Meet Alice - Bison Project Management Lead

Alice recently re-joined the Wood Buffalo National Park team.

Favourite part of the park?

There is so much yet to explore, but my favorite place is Sweetgrass. Bison herding occurred several decades ago, and the open corral fencing still stands. Once, when working there for a week, I woke up at dawn in my tent to the thundering of hooves - I could feel the vibration! As the morning mist lifted, I peeked out and just 400m away, saw hundreds of buffalo running through the corrals. I will never forget it.

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

My Masters’ research looked at the human dimensions of bison management in Wood Buffalo National Park. I got to immerse myself in bison biology, history, and approaches to disease management. I feel most privileged that I got sit down with local Indigenous people over cups of tea and plates of cookies to hear about their values and experiences with bison, and their hopes for how buffalo are managed into the future.

Favourite part of your job?

I love the variety of people I get to engage with – from government officials across the country, to scientists, ecologists, and local Indigenous groups. Though we might have different roles to play and even different perspectives on how conservation of bison is carried out, there is a common passion for doing high-calibre work. People really want to help bison, engage meaningfully with Indigenous groups, and collaborate.

What do you love about science?

Science is for everybody and can be a way of feeding curiosity and exploring fears. Science on the nature of rocks, plants, bugs, animals (bison in particular, of course), and the universe often leaves me marveling at how fascinating it is to be a conscious being on this piece of rock hurtling through space. Everything and everyone is intricately and beautifully connected!