Dr. Fiona Schmiegelow

Dr. Katie Aitken

Katie is an instructor in the School of Science at Yukon University in Whitehorse, Yukon, and is an Adjunct Professor in the Dept. of Renewable Resources at the University of Alberta. She coordinates the B. Sc. in Northern Environmental and Conservation Sciences program that Yukon University offers in partnership with U of Alberta. She teaches Ornithology; Biological Adaptation in Northern Environments; Animal Behaviour; Experimental Design and Data Analysis in Environmental Sciences; Introduction to Scientific and Technical Communication; and Critical Thinking and Advanced Communication in Science.

Before starting at Yukon University, she worked as a forest bird biologist with Canadian Wildlife Service in Whitehorse, Yukon.

She specializes in avian community and population ecology. Her research is focused on the influence of natural and anthropogenic disturbances on reproduction, habitat selection, and competition in forest bird communities (particularly cavity-nesting communities).

Contact: kaitken@yukonu.ca

Dr. Paul McCarney

Paul is an Assistant Lecturer in the Northern Environmental and Conservation Sciences (ENCS) program at Yukon University. He has been involved as an instructor in the ENCS field courses and taught about interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research in circumpolar studies.

Prior to joining Yukon University, Paul worked as a Biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and as the Research Manager with the Nunatsiavut Government in Newfoundland & Labrador. He has worked across the North on projects that engaged with both interdisciplinary academic and Indigenous Knowledge systems related to fish and wildlife ecology, protected areas, climate change, and environmental management.

Contact: pmccarney@yukonu.ca

Gabriel Rivest

Gabe is a graduate of the Northern Environmental Science program and is now the field course and outreach coordinator based in Whitehorse, Yukon. He coordinates the winter, summer and fall field courses as well as provides support for the semester in the north program. He also helps with different research projects related to the program.

Before starting his work at the University of Alberta, Gabe worked as a biologist for consulting companies in the Yukon, focusing mostly on fish and wildlife. He also worked for many years as a wilderness guide throughout the Territory, and as a film maker/photographer.

Contact: rivest@ualberta.ca