University
leads
salmon conservation
Science supported by
student exchange
by Suzanne Evans
Embracing education and contributing to the conservation of the Pacific Ocean are the driving forces behind the Fernandez Earle Scholarship Foundation (FESF).
These ideologies are embodied through a student exchange program taking place between Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) and Simon Fraser University (SFU). The exchange has formed a strong bond between the two institutions and led to firm footings in the endeavour of protecting salmon and their environments.
At the heart of the student exchange program is the SFU Leadership Chair in Salmon Conservation, held by Dr. John Reynolds. The objectives of the salmon conservation chair, Reynolds points out, are to enhance the understanding of the conservation of salmon and their ecosystems—one of the focal points for the FESF.
“There’s a synergy there because my goals are very similar to many of the objectives of the foundation,” Reynolds explains about the relationship between his work and that of FESF. “I’m interested in marine conservation—I focus on salmon and their ecosystems, and the fact that Kane Fernandez and Roger Earle were both united by a passion for salmon fishing, as well as bigger issues in marine conservation—to that extent we’re very much aligned.”
The exchange program was initially introduced with undergraduates in mind, but has evolved and is now being offered to graduates studying for a master’s degree or doctorate in marine science, because, explains Beverley Kniffen, chair of the FESF, the aim is to support a deeper understanding of the issues surrounding salmon on a scientific level.
“Obviously it’s the ocean that always brings us together and one of our mandates is to create scientists to help with the problems of the Pacific Ocean. We’re changing communities through education, but also supporting science, which is really important for us too,” Kniffen says.
Reynolds believes the exchange programs expose students to more than just a wider set of academic training, saying they get the best of both worlds by including two institutions in their educational program, but he says it’s also about developing personal values through a cultural experience.
“It’s firstly academic,” he confirms. “But it’s also the additional non-academic agenda of living in a foreign place and being exposed to different ideas—to me that really is what education should be about.”
Ashlee Albright, an undergraduate at SFU, undertook the exchange program last year, spending her time on a tropical island at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, a research institute of the University of Hawaii. She agrees the experience helped to enhance both her personal and scientific skills and says it’s already shaped her future.
Based on her achievements in Hawaii, which included winning the Best Undergraduate Presentation Award, Albright has been selected to work with Reynolds this summer as part of the salmon chair research team at a large field project based in B.C.’s Great Bear Rainforest.
“I love working outdoors and field work always provides a satisfying challenge. The temperate rainforest and its wildlife provide a stunning backyard. The rugged beauty of this area is a phenomenal work environment, and I’m truly lucky to be a part of Dr. Reynolds’ team—working to protect the pacific salmon,” enthuses Albright.
The project in the Great Bear Rainforest is on the remote central coast of B.C. and is focusing on the ecology and conservation of salmon in more than 50 watersheds— another example exemplifying the parallels between SFU’s salmon conservation chair and the student exchange program supported by FESF. Important projects such as this confirm the valuable role of the FESF, which is playing an instrumental part in connecting organizations, professionals and students to work collectively toward protecting the fragile environment of the Pacific Ocean and the conservation of the much-revered pacific salmon.
“I think the FESF are fantastic frankly, because they embody the enthusiasm and support of ordinary people for conservation and education,” says Reynolds. “And I often get a lot of my inspiration from talking to people who are a part of this kind of organization—they keep me grounded and remind me why we’re doing what we’re doing.”
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