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> Researcher collects first-ever award honouring Burnaby mayor
Researcher collects first-ever award honouring Burnaby mayor
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August 10, 2004
Billie Gowans, a masters student in Simon Fraser University's school
of Resource and Environmental Management (REM), is the first
recipient of the Doug Drummond Research Fellowship. The new award,
valued at $3,200, will help Gowans complete her research on urban
habitats in Burnaby.
A resident of Bowen Island, Gowans is exploring the effectiveness of using
focal species in biodiversity conservation. She has collected field data from parks in
Burnaby and other local municipalities to see if the presence and abundance
of a small group of species can provide information about habitat quality
and the persistence of other species.
"I believe her research will make a very valuable contribution to our
understanding of bird ecology and conservation in the urban forests
of the Lower Mainland," says professor Ken Lertzman, a member of her
supervisory committee. "These forests are both locally and regionally
significant, and research such as Billie's will play an important role in
evaluating alternative strategies for their conservation." Gowans did her
undergraduate work at SFU, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree with a
major in biological sciences in 1997.
SFU created the Doug Drummond research fellowship last year to honour
the Burnaby mayor's accomplishments in the city and his efforts in
fostering relations with the university. SFU graduate students
pursuing research on subjects related to Burnaby are eligible for the
award.
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