Our People

 Collaboration is one of the fundamental strengths of science. We have the almost unique requirement to share ideas and knowledge across sectors, regions, and perspectives. This is particularly true in conservation or restoration-focused research, where we partner with many communities outside of science, each of which brings their own deep knowledge and understanding of a topic. Luckily, this task is incredibly fulfilling, brightening and shaping our science in truly meaningful ways. Also, we get paid to sit around and talk to interesting people about nerd science stuff. It's pretty great.

We are no longer actively recruiting students for the immediate term, but always keen to hear from excited potential lab members. Email the PI to express interest in joining.

Principal

Nancy Shackelford

Though technically the captain of this ship, I am mostly just excited to be here. My research covers restoration ecology, stats, data, plants, mites, and landscape ecology. Though I found restoration on accident, I believe it's the most hopeful, useful pathway in the midst of our current ecological woes. My passion is to make restoration outcomes more predictable by bringing together knowledge through meta-analysis and synthesis, and by applying generalizable ecological concepts to the successes and failures we see on the ground.

Students

Graduate students

Julia Palozzi

Julia is a Ph.D. student in the Social Dimensions of Health program, co-supervised by Drs. Nancy Shackelford and Carmen de France. Julia's research will explore reciprocity between humans and ecosystems through a youth-based ecocultural restoration project in collaboration with an Indigenous community. Along the human-to-ecosystem dimension, Julia is interested in exploring whether trait-based ecology can be combined with Traditional Ecological Knowledge to restore a cultural keystone species like the Camas lily in Garry oak meadows.  Along the ecosystem-to-human dimension, she will explore whether participating in an ecocultural restoration program instills a sense of responsibility in youth practitioners. Exploring stewardship feedbacks will provide us with a better understanding of what drives sustainable, reciprocal human-nature relationships.

Sarah Bird

Inspired by Earth’s biodiversity and opportunities to learn about and from the world’s ecosystems, Sarah is interested in conserving and restoring these ecosystems for future generations. As a generalist you’ll find her interested in a range of topics, from the physiology and distribution of Collembola, to how human systems interact to support and impede conservation.  In her research, she intends to explore how we can most efficiently coordinate people, knowledge, and funding to achieve conservation and restoration goals. Her upcoming PhD research will focus on mechanisms that influence Garry Oak ecosystem restoration.

Maureen Huggard

Maureen Huggard is a MSc student co-supervised by Dr. Richard Hebda. She lives in central Yukon in the small community of Mayo. Her research interests are focused on the recovery of fragile northern ecosystems that have been affected by mining and industrial activity. She is also interested in the use of native plant species for restoration of disturbed sites. In her spare time, she can be found working with citizens in the community, gardening or in the nearby alpine.

Undergraduates

Larissa Bron

Larissa is a curious undergraduate student that is embarking on experiential learning projects to complement her studies in biology and environmental studies. She is interested in developing opportunities for her community to participate in creating positive relationships with the living world. Currently, her efforts are focused on working with the UVic Ecological Restoration Club to restore the campus Garry oak meadow. 

Erin Rolleman

Erin is an undergraduate student studying geography and environmental studies at UVic. Through experiential learning opportunities in both programs, Erin has been fortunate to engage in research across BC. She has studied the effects of climate warming and drought conditions on salmonids in the Koeye estuary in Haíɫzaqv (Heiltsuk) territory and has compiled a pioneer plant inventory for the post-glacial slopes of a nunatak at Bridge Glacier. She is passionate about all things plants and enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, camping, and poking her fingers in the dirt. Erin sees restoration as an amazing opportunity to combine her love of plants and ecology with her skills and knowledge in geography. Currently, her efforts are focused on geospatial analyses of Garry oak and associated ecosystems in Canada to better understand the distribution and connectivity between remaining patches

John Kang

 John's an undergraduate student with a background in Environmental Studies and Biology. His research interests are in conducting effective ecological restoration or learning about new ecologies. Using restoration experience from a variety of ecosystems he hopes to contribute to long-term restoration of the UVic campus greenspace where he has wandered about throughout his degree. Invasive species and other disturbances have displaced most of the native species at UVic. To return ecological function and natural biodiversity, John is helping create an actionable plan based on ecological principles and spatial data of the UVic campus. He hopes to execute this plan in the near future and continue supporting future students of the UVic Ecological Restoration Club.

Collaborator organizations

Our collaboration network spans the globe, with research partners in almost every corner and sector. We also have active and exciting projects shared across our own School of Environmental Studies at UVic. However, we have key organizational collaborations that drive some of our research, and we want to give them kudos here. We are also always looking for new research partners, so reach out at any time to chat science and discuss common goals.

Denver Botanic Gardens (DBG)

Working with DBG Chatfield Farms (and their site staff and scientists) has been a dream. They are excited about conservation and restoration, about public education, about land management, and about science. Creative and efficient, they have provided a little restoration play space for us, and have done their own amazing work all over the property. We are incredibly lucky to have them as collaborators.

German Centre for Integrate Biodiversity Research (iDiv)

Full of brilliant, driven scientists, iDiv researchers from around the globe work to "establish the scientific basis for the sustainable management of our planet’s biodiversity". Their work with us has centered on conceptual and data-driven synthesis. They've been an enthusiastic and deeply supportive partner in several projects, and we hope to keep growing that relationship over the next many years.

Kings Park and Botanic Garden

Kings Park Science undertakes conservation science to build on and share knowledge of Western Australia’s unique and world-renowned biodiversity. The Science team undertakes integrated and innovative research in native plant biology. Successful conservation outcomes are achieved through world-class research and strategic alliances with industry, land managers, the community and other research organisations. Research is focused in the key areas of restoration ecology, seed science, conservation genetics, and conservation biotechnology, with a focus on extension to practitioners and land managers

"The School of Environmental Studies at UVic recognizes that the field of environmental studies has historically been overwhelmingly white, resulting in what Dorceta Taylor calls the “Green Insiders Club.” This white colonial dominance has significantly weakened the discipline and the broader environmental movement it contributes to. We are committed to unsettling and unlearning these colonial practices by re-shaping our collective and individual decision-making using anti-colonial and racial justice lenses to amplify, work with, learn from and centre traditionally marginalized perspectives and experience."

Really, most (all?) of Western science can fit this kind of description, and ecology is no exception. We strive to have an inclusive, diverse group in the RFL that captures a range of perspectives and backgrounds. Depending on the day you look, we are closer or further from that goal. Regardless, if you have anything you want to voice, suggestions, frustrations, anxieties within the topic of colonialism, diversity, and engagement, send me an email.