Background, Services, & Specialties

Background

I'm primarily a plant ecologist, with an interest in the conservation of cryptogams (mosses, lichens, and liverworts) and forest management, but my interests are diverse, and I thrive when I have many projects on the go. I have mostly worked and studied in forest ecosystems of Canada, and have considerable experience in the identification of Canadian vascular plants and cryptogams from these systems. I have also studied the effects of forest disturbance and climate change on understory species, and experience with measuring and analyzing the associations between these little organisms and their substrate or preferred microclimates. Before my MSc and PhD research, I spent several field seasons doing surveys for boreal songbirds, large mammal scat & sign, and basic forest mensuration work, and even spent some time working with insect collections and feeding experiments.

In addition to my research experience, I have significant teaching and public speaking experience. I have a diploma in University teaching, have served as an Instructor or TA in at least a dozen different University-level courses, and have developed my own course materials. I also have a writing tutor certificate, and have been employed as a tutor for science writing, biology, and other subjects privately and through University departments. I have also designed curriculum-specific museum interpretive programs, presented workshops and activities as part of career fairs, science fairs, and invited activities for local schools, and given numerous guest lectures for both academic and lay audiences.

Services

Because I am currently employed as a public servant with the Nova Scotia Museum, I am limited in the amount of paid contract work I can do. However, some types of public speaking and small consulting projects now fall under the auspices of my public service portfolio. If you are interested in enlisting my services, but do not see the service listed below, feel free to ask - I will do my best to get back to you in a reasonable time-frame, and if I can't provide the service you require, I should at least be able to recommend someone who can.

Availability

My availability varies, based on the type of work, the duration of the project (e.g., a single meeting or workshop vs. a multi-year project), the amount of follow-up required (e.g., will a report require revision after peer-review?), and the level at which I am enlisted to participate (e.g., project leader vs. identification technician). There may be significant 'hidden' costs associated with my participation. For example, I may need to obtain limited liability insurance, run laboratory tests, or purchase / rent specialized equipment and software. I may also decide to alter my rates based on the professional benefits: co-authorship is a significant motivator, and may lead to reduced rates, when the collaboration is ethical and appropriate.

For speaking engagements and outreach activities, my availability is contingent upon the time of year, the amount of advance notice, and the requested subject material. In general, I am less available during the summer months. If it is a presentation topic or workshop I have previously covered, the amount of preparation I need to do is limited. On the other hand, a new, 1-hour lecture can take more than 9 hours of development. Feel free to ask if you're not sure whether your topic is one I've covered before.

If you're curious about the world of science consulting in general, I recommend this blog post on the topic: Consulting - a juggling act