Current Students
Katherine Dalby
Katherine is a Master of Resource and Environmental Management student at Dalhousie University. Growing up in the Greater Toronto Area, her connection to nature was fostered by her close family and community through storytelling, which became a passion for communications and environmental science.
Recently graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology, Katherine has quantitative research experience in marine and aquatic ecology. By integrating her passion for communications and academic background, Katherine has undertaken leadership roles in science communication, focusing on environmental education, public engagement, youth outreach, and social media marketing.
As part of the FishPeoplePlace lab, her interests include understanding how science communication and social-ecological knowledge systems can inform policy and decision-making for marine resource conservation and management. Katherine is working with Dr. Harrison to study the human dimensions of salmon conservation and stocking in Atlantic Canada for her graduate project.
Michael Fabiano
Michael is a Master of Marine Management candidate at Dalhousie University. Growing up in Toronto, Michael gained an appreciation for the outdoors and aquatic ecosystems through weekend camping and fishing trips with his dad and siblings. This enthusiasm seamlessly transitioned into Michael's academic journey during his undergraduate years. In 2022, he successfully earned his BSc (Hons.) in Biology with a minor in Geography from Queen’s University.
One of Michael’s research interests is salmonid species, in their ecology and biology, but also in the importance they hold for people. As such, Michael has joined the FishPeoplePlace Lab as a graduate student researcher on the “Tilling Wild Waters” project. This project aims to understand the underlying motivations and values within communities who stock Atlantic salmon in the Maritimes. Through understanding their “why”, policy can be shaped to incorporate these human dimensions when considering the future of Atlantic salmon conservation measures.
Cara Cripton-Inglis
Cara is a Master of International Development Studies candidate at Dalhousie University. As an interdisciplinary program, the International Development program allows students to branch into many different sectors. This has allowed Cara to bridge her love an interest in coastal spaces with her passion for social justice, social-ecological connectivity, and climate adaptation by joining the FishPeoplePlace Lab. Her Bachelor’s degree in Global Resource Systems from the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia (conferred in May 2023) has inspired her to pay special attention to the response of the food system and food system workers to the themes in her thesis research.
Cara’s experience working in Search and Rescue for the Canadian Coast Guard exposed her to the interface between the sea-going people of the maritime provinces and the ocean, and evoked a deeper questioning of how this connection affects the ways that people along the coast are adapting to the changing climate (including erosion, increased storm frequency and severity, flooding, etc). She will be writing her Master’s thesis in late 2024 and early 2025 after completing her qualitative data collection process in the summer and fall of 2024.
Ojas Gitai
Ojas is a Master of Marine Management candidate at Dalhousie University. Despite growing up in the desert state of India, his early fascination with oceans and ships ignited a passion for marine environments. After earning his bachelor’s degree in marine engineering in 2016, Ojas embarked on a seven-year journey as a merchant naval engineering officer, accumulating invaluable experience at sea.
Driven by his dedication to ocean sustainability, Ojas transitioned into academia to contribute to conservation and sustainability efforts. His graduate project, "Network Analysis and Stakeholder Mapping for North Atlantic Right Whale Conservation," focuses on gathering data on collaboration, compiling information on participants in multi-stakeholder and rightsholder committees, and employing social network analysis to develop a collaboration network matrix of groups involved in North Atlantic right whale conservation. As part of the FishPeoplePlace Lab, Ojas is excited to apply these skills during an internship with the Canadian Wildlife Federation, furthering his commitment to protecting marine ecosystems.
Abby Christopher
Abby is a Master of Marine Management candidate at Dalhousie University. Hailing from beautiful Prince Edward Island, Abby fell in love with the ocean from an early age. Coming from a coastal community with family members who depend on the ocean for their livelihood, she was able to see firsthand the importance of conserving the ocean to not only preserve ecosystems, but to preserve social and cultural ways of life.
These experiences led Abby to the University of New Brunswick where she graduated with an undergraduate degree in marine biology with honours. During her summers, Abby had the privilege of working for local conservation organizations, enriching her understanding of effective management strategies for harmonizing ecological preservation with societal needs. For her graduate project, Abby will be working with the Halifax Port Authority and FishPeoplePlace Lab to examine aquatic ecosystems on or around the port. This work is being undertaken to gain a better understanding of ecosystems that are being positively, negatively, or neutrally affected by port operations. Through this work, Abby will create recommendations for an aquatic monitoring program for the Halifax Port Authority.
Ireland Moro
Ireland is a Master of Marine Management candidate at Dalhousie University. Although she grew up far from the ocean in Calgary, Alberta, her love for the marine environment was fostered by vacations to the coast and Blue Planet documentaries. This passion drove Ireland to the University of New Brunswick where she completed her Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology with a minor in Zoology. Her passion for conservation led her to pursue the marine management program as she recognizes that the change she wants to see starts with management.
Ireland’s interest in conservation helped shape her graduate project titled “Examining federal policy surrounding the potential impacts to wild Atlantic salmon from enhancement programs.” Ireland will combine government management and academic research through her summer internship with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada while also being supervised by Dr. Hannah Harrison in the FishPeoplePlace Lab. This research will help to understand how policy surrounding conservation efforts can aid in safeguarding endangered species. Ireland is hopeful that her research can provide management recommendations on the future policy involving Atlantic salmon stocking programs.
Former Students
Brianna Crosby
Brianna is a Master of Marine Management candidate and a Sobey Fund for Oceans Scholarship recipient at Dalhousie University. She graduated from Mount Allison University in 2022 with a BSc (Hons.) in Biology. Brianna grew up in Nova Scotia – Canada’s ocean playground – which developed into a lifelong love of the sea. She is happiest at the beach, wading through the waves to look for shells and marine life.
Brianna has a keen interest in native species conservation and invasive species management in Atlantic Canada. In particular, she is interested in the highly invasive and destructive green crab. The green crab is found along the shores of each Atlantic province and its aggressive predation threatens native species biodiversity and important commercial fisheries. As part of the FishPeoplePlace lab, Brianna investigated how Atlantic Canadian green crab fisheries could be used as a form of invasive species management. She completed her degree in December 2023.
Student Positions in the FishPeoplePlace Lab
Current opportunities:
I am not currently recruiting for any already funded student positions. Funding pending, I may be recruiting two 4-month master’s level internships in March 2024. Please check back here at that time.
Working with the FishPeoplePlace Lab
I am currently open to supervising new graduate students. If you are a prospective Master’s or PhD student and are interested in working with me and the FishPeoplePlace lab, I’m happy to discuss working together and supporting funding applications. Please get in touch with your research/project idea, your proposed funding source, your current CV, and a few thoughts about why the FishPeoplePlace lab might be the right place for you.
Student volunteers:
I believe students should be paid for their time and labour. Thus, I consider taking on student volunteers only on a case-by-case basis, and only if there is a clear and valuable reason for the student to volunteer their time. If you wish to volunteer in the lab, please get in touch with your research/project idea, the proposed length of the volunteer period, what training/mentorship you hope to gain in the FishPeoplePlace lab, and why you think the lab is a good fit for you.