We say goodbye; we say hello…
This past week we bid farewell to Andrew Baylis. He gifted A Rocha with almost four years of excellent work on our Conservation Science team. Arriving in September 2013, Andrew mentored interns and carried out monitoring and research on numerous species at risk in the Little Campbell River watershed, including: the endangered Salish Sucker, Northern Red-legged Frog, Western Toad, Oregon Forestsnail, Barn Swallow and Western Pearlshell Mussel. He also led important studies on water quality and habitat restoration.
Andrew brought an excellence to his work and a deep care for the people and creatures in this place. While we are sad to see him go, we are excited to see him take on a new position with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. He will certainly be a valuable addition to their Freshwater team and will bring much of what he has learned at A Rocha as he helps to develop recovery strategies for freshwater species at risk.
This spring we are excited to welcome Michelle Jackson to our Conservation Science team. She is not a stranger to A Rocha, and has been a long-term committed volunteer, first connecting with us in 2005 as an intern at our first BC Centre and even conducted her Masters’ research while volunteering at A Rocha Kenya. Some of you may have met her though her help with our barn swallow research last spring and summer.
Michelle brings a strong academic background, including doctoral research on forest plants and pollinators in the Southern Appalachian mountains and post-doctoral research with the White-tailed Ptarmigan on Vancouver Island.
While you could in fact call her Dr. Jackson, she carries her expertise with incredible grace and approachability, with sincere consideration for those around her and a passion to see science communicated effectively and used in a practical way for conservation action.
Michelle will be taking the role of Conservation Biologist on the team at A Rocha’s Brooksdale Environmental Centre starting this month. We look forward to having her around!
