Private foundation supports student work experiences
An undergraduate student gaining valuable GIS experience and a graduate student researching the forest/community interface are two of the Forestry students benefitting from private foundation support of co-op work terms and internships at UBC’s Research Forests. This newly established private foundation gift has already supported work term and research opportunities for six undergraduate and three graduate students in our Malcolm Knapp, Alex Fraser and Aleza Lake research forests.
After Jeremy Watkins finished his third year in the Natural Resources Conservation (NRC) program in April 2011, he applied for a co-op work term at the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest. “The main reason I wanted this position was to learn more about GIS – Geographic Information Systems – so I could apply in the field what I had learned in the classroom,” he says. “I also wanted the experience of working with a team of forestry professionals.”
Jeremy so enjoyed his summer work experience that he decided to delay his return to UBC in the fall and continue working in the Research Forest instead. Working closely with Resident Forester Cheryl Power, he is doing silviculture surveys and prescriptions, as well as continuing and deepening his GIS experience. “GIS transfers very well to conservation and modeling, so it will really help me in my NRC program,” he says.
Teresa de la Fuente Diez completed her masters degree in Forests and Society in May 2011, then spent the summer researching the recreational use of the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest. “I developed and administered a questionnaire to community members to find out how they are using the forest now and what they would like to see in the future,” she says. Originally from Spain, Teresa’s love of nature and interest in the linkages between forest conservation and forest-dependent communities brought her to UBC. Once she completed her degree program, she started looking for practical experience .“ This research opportunity was perfect for me,” she says. “I got to do valuable work in a wonderful place. I’m so grateful for the funding that made this possible.”
Paul Lawson, Director of the UBC Research Forests, is also enthusiastic about the program and grateful for the financial support. “There are lots of job opportunities in industry, but they tend to be very focused and specific. These internships are ideal for students who want a broad range of work experience, and without the private foundation support we would not be able to offer them to our students,” he says.
Thanks to the success of this program in 2011, the private foundation has renewed its commitment and will provide work and research opportunities for up to six undergraduate and three graduate students in 2012.