Curriculum Vitae

Nicholas Hebda

1205-1875 Country Club Dr.
Kelowna, BC V1V 2W7
250-507-3738
nhebda@alumni.ubc.ca

Education

University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna BC
M.Sc. – Environmental Sciences                                             In progress
Cumulative GPA: 3.00

University of Victoria, Victoria BC
B.Sc. – Biology (co-op)                                                                          2010
Cumulative GPA: 6.83

Research Interests

I study climate change impacts on the physical and biological landscape and how these impacts affect human communities. I use multidisciplinary approaches to identify climate change-related challenges and develop adaptation strategies. Specific areas of interest include:

  • Wildfires
  • Drinking water
  • Paleoecology
  • Carbon sequestration
  • Climate change
  • Ecological restoration
  • Landscape ecology

Professional Research Experience

Research Consultant                                                             2015-2016
Self-employed, Kelowna BC

  • Contracted by Natural Resources Canada to conduct a systematic literature search covering paleoecological records of Holocene biomes.
  • Prepared summary of literature search findings, to be used for ecological niche model verification and calibration.

Research Technician                                                              2011-2015
Canadian Forest Service, Victoria BC

  • Sampled, analyzed, and interpreted lake and wetland sediment cores and reconstructed fire histories and landscape disturbance regimes.
  • Undertook sediment core description and imaging, charcoal analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurement, loss-on-ignition analysis, and numerical analyses.

Writer/Researcher                                                                 2012-2015
Iredale Group Architecture, Victoria BC

  • Compiled and edited extensive material for in-progress book about climate change, resource management, and ecological sustainability.
  • Reviewed technical and popular literature, summarized key data and concepts, and prepared concise syntheses.
  • Researched and wrote five chapters.

Professional Teaching Experience

Graduate Teaching Assistant: Earth Science       2015-Present
University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna BC

  • Instructed lab sections of 30-40 undergraduate students in geology and earth history, administered and graded assessments, and provided academic assistance and guidance.
  • Evaluated course content and developed suggestions for future improvements.

Professional Presenting Experience

BC Ferries Coastal Naturalist                                          2008-2010
SunWorks Consulting Inc., Victoria BC

  • Developed and delivered educational programs about wildlife and environmental conservation to large and diverse audiences.
  • Evaluated educational programs and presenters.

Additional Professional Experience

Ecological Restoration Consultant                                          2011
Self-employed, Victoria BC

  • Surveyed and evaluated plant populations.
  • Prepared and implemented restoration plans.

Public Outreach Education Officer                                        2010
Parks Canada, Victoria BC

  • Coordinated outreach events.
  • Built relationships with partner organizations.

Ecological Restoration Technician                                        2007
Parks Canada, Victoria BC

  • Managed native and invasive species within conservation areas.
  • Developed restoration plans and progress reports.

Publications

Books Authored

Iredale, R., and Hebda, N. (2016). Food, Shit, and Shelter: Using Living Landscapes to Store Carbon [working title]. Manuscript in preparation.

Conference Proceedings

Brown, K. J., Hebda, N., Conder, N., Hebda, R. J., Hawkes, B. (2013). Holocene disturbance dynamics from a pine-dominated forest in central British Columbia, Canada. Proceedings of the 2013 AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, 2013-12-09.

Awards and Distinctions

UBCO University Graduate Fellowship ($3000)                           2016
UBCO Graduate Dean’s Entrance Scholarship ($5000)               2015
Graduation with distinction from University of Victoria              2010
Circle K International Carthage-Pullman Society Award             2010
Coast Capital Savings Heritage Award ($5000)                             2005
UVIC President’s Entrance Scholarship ($2500)                           2005
Saanich Teachers’ Association Scholarship ($350)                        2005
Kiwanis Leadership Award                                                                  2005
Key Club Lifetime Member Award                                                     2005

Skills and Certifications

  • Confident, capable, and engaging public speaker
  • Extensive experience using Microsoft Office software including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
  • Familiarity programming in NetLogo agent-based modelling environment
  • Occupational First Aid Level 1
  • Class 5 BC Driver’s License

References

Dr. Ian Walker
Master’s Co-Supervisor
Professor, Earth & Environmental Sciences and Biology
University of British Columbia Okanagan
250-807-9559
ian.walker@ubc.ca

Dr. Kendrick Brown
Master’s Co-Supervisor
Research Scientist, Canadian Forest Service
Natural Resources Canada
250-298-2442
kendrick.brown@canada.ca

Stuart MacKinnon
Work Supervisor
Laboratory Manager, Earth & Environmental Sciences
University of British Columbia Okanagan
250-807-8405
stuart.mackinnon@ubc.ca