Trent Campus a ‘Natural Fit’ for ENLS Students to do Fieldwork on their Doorstep
Verena Sesin spends a lot of time gardening on campus, either in a greenhouse or outdoors on Trent University’s natural lands, as she germinates, grows and transplants plants in order to use them, at various heights and growth stages, for experiments assessing the effects of pesticides.
Ms. Sesin says Trent was a “natural fit” for pursuing her Ph.D. in the Environmental and Life Sciences (ENLS) program because the campus is part of a large natural area that includes multiple terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, allowing her to do much of her fieldwork on her academic doorstep.
For Ms. Sesin, this was just one of Trent’s draws.
“I was also impressed by Trent’s interdisciplinary approach of the ENLS graduate program and the various facilities for plant and pesticide research,” she adds.
Facilities include growth chambers, an animal-care facility, boats, high-end chemistry labs and facilities for molecular genetic analyses, says Dr. Joanna Freeland, a professor in the Biology Department who co-supervises Ms. Sesin’s research.
Professor Freeland adds that the University is collegial, with students benefitting from collaborations across departments.
Partnership with MNRF bolsters research opportunities
The graduate program is also bolstered by its strong partnership with Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). The MNRF science group is housed on campus and graduate students often have these scientists as either co-supervisors or as members of their graduate committee.
“Collaborations between Trent faculty and MNRF scientists provide a great opportunity for students to receive additional scientific input, and also to better understand some of the applied aspects of conservation biology, for example how science translates into policy,” says Prof. Freeland.
Join international conferences to meet like-minded people
Trent is also a founding member of the International Institute for Environmental Studies (IIES), which is a virtual institute that has grown out of a need for international collaboration in the field of environmental science.
“One of the great opportunities that the IIES provides is the option to attend international conferences to meet like-minded people and to learn about other environmental research projects,” says Prof. Freeland.
In the end, Ms. Sesin, who comes from a small city in Germany, says it was Trent’s caring faculty who solidified her choice to study at Trent.
“Ultimately, it was the outstanding support of my future supervisors during the application procedures as an international student that convinced me that Trent was the right choice for me.”
Learn more about the ENLS graduate program at Trent University.
Trent University prides itself on providing an outstanding personal and interactive learning environment. This story is part of the #TrentGrad series, which highlights the many dynamic graduate programs offered at Trent. The ENLS program is currently accepting new students.
Posted on March 5, 2019