Morgan Rice: A Passion for Biodiversity and Ecosystems within Canada

Morgan Rice, MREM Class of 2018

I am a nature lover at heart and hold a strong passion for the protection and conservation of our biodiversity and ecosystems within Canada.  I am pursuing a career where I can connect society with conservation science in a meaningful way.  In 2017, I embarked on an academic journey at Dalhousie University in the School for Resource and Environmental Studies (SRES).  This course-based program allowed me to significantly improve my understanding and knowledge in innovative environmental management problem solving,  providing me with real-world experience. I explored the complexities of conservation science and environmental sustainability, which provided me with the skill-sets to fulfill my goal of communicating scientific knowledge on these topics and, in so doing, help build sustainable communities.

Crawford Lake, Photo Credit Morgan Rice

A highlight of my studies was working together with my mentor, Professor Karen Beazley of SRES, to plan the first Canadian Maritimes Ecological Connectivity Forum which was held at Dalhousie University on April 24^th and 25^th, 2019. With over 110 attendees representing regional government departments, academia, industry, First Nations organizations, and non-government organizations, the forum cultivated a social network to advance efforts in implementing connectivity on everyone’s agenda. This network of partnerships will allow for improved collaboration between various groups who would not be able to reach their goals working alone.

I gained much more than a Master of Resource and Environmental Management degree from SRES.  I now have life-long friendships with fellow students, faculty and staff. The SRES community became my extended family,  a home away from home. This support and encouragement gave me strength to embrace the challenges and obstacles of life as a graduate student.

I look forward to joining the Centre for Executive and Graduate Education this summer as the Program Assistant.  Dalhousie continues to provide extraordinary opportunities for sharing knowledge that fosters positive outcomes for society and our world.

Morgan Rice, MREM
August 2019