Latest News
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Where Are They Now?
Many of you know Dr. Corey Scobie as the Assistant Curator of Ornithology at the Royal Alberta Museum. He’s worked all over the province, inspiring biologists young and old alike through the RAM’s exhibits, outreach and education.
But back in 2003, Corey was an undergraduate in the Conservation Biology Program at the University of Alberta. That year, burdened by the financial pressures of university, he was the very grateful recipient of the ACTWSs Ian Ross Memorial undergraduate scholarship.
Fourteen years later, Corey is still at it. Passionate about prairie bird conservation, outreach and research, Corey looks back at the help the ACTWS provided as one of the keys that allowed him to focus on his academic and professional development.
photo: Kent Russell
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Where Are They Now?
Curtis Stambaugh was the very first scholar to whom the chapter awarded the William Wishart post-grad scholarship. Back in 2001, the ACTWS was very proud to present this award to Curtis for his work on the effect of fire and salvage logging on bird populations.
Not long after he collected the award at our Banff conference, Curtis joined the Alberta government as a wildlife manager and research ecologist with the Alberta Research Council and then as a biologist with Alberta Fish and Wildlife
Seventeen plus years later, Curtis leads the resource management team at Alberta Environment & Parks in Grande Prairie. We like to think that the fine work he’s done on cougars, western toads and human-wildlife conflict was helped along by the Chapter’s support. We continue to be proud of Curtis’ work.
photo: Curtis Stambaugh
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Where Are They Now?
Erin Cameron is another undergraduate, recognized by the ACTWS with an Ian Ross Memorial Scholarship (2004) who has gone on to a fascinating career.
Perhaps inspired by fellow Ross recipient, Phil McLoughlin who was later her instructor, Erin has gone on to an international career studying below-ground biodiversity. She’s even followed Phil’s footsteps to begin a study on Sable Island.
After completing her PhD, she went on to study throughout Europe, North and South America. Her studies on earthworms have landed her an Assistant Professorship at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. Oh the places you’ll go [to quote another Doctor (Suess)].
photo: Erin Cameron
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Where Are They Now?
Back in 2005, Sarah Trefry was an award-winning undergrad at the University of Alberta. Much has changed since.
The award was the Ian Ross Memorial scholarship from the ACTWS. Soon, she completed her BSc, her MSc (vocalization in collared pikas) at U Alberta, and her PhD studying magnificent frigatebirds at UNB. Pretty big changes.
Sarah, now Sarah Hudson, has moved west to become the Marine Research Coordinator and Wildlife Biologist for Environment Canada in Delta, B.C. Her career has taken her from the Arctic to the tropics, coast to coast, furred to feathered, mountains to marine. The only thing that hasn’t changed is her award-winning work. Congrats Sarah.
photo: Sarah Hudson
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Where Are They Now?
Ian Gazely was already a hard-working field biologist when he won the Robert Goddard Memorial scholarship from the ACTWS in 2005 for his studies at Lethbridge College.
In 2000 he was a volunteer leader on a Roosevelt Elk reintroduction program, and when he successfully completed his program at Lethbridge College, he pursued his BSc while working as a consultant for Traditional Knowledge and Land Use assessments.
Ever a student, Ian is now enrolled in an MSc program at Lethbridge University. He continues to work on elk, and now goats, in British Columbia. The Goddard scholarship was a great motivator, says Ian, however it looks to us as if he needs little motivating. Keep up the great work Ian.
photo: Ian Gazely