Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology and Environmental Science • McMaster University
Bio
Growing up, Maggie spent her days enjoying nature with friends and family — hiking, fishing, and watching nature documentaries. Her love for the natural world sparked an interest in life sciences, where she pursued a double major in Biology and Environmental Sciences at McMaster University. During her time at McMaster, Maggie’s passion for sustainability, conservation, and ecology drew her to take many interdisciplinary courses ranging from Environmental Assessment to Field Methods in Ecology. Her coursework strengthened her conceptual understanding of the dynamic interactions between life on earth, specifically human-nature relationships. As she became more curious of the different human impacts on biodiversity, her curiosity quickly grew into a desire to protect Earth’s natural resources. Through her academic experiences, Maggie worked to use her passion for the environment to bridge the existing knowledge gaps between ecological and social systems, with the goal of addressing various sustainability issues.
During her undergraduate studies, Maggie conducted a senior thesis on the colour preferences of insect pollinators at McMaster University. She worked independently to sample autumn bees, wasps, and flies in one of the most diverse surveyed sites in Ontario, the McMaster Forest. Subsequently, alongside several other passionate students and her supervisor, Maggie learned to effectively use statistical and GIS tools to understand different species interactions in the plant-pollinator community. Through this experience, Maggie not only learned how to interpret her findings, but how to effectively communicate this information for effective conservation actions.
Upon her graduation in 2023, she began working as a field research assistant to ultimately advance the knowledge and understanding of spatiotemporal effects of climate change disturbances (e.g., wildfire, drought) on threatened wildlife and their habitats. Maggie managed population surveys for at-risk reptile species in vulnerable ecosystems (e.g., wetlands, peatlands). Through this experience, she continued her understanding on how distribution and population dynamics of endangered species is essential to restore biodiversity and safeguard the delicate balance of nature. By helping to preserve threatened wildlife populations, Maggie applied her passion and technical skills to ensure the continuity of ecosystem services, including food security and climate regulation. Consequently, these experiences and others have directly contributed to her dedication towards fostering a more inclusive and sustainable future.
In her spare time, Maggie loves trying new foods, listening to music, playing guitar, and going on fishing trips. To stay active, she enjoys hiking, going to the gym, and playing basketball. Cooking and watching nature documentaries are among her favorite activities, but her main interest lies in travelling to explore diverse cultural cuisines.