Aidan Wright

Aidan Wright

MSc Candidate in Geography, University of Victoria
BSc Physics, Simon Fraser University
BEd Secondary, University of Victoria      
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Aidan Wright is a Master’s candidate who will be mapping the spatial and temporal distribution of kelp-encrusting bryozoans on the BC coast. Kelp-encrusting bryozoans are very small, parasitic, invertebrate colonies that live on the surfaces of aquatic plants. Bryozoans can completely cover the surfaces of bull kelp and break them apart. Due to the ecological, sociological, and economic importance of kelp, these bryozoans are of great interest to researchers. Aidan will be using remote sensing data to distinguish between kelp with and without bryozoans, and create a methodology for identifying environmental clusters more significantly affected.  

Loïc Dallaire

Loïc Dallaire

MSc Candidate in Geography, University of Victoria
BSc Marine Geography, Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR)      
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Having graduated in marine geography from Quebec, I am deeply passionate about the intersection of marine geography and biology and I am dedicated to unravelling the secrets hidden beneath the waves through sailing and remote sensing. I believe my connection with the sea comes from my britany ancestors! However, I also find solace and inspiration in the lush forests and majestic mountains of British Columbia. When I'm not immersed in the marine realm, you'll often find me pursuing various outdoor adventures. My passion for marine life and terrestrial wonders, coupled with my enthusiasm for active exploration, shape the core of who I am and drive my constant pursuit of knowledge and connection with the natural world.  

My studies should produce a spatiotemporal inventory of the spawning events of the Pacific herring along BC coast. A magnificent phenomenon!

Shown above are herring spawning sites along the BC coasts!

Alena Wachmann

Alena Wachmann

Msc Candidate in Geography, University of Victoria  
BSc Honours Geography, University of Victoria      
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Ahoy! My research involves working with Pacific Rim National Park, Redd Fish Restoration Society and other local groups interested in harnessing archived satellite imagery to generate a time series of kelp forest dynamics along the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Additionally, I’m stoked to learn how remote sensing tech can support local data sovereignty in marine spatial planning.

Catch me out climbing rocks or up a mountain when not on the water!

Lauren Man 文朗晴

Lauren Man 文朗晴

MSc Candidate in Geography, University of Victoria
BSc Marine Biology, University of California, Los Angeles

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Lauren Man is a Master’s candidate with interests in using novel technologies to enhance ecosystem monitoring efforts, particularly in kelp forests. Kelp forests are extremely productive and diverse ecosystems that support a huge variety of marine creatures and provide a myriad of ecosystem services to coastal communities. Lauren’s project is focused on characterizing the spatial and temporal resilience and identifying the drivers of change of kelp forests in the territories of three of the Kwakwakawakw’ Nations: the ‘Namgis, Mamalilikulla and the Kwikwasut’lnuxw Haxwa’mis First Nations, in what is now known as the Broughton Archipelago of British Columbia, Canada. In this region, kelp forests are important habitat for juvenile salmon, and conserving kelp forests is a vital part of a larger effort to bring back healthy wild salmon runs in an area of sea lice and virus epidemics caused by salmon farming industries. This project is a collaboration between the SPECTRAL remote sensing laboratory and the Broughton Aquaculture Transition Initiative (BATI) and will help improve the management of kelp ecosystems in the Broughton area.

Lauren is from Hong Kong and has a BSc in Marine Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Throughout their undergraduate degree, they primarily conducted research on the spatial and temporal dynamics of environmental DNA (eDNA) in the kelp forest ecosystems of Southern California, aiming to improve the utility of eDNA as a biomonitoring method of kelp forest ecosystems. She also researched threat discrimination in skinks on the island of Moorea, French Polynesia and oyster ecophysiology in the face of changing climatic conditions in Hong Kong. Aside from research, they also love snapping pictures on their camera and have worked as a photographer for an environmental education centre, a newspaper, and a recreation centre. She also loves to climb rocks, snorkel, and enjoy what the planet has to offer.

Natasha Nahirnick

MSc Student in Geography
BSc in Geography (Honours), concentration in Geomatics (University of Victoria)
Contact | Flickr

Research Areas:
Remote sensing, aerial photography, UAVs, Geographic Information Systems, nearshore and intertidal habitats, seagrass mapping, land/sea interactions, land use change, eutrophication and nutrient loading, fisheries, freshwater salmon habitats, environmental restoration.
  
Thesis Project:
Long-term aerial photographic mapping of eelgrass (Zostera marina) in the Salish Sea (1932-2016)
Using archived historic aerial photography and imagery captured by Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), I am working to assess seagrass distributions change in the Salish Sea, British Columbia from 1932-2016.
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Publications:

• Contributor: Geomorphic and geologic controls of geohazards induced by Nepal’s 2015 Gorkha earthquake, Science 2015.
• Report: Oil Spill Detection with Radarsat-2 on BC Coast. Submitted April 2015 to Ocean Networks Canada. 
• Dissertation: Evaluating MODIS-Aqua for the detection of Heterosigma akashiwo. (2014). University of Victoria. Bachelor's Honours. Supervisor: Dr. Maycira Costa

Awards:

• NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s (2015)
• UVic President’s Research Scholarship (2015)
• Canadian Hydrographic Association Award (2013)

Reading List:

• Following the Last Wild Wolves (McAllister, 2011)
• Salmon: A Scientific Memoir (Isabella, 2014)
• The Sea Around Us (Carson, 1951)