Dr. John Kershaw didn't plan a career in forestry when, as a young man, he left the family farm in southern Indiana to study at Purdue University.
He wanted to be a veterinarian. However, a summer experience in Colorado during his first year at Purdue sparked his forestry interest, leading him to switch majors and embark on a journey that would take him around the world.
"I had always been strong in math, and mensuration (forestry measurement) appealed to me," Kershaw said.
"Between my third and fourth year, I was hired by the extension forester at Purdue, which became my summer job. I got interested in that, and then he offered me a chance to pursue a master's, and I thought, Yeah, that's a good idea.'"
After over three decades of research, teaching and pursuing international partnerships, Kershaw has been recognized with a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from his alma mater, which will be presented in April.
Kershaw, a professor at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) since 1991, was caught off guard when he first received the news of the award while travelling abroad.
"I didn't know anything about being nominated," Kershaw recalled, saying he had received a message of congratulations and didn't know what it was about.
"I was on roaming, so I didn't respond to the congratulatory message until about a week later."
The award, however, was no surprise to those who have followed Kershaw's career.
Kershaw is a specialist in forest mensuration the science of measuring and quantifying forest resources and has made significant contributions to the field through his research, teaching and global collaborations.
"It was my former master's supervisor at Purdue, a retired colleague also from Purdue and one of my former students who nominated me," Kershaw said.
"I was probably more honoured that they went to the effort than getting the award. But the award is nice too, and the previous recipients are all people I've respected over my career."
After completing his master's at Purdue, Kershaw earned his doctorate at the University of Washington before joining what is now UNB's faculty of forestry & environmental management (ForEM) in 1991.
He has conducted research projects in New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Ontario, Maine, North Carolina, Michigan, Poland, Malaysia and Taiwan, studying diverse forest ecosystems, the social systems that shape forestry practices and the relationship between the local population and the forest.
"The neat thing about travelling, particularly when I was travelling with my forestry hat on, is that I learned that all forests behave very similarly," Kershaw said.
"The processes change, but what fascinated me the most was that the local social systems impact how forestry is approached much more than do the technical aspects."
One particularly memorable project for Kershaw was his work in Poland's Białowieża Forest in 2016.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the forest was a playground for kings and nobility for centuries and thus carefully managed. However, Poland was challenged when it joined the European Union and came under the Natura 2000 environmental protection regulations.
"Any tree over 100 years old was protected, and they had many Norway spruces over 100 years old," Kershaw said.
"There's a bark beetle that infests Norway spruce, and if it's not contained quickly, it'll kill the tree and spread to others. We were able to put together a report that armed the Polish government enough that they could stand up to the European Union regulations and contain the bark beetle infestation."
Kershaw's work in Poland is just one example of his ability to navigate the complex interplay between technical forestry solutions and the social and political realities on the ground. This approach has also shaped his teaching, where he has worked to provide global examples and perspectives in his courses.
"When I first came to UNB, the forestry students were mostly from rural backgrounds," Kershaw said.
"Over the years, that student population has changed quite a bit, with more students coming from urban centers.
"I've had to adapt my teaching methods and emphasize the importance of understanding social contexts, not just the technical aspects of forestry."
As Kershaw reflects on his Lifetime Achievement Award, he says he's not quite finished yet. In addition to being the lead author of Forest Mensuration (Wiley-Blackwell, 2017), the most widely used mensuration textbook in North America, he is considering writing another book.
"I have a real passion for teaching research methods, and I've got many materials and things I put together over the years. I would like to write a small research methods book, which might be my final hurrah for my active career," he said.
"John Kershaw's career stands as a testament to dedication, innovation and impact in forestry and environmental management, especially within the subfield of forest mensuration," said Michelle Gray, dean of the faculty of forestry & environmental management.
"His remarkable achievements, recognized now with this prestigious lifetime achievement award from Purdue University, inspire not just his colleagues but also the next generation of forestry professionals. We are fortunate to have John as an integral part of our ForEM community, where his passion for advancing the field continues and benefits us all."
Kershaw is deeply engaged as the assistant vice president for partnerships at UNB, a position to which he transitioned from associate dean of graduate studies. In this role, he has worked to diversify the university's international pathways and build strong partnerships with other universities worldwide.
"It's a very satisfying job, meeting people, building these friendships and partnerships across the globe," Kershaw said.
Kershaw maintains an active research lab, with four students working on projects. He also serves as the co-editor-in-chief of the Forest Ecosystems journal, published through Beijing Forestry University, keeping him engaged with the latest developments in the field.
As Kershaw looks to the future, he emphasizes the importance of adaptability and openness to changing one's course.
"Always have a plan, but never be afraid to re-plan."
