D. students who were nominated for the Faculty of Forestry Best Dissertation and Thesis Awards. All nominations showcased exceptional quality and impactful research implications.
Summer Camp Leader at Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association in Vancouver, BC
Since July, I have been working as a camp instructor at VanDusen Gardens. VanDusen nature camps offer a unique blend of activities that incorporate science, exploration and skill building. My work has been highly rewarding so far because of the impact I have had on campers aged 5-10 years old. I have been able to use my knowledge from my courses to teach campers. For instance, using a flower model to discuss the reproductive parts of a flower and the role of pollination, discussing the cultural and/or historical importance of certain plant species during garden walks, key characteristics to watch for when identifying plant species, and the importance of biodiversity. I have learned several valuable lessons including the importance of recognizing the various learning styles of campers and offering a blend of activities. I believe UBC undergraduate students should consider joining co-op because it prepares you for life after graduation. You will gain work experience in various fields that is attractive to employers.
Overnight Camp Supervisor at Catching the Spirit Youth Society in Burnaby, BC
This summer, I am working as a Camp Supervisor with CTS Youth Society, a non-profit summer camp that runs weekend overnight camps and weekday day camps in parks throughout the Vancouver area for youth 12-18.
At the beginning of the term, I worked with the other supervisors to prep supplies for camp, help train the leaders, and work with the CTS’ partners to prepare for camps.
Once July and August hit, my focus shifted to running camps. At camp, my partner and I act as the adults on site, maintaining the safety of the group, and facilitating activities, but also as mentors to the Peer Leaders (youth 15-18), who plan and run many of the activities at camp.
I have learned a lot about the background work and consideration that goes into running a program in a non-profit organization. As well, I have developed my skills in maintaining relationships with partners, communicating with clients (parents) in a friendly and professional manner, and program facilitation and mentorship!
I’ve also had the opportunity to share some of what we are learning in our Forestry classes at camp. Topics such as, ecology, plant ID, and the ecological and social impacts of our infrastructure (i.e. dams). It has been super rewarding to share these fun, interesting, and important topics with youth and hopefully inspire them to more aware and to care about nature, each other, and the world around us!
I joined co-op to learn about and experience the variety of career opportunities available as a forestry student. I am thankful for these opportunities and think jobs like this help to show the variety of jobs that are available!
Wildlife Biologist at BC Ministry of Lands, Water and Resource Stewardship in Surrey, BC
This term, I have had the pleasure and challenge of planning and leading my first camera servicing field trip for my project on the Sechelt Peninsula. We have over 50 cameras spread out around the peninsula– some only accessible by helicopter. This particular camera was at the edge of a marsh, so we had to jump out of a running helicopter into knee-deep water! It’s been amazing to see the incredible wildlife captured on these cameras and I am excited to see what is revealed in the newly collected data.
Undergraduate Research Assistant at Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada in Vancouver, BC
For my second co-op term, I worked as a research assistant for Dr. Susan Day at the Urban Forest Ecosystems Lab here at the Faculty of Forestry. Dr. Day and I co-designed an observational study to investigate age-related soil development patterns across 56 sites on campus. The aim of the project is to understand the effects of widely used manufactured soil blends on vegetation health and to provide a practical baseline dataset for landscape managers.
Throughout this project, I was fortunate enough to be involved in every step of the applied research process. This includes writing research proposals, selecting sites, collecting and processing soil samples, presenting results, and supporting other graduate students in their research. I also had the opportunity to present my research poster at a soil science research conference in Baltimore, MD. I think my favorite part of this job was collaborating with other campus stakeholders to produce practical and sustainable soil management strategies. As this project is ongoing, the results will be shared with other researchers and the greater campus community to ensure our urban trees are resilient against climate stressors. I am incredibly grateful for all the research skills that I gained, and I am looking forward to continuing my research career.
Thank you UBC Co-op and Dr. Susan Day for this wonderful opportunity! I would also like to acknowledge the funding support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the UBC SEEDs Sustainability Program.
The Wild and Immersive program at Malcolm Knapp Research Forest (MKRF) has been given the 2023 Maple Ridge Stewardship of a Community Cultural Asset Award.
This award recognizes a group who conserves a physical area, practices, expressions, knowledge and/or skills to advance the appreciation and understanding of a community cultural asset.
Liz Smith, the Business Improvement Coordinator at MKRF, said that the award recognizes the ongoing work of the Wild and Immersive team.
“We are so grateful to our community and the families and participants who come to our programs each year,” she said. “We wouldn’t be able to run this program without them, and this award acknowledges that what we provide to this community is important and valued.”
Wild & Immersive runs educational programming for youth out of the UBC Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, with a goal to teach the importance of our local ecosystems and diverse ecology and planting the seed of environmental curiosity.
Wild & Immersive was created in 2017 to increase knowledge and environmental educational experiences to members of the community. Current programs include Forest School, day camps, overnight camps, field trips, retreats, and special events.
“We believe that hands-on activities and outdoor recreation creates understanding and lifelong connection to the natural world,” Smith said. “The future health of our planet depends on managing our relationship with nature. Through delivering programs that educate and engage, we ensure the youth of today will play leading roles in designing their tomorrow.”
Black History Month serves as a time to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of Black students, staff, and faculty within our UBC Forestry community. While we should celebrate these achievements everyday, we hope to offer this time as an opportunity for focused and intentional reflection. This year, we are grateful to share with you four stories of some of our amazing Forestry students and alumni.
Dr. Washington Gapare (PhD’03)
“Born in Zimbabwe, I attended UBC from 2000 to 2003 in Aitken Lab and obtained a PhD in Forest Genetics. My PhD work focused on genetic diversity and population structure on widespread species and the implications for gene conservation. I used Sitka spruce as the model organism.
I still have fond memories of my lab “family” for their friendship and support. The lab “family” included both Aitken Lab and Ritland Lab students. As students, we created a home far away from home and were always there for each other. On completion of my PhD studies and moving Australia in 2004, I soon realised that “After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.” This quote is attributed to Former President of South Africa, the late Nelson Mandela.
The doctoral studies at UBC provided me an opportunity to get the depth and breadth in Populations Genetics. I then coupled that knowledge with my Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Management gained at Aberdeen University, Scotland, Master of Science degree at North Carolina State University, USA to gain employment with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), in Australia. I have always considered myself a global citizen.
I worked for CSIRO for 17 years. Major areas of research included integrating modern quantitative genetics and population genetics to applied breeding programs for optimizing genetic gain, diversity, and sustainability. These applications focused on trees, cotton, wheat, and salmon fish.
I currently work for Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) (https://grdc.com.au/) as a Research Data Manager. This is a new post that was created in 2021 and I have spent the past two years building up systems, mechanisms, and guidelines for researchers to manage RD&E data effectively. GRDC’s purpose is to invest in Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) to create enduring profitability for Australian grain growers. I ensure that data from GRDC projects are FAIR (i.e., Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable). Such efforts accelerate research outcomes, avoid duplication of efforts to generate data, enable new insights and greater value to be derived from the data.”
Dr. Alesia Ofori (MSFM’16)
“Dr. Alesia Ofori is a Research Fellow in Water and Sanitation Governance at the School of Politics and International Studies at the University of Leeds. Her research is broadly in the politics and anthropology of resource governance and development in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on the extractive industry, water, sanitation, and agriculture.
She holds a PhD in International Development from the University of Leeds. She completed a Master of Sustainable Forest Management (MSFM) in 2016 and is also an alumnus of the UBC MasterCard Foundation Scholar Program. Celebrating BHM, her word to Black students is to own their space and POWER. “Let no one invalidate your thoughts, aspirations, and dreams. Be in charge of your might!”
Dr. Stella Acquah (PhD’22)
“I am Stella Britwum Acquah, and a Ghanaian. I obtained a Ph.D. in Forestry in 2022 at the University of British Columbia (UBC) with support from the International Doctoral Fellowship Award from the University. In 2020 I was privileged to receive the Paul Heller Memorial Fellowship in Forestry. After graduation, I returned to Ghana to work with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (CSIR-FORIG) as Senior Research Scientist. My research team is currently working on assessing deforestation and forest degradation in Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) in the Northern Savannah Zone of Ghana. The research aims at enhancing forest carbon stocks by restoring forest cover through local community intervention. The African community at UBC added flavour to the beautiful life on the Vancouver campus. We were the epitome of diversity, with different hopes, cultures, dreams, aspirations and yearnings. This made life rather interesting and uncomplicated, especially for those who wanted to see the world from different perspectives. I highly recommend UBC to African students seeking a well-balanced academic environment.”
Solène François (BUF’25)
“My name is Solène François, and I’m in my second year of the Urban Forestry program in the Faculty of Forestry. I was born in the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, located in the Caribbean. I moved to Canada when I was 14 years old. After moving to Canada, I became interested in sustainability, urban forest biodiversity, and climate change adaptation strategies, especially in urban settings. While global temperatures rise and more people migrate into urban areas, sustainable city planning and green infrastructure/ spaces must be implemented to create climate-resilient cities. The program of Urban Forestry is a relatively new field of study. It has challenges with recognition in the work world and acceptance of its importance in the wider society. As a Black woman, these challenges can be even more pronounced. Pursuing a degree in the Faculty of Forestry can be a lonely journey for a black student like myself when I am the only black student in most classes. Students of other ethnic groups have a community and form bonds which support them throughout their degree process. This isolation makes the university experience ten times more challenging, as there are few black role models in this field to look up to. Despite these challenges, I recognize that as one of the few black people in Forestry, I have a responsibility to help pave the path for other black students to follow. I hope that through my efforts, there will be a greater representation of the African Diaspora in the Faculty of Forestry. Black History Month celebrates the struggles and achievements of the black people who came before. As the pioneering member of the Black in Forestry Initiative, we are creating black history here at UBC.”
