Lab Values

Biodiversity Conservation

All of our work is motivated by the goal of improving prospects for species facing extirpation and extinction under global change. This can mean doing applied conservation work, or more basic work that informs our understanding of fundamental ecological interactions that strengthen foundations for conservation thinking. In other words, this lab’s research program blends curiosity-driven and applied research.

This value also motivates our science communication efforts. If we have results that could make practical differences for conservation, we want to make sure policy makers and the general public are aware of them.

Engaging with the public on topics in conservation and science more generally helps conservation. Lab members communicate with school and community groups through initiatives like Let’s Talk Science and Skype a Scientist, as well as through local groups in Ottawa. By sharing our passion for conservation and our knowledge, we hope to improve public understanding of challenges confronting species but also to illustrate that strategies exist to improve their prospects. Check out the Communication and Outreach page for more information (coming soon).

Discovery and Research

As a research lab, discovery is at the centre of our work. We aim to do impactful and innovative science, and hold ourselves to high standards of academic conduct. The end goal for all research projects is an academic publication, and the lab is proud to produce high-impact, well-cited journal articles. Publications are important for a number of reasons: they help us secure funding for future work, they help build lab member CVs and lead to exciting opportunities, and they communicate important findings to the scientific and conservation community.

To do this, we continually engage with the scientific literature, and work at the cutting edge of the field. This means compiling powerful datasets to answer questions in new ways, and designing field experiments to answer specific questions. We learn emerging techniques, such as modelling microclimates and collecting remote sensing data with drones, conduct advanced statistical analyses, and polish article drafts to a high standard.

Following article publication, we work to communicate our findings to the media and public. This can take many forms, and helps our work reach a broader audience inside and outside of the scientific community. We also present our work at important national and international scientific conferences. Check out the Communication and Outreach page for more information (coming soon).

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

As a starting point, all lab members are expected to treat each other with kindness and respect. For a variety of reasons, some lab members may require more support than others, may need accommodations, or may need time to observe certain religious/cultural practices (ex. holidays). This is expected and welcomed: we want to create a space where everyone can succeed.

Lab members are encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to educate themselves around EDI; in the past this has included book clubs and discussion groups in the department, as well as certificates through Let’s Talk Science and other organizations.

Dr. Jeremy Kerr has helped develop Federal policies on EDI in research, and has co-authored an open-access book on designing inclusive courses in higher education.

For more information about our lab EDI values, read this article.

Follow this link for the Biology Grad Student Association EDI Committee and resources.