Cape Breton University Students Shine at Science Atlantic Environment Conference in New Brunswick

Cape Breton University students from the Bachelor of Arts and Science in Environment (BASE) program made a strong impression at the annual Science Atlantic – Environment Conference, held from March 21-23 at Mount Allison University.

Emma McGean earned Best Undergraduate Poster for her research on Monarch Butterfly Conservation Policy, standing out among 25 participants. Her project, supervised by Dr. Alana Pindar, Assistant Professor; and Kellie White, Senior Lab Instructor, analyzed international policy gaps affecting monarch conservation across Canada, the United States and Mexico.

The topic holds local relevance, as Cape Breton sits at the northern edge of the monarch’s migratory range. Emma also contributed to monarch monitoring efforts in the region during the summer, working with ACAP Cape Breton and the Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources.

“It was amazing to be involved in the conference and learn about the range of environmental topics that students are studying, not only at CBU, but elsewhere in the region,” says McGean. “Thanks to the guidance I received from my supervisors, I felt confident in sharing my research and engaging in conversations about it with students and professors at the conference.”

Fellow CBU students, Jennifer Campbell and Ashlyn Kerslake, also earned praise for their presentations. Campbell’s project, Eco-Horror Fiction as a Tool for Engaging Youth in Environmental Issues,creatively blended literature and environmental science, while Kerslake’s research, Barriers to Local Food Production in Cape Breton, offered insights into improving food sustainability on the Island.

“All three students represented the program with excellence,” says White. “They came back energized and proud of the impact their research is making.”

The students also presented their projects at CBU’s Research Poster Session, joined by BASE honours student, Kristina Denny, whose work on Sustainable Indigenous Housing and Mental Health further reflects the program’s interdisciplinary strengths. CBU’s Bachelor of Arts and Science in Environment program empowers students to tackle real-world challenges through research, collaboration and community engagement.

To learn more about the program, visit: https://www.cbu.ca/academics/programs/bachelor-of-arts-and-science-in-environment/