Hi! I’m a 3rd year science student pursuing a major in Geographical Sciences at UBC. The below is from when I was in second year! Some things have changed but many have not, feel free to give it a read.
Currently, I’m taking courses in GIS and cartography, which I think have many very practical applications. In addition, I’m taking an Earth Sciences course on geographical time and stratigraphy, a multi-variable calculus course, and an English literature course. I’m learning a lot of new things in all those courses.
Last semester, I took courses about geomorphic processes and hazards, ecology, statistics, conservation and the state of the earth. I found the overlap between these subjects really interesting. For example, I learnt about ecosystem services from several different perspectives; I can now compare this concept from biological, geographical and conservation-based veiwpoints.
I think the applicabilty of the concepts I’m learning about is very intriguing. In learning about coastal processes, we can walk down to the Point Grey cliffs and discuss erosion and sediment transport. One of my favourite things about what I’m studying is that I can see it in the world around me, whether that be in the physical space or in the news and media. Improving my understanding of statistics allows me to better comprehend the scientific aspects of my studies. Furthermore, better scientific understanding lets me learn more about, say, the driving social forces behind conservation, or the factors shaping current environmental challenges.
In the next years of my undergraduate program, I aim to learn more and more about the natural world around us as it is and the problems that it faces. I would like to develop a full understanding of the forces (physical, social, technological, etc.) impacting the landscapes and ecosystems of the planet and how they interact with one another.
Why do I find all this so compelling? I grew up in Calgary, AB, camping, skiing, hiking and generally having fun in the Rockies and other nearby natural areas. I was a founding member of my elementary school’s “Save Our Earth” Club and transitioned to being an executive and later co-president or my High School’s environment club.
I also compete at the sport that has possibly the most connection to forests and other natural spaces: orienteering.
Orienteering is a sport involving navigation (using a map and compass) at high speeds through diverse, unknown terrain. It’s like a cross country running race, but through a forest or other terrain and athletes must navigate between a series of checkpoints.
I’m a Canadian junior national team orienteerer. I competed in the summer of 2016 at the Junior World Orienteering Championships in Scuol, Switzerland and the World University Orienteering Championships in Miskolc, Hungary, among other events. I also play competitive quidditch for UBC!
This past June, I had the opportunity to volunteer with the Nature Conservancy of Canada which was a great learning experience.