One of the benefits of studying Biology at Ambrose University is getting hands-on research experience at the undergraduate level.
This past spring, the Ambrose Biology program offered a course in Aquatic Biomonitoring. Students spent a week practicing techniques for measuring the biological condition of freshwater ecosystems and walked away as Certified Field Technicians with Environment Canada.
"Getting this certification was a significant confidence boost and profound learning experience," says James Sylvester, a recent graduate of the Biology program.
He returned to Ambrose specifically for this class. "The online coursework was streamlined and efficient," James says, "and we got to spend two days knee-deep in Kananaskis rivers, surrounded by working professionals."
The professionals, including an entomologist and environmental scientist, were drawn by the opportunity to gain certification as Field Technicians with the Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN).
Participants were trained in the use of field sampling equipment used to catalogue and quantify invertebrates living on the riverbed. "Students learned how to assess the health of fresh water ecosystems by monitoring benthic macroinvertebrate communities," explains Ambrose Biology Lecturer Graeme Gissing.
"Benthic macroinvertebrates are an excellent group to study because they are particularly sensitive to environment changes," he adds. "They are considered 'macro' because they are large enough for us to see, and 'benthic' refers to the fact that they are bottom-dwellers."
Developed through a partnership between Environment Canada and the Canadian Rivers Institute at the University of New Brunswick, CABIN training is offered across Canada to promote inter-agency collaboration and data sharing. The goal of the certification, according to Environment Canada, is to "achieve consistent and comparable reporting on freshwater quality and aquatic ecosystem conditions in Canada."
"Environmental assessment is a growing business sector in Alberta," says Graeme. "This is a great opportunity for our students to equip themselves with a credential that will be of value when they graduate and begin the transition into their careers."
"In addition to earning a certification, the big benefit of this kind of class, from my perspective, is learning hands-on techniques in the field," he continues. "This is critical for undergraduate students they are not just studying theory and models, they're gaining practical skills as well."
