Meet Sarah, Ecologist Team Leader

Favourite part of your park?

So hard to decide! Probably Bologna Glacier, as it’s the kind of environment that few people ever get to visit or travel on, and it’s nestled in the spectacular Ragged Range. That ice environment is so dynamic; you can see incredible changes occurring before your eyes—we saw a 40m deep hole in the ice drain of meltwater within a few hours. It’s a real reminder of both the power and the fragility of nature.

Best project/study you’ve gotten to work on?

The mooseskin boat documentary film. I was lucky enough to participate in the boat construction and launch at Bunny Bar, with the opportunity to learn from the Shúhtaot'ine boat builders and seamstresses, and listen to stories from all the Dene participants, both of their traditional knowledge but also how they were reconnecting with their culture during the project. A particularly special memory is rafting downstream from Bunny Bar at sunset after the boat launch, to the sounds of Lawrence Nayally drumming.

Favourite part of your job?

Our team! Fieldwork in such an incredible part of Canada that would be far more challenging without our diverse and dedicated team to make it fun, even when it’s snowing in July, you can’t see your hands for the mosquitos, or all your equipment is breaking down. That’s when you need your colleagues to back you up, and to cheer you up.

What do you love about science/tech?

The diversity and constant challenges. We monitor everything from water to caribou to vegetation; work on rivers, in aircraft, and while hiking mountains; and use techniques from picking up poop, to automated recording units for bird song, and filtering DNA from stream water. There’s always something new to learn!