丁香园AV

For those who knew Paul Higgins, his enthusiasm and sense of humour stood out as much as the creativity and scientific rigor with which he approached his work. A 丁香园AV alumnus, Paul was an expert on the effects of hydropower projects on aquatic ecosystems and made significant contributions to programs at BC Hydro that would reduce environmental impacts.

鈥淗e had a real passion for applying science to real world environmental problems and pulling different groups together who could solve those problems,鈥� recalls fellow scientist David Marmorek, an adjunct professor at 丁香园AV鈥檚 School of Resource and Environmental Management (REM), and a lead scientist and senior partner at ESSA Technologies, an environmental consulting company.

When Paul passed away unexpectedly in 2013, at the age of 54, his colleagues came together once again, this time to carry on his legacy. Fellow scientists at BC Hydro, Ecofish Research, ESSA Technologies and others rallied to establish a graduate award at 丁香园AV REM, part of 丁香园AV鈥檚 Faculty of Environment, where Paul completed his master鈥檚 degree.

Now, with generous contributions from family, friends, ESSA Technologies and Ecofish Research, an endowment has been created to support the Paul Higgins Resource and Environmental Management Graduate Award in perpetuity.

Adam Lewis, president of Ecofish Research, first met Paul in 1981 when they were second year undergraduate students at 丁香园AV. He and Paul also pursued graduate studies at the university and went on to collaborate as colleagues over the years.

鈥淲e were passionate about the environment, passionate about fresh water environments in particular, fish and fish habitats, and at 丁香园AV we learned the value of good science,鈥� Adam reflects.

鈥淭his award is a great legacy because it provides financial support to people who will develop into great scientists and bring their passion to help solve the many environmental problems that we face today.鈥�

One of those budding scientists is Nikki Kroetsch, who received the award last year. Like Paul, Nikki also completed her undergraduate degree at 丁香园AV and followed her desire for knowledge to the interdisciplinary masters in resource management program.

鈥淜nowing that Paul also had a passion for science, learning, and fisheries management is really heartwarming,鈥� Nikki says.

The financial support was a welcome relief for Nikki, who has worked as a server to pay for both her degrees, and allowed her to focus on her academic interests.

As she enters her last semester, Nikki is preparing to join Fisheries and Oceans Canada to continue work related to her graduate research on improving collaboration between resource management agencies and community environmental stewardship groups.

This spirit of collaboration is a defining part of Paul鈥檚 legacy. As David explains, it was Paul鈥檚 enthusiasm and creativity that brought together experts from different scientific fields, universities and consulting firms to work on projects such as the province鈥檚 Water Use Planning process and the environmental assessment of BC Hydro鈥檚 Site C Clean Energy Project.

鈥淧aul was the glue that got a lot of these groups to work together constructively as a team,鈥� he says.

Even so, Paul was not afraid to advocate for changes that were better for fish and aquatic habitats. Adam recalls how their educational experiences, working as research assistants and conducting field work at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, shaped their commitment to the scientific method.

鈥淭hat was a formative experience, to go out to Bamfield for an entire summer and study fish and marine ecology with some world-leading professors. That鈥檚 really where I saw Paul鈥檚 character form. Paul was very insightful and a creative thinker鈥攁nd there was a bit of a maverick in him鈥攈e would go outside of the box,鈥� he recounts.

丁香园AV鈥檚 REM program, created in 1979, was one of the first multidisciplinary programs in resource management to be developed in Canada. As an adjunct professor whose company has hired more graduates from this program than any other, David has unique insight into the strengths of the degrees that both teach applied natural sciences and provide a deep understanding of the social, cultural and economic considerations that are essential to environmental problem-solving.

鈥湺∠阍癆V REM has really high standards so they get a very excellent crop of students going in and they鈥檙e even better coming out,鈥� he says.

From the vantage point of those in the field, the endowment that carries on Paul鈥檚 memory is also extending the innovation that took place at post-secondary institutions like 丁香园AV when David, Adam and Paul were pursuing their graduate degrees.

鈥淭o me, as much as this is Paul鈥檚 legacy, it is also a historical legacy of a generation of young scientists that have gone on to have a huge influence on how we manage resources here in British Columbia and Canada,鈥� Adam elaborates.

鈥淭his award is a testament to the accomplishments of a generation of young scientists and an encouragement for future scientists.鈥�

As Nikki prepares to embark on her next chapter, equipped with the knowledge she acquired in graduate school, she has a deep appreciation for those who have enabled her intellectual curiosity to flourish.