As someone who has been part of the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøBieler School of Environment for over two decades, I find it both sobering and exciting to now be in a position where I can direct its future path.
My goal is to position the School as a leading center for student training on the world’s most pressing environmental issues. This involves developing research projects and internships through new collaborations with environmental agencies in the Montreal region that will create unique experiential learning opportunities for our students.
Our city is situated beside one of the world’s iconic rivers. Given the enormous cultural and ecological significance of the St. Lawrence River and its vulnerability to multiple stressors (including climate change, invasive species, novel pollutants, habitat alteration), I believe 51³Ô¹ÏÍøhas a responsibility to lead environmental research that informs the public and policy makers about how the river’s biodiversity is changing and what these changes mean for ecosystem services upon which our society depends.
Therefore, I am honored to also serve as the inaugural Bieler Chair in St. Lawrence River Ecology. This chair will facilitate cutting-edge research on the St. Lawrence River and other aquatic ecosystems. In this role, I will forge relationships with governmental and non-governmental agencies, community groups and First Nations authorities that will contribute to water quality monitoring of the river. My lab will train a generation of students to measure and understand ecosystem-level changes, and our discoveries will guide policy and management.
I embrace both the Directorship and the Chair with passion, determination, and optimism.