The document summarizes an ecology workshop held for students in the Sustainable Energy Development program at the University of Calgary. Over three days, students participated in lectures, lab activities, and games to learn about ecology and begin developing their individual thesis research questions. Activities included sampling a river to test water quality, collecting tree cores, and a simulated land auction game. Students gained hands-on experience and strengthened bonds with each other and faculty. Comments from students highlighted the valuable learning and networking opportunities provided by the workshop.

1. 2017 Cohort In The Field Kristin Skelton
A Brief Report
Facilitated By:
Ecology Workshop in Kananaskis Susan Arlidge
At University of Calgary’s Biogeoscience Institute Adam Huygen
Dr. Anil Mehrotra
Dr. Irene Herremans

2. Table of Contents
 Workshop Introduction….......................................................3
 Change Makers: SEDV 2017 Cohort...........................................5
 Team Comments...............................................................17
 Summary of Activities..........................................................3
 Day 1, Sunday May 29, 2016....................................................6
 Day 2, Monday May 30, 2016...................................................8
 Day 3, Tuesday May 31, 2016..................................................13
 Team Comments....................................................................16

3. Workshop Introduction
Created as an introduction to Ecology, the workshop was held at the University of
Calgary’s Biogeoscience Centre stationed in Kananaskis Provincial Park. Developed for
the purpose of familiarizing Sustainable Energy Development (SEDV) Students with
ecological methods, the workshop was held from May 29th-May 31st 2016. Over the
course of the workshop, SEDV students were given group exercises, and presentations to
begin the process of formulating an individual research question which will be completed
as a thesis project in 2017.
Prior to arriving at the ecology retreat, SEDV students were asked to prepare answers to
the following questions:
 What is science
 What is energy
 What is sustainable development
 What are your research interests in energy? Do you have potential research questions
or questions you want to explore?

4. To prepare for the ecology workshop, SEDV students were emailed the three
day itinerary and information booklet. The booklet provided the address of
the Biogeoscience Institute as well as a map of the facilities, the rules,
regulations, services provided, and expectations of SEDV students as guests of
the institute. A list of suggested items to bring and safety instructions was
also included.
It was noted that the experiential learning throughout the retreat, would be a
foundation for later classes in the Sustainable Energy Development Program,
specifically in class SEDV 605 - Ecology, Sustainable Development and
Indigenous Cultures.
Workshop Introduction

5. Change Makers: SEDV 2017 Cohort
Front Row: Kobi Thomson, Bryce
Edwards, Jessica Lof, Sheila Risbud,
Nazish Qureshi, Allegra Hollingbury, Dan
Sudeyko, Jassimran Baidwan, Doug
Koroluk, Jillian Berthelet, Shea
Caughlin, Mike Hay,
Shinta Pradipta, Alejandro Deunez,
Carrie Youzwishen, Jen Reid, Sam
Rawluk, Kristin Skelton
Back Row: Markus Selkirk, Naghi Poor
Emamverdy, Juan Pfeiffer, Oksana
Treacy, Colin Popenia, Apostol Radev,
Scott Layher, Bernard Wong, Arturo
Marino Echegaray, Belinda Tingyebwa,
Dave Greacen, Emma Yang, Kelvin Tan
MIA: Angela Adjetey, Alexander
Gonzalez, Ryan Tweed

6. Our workshop facilitators Sue Arlidge and Adam Huygen welcome us to the Field
station!
Day 1, Sunday May 29, 2016
 We began the workshop with an
outdoor icebreaker, where we got to
know one another.
 Continued with a science & research
discussion
 Sue introduced the group to the
ecosystem native to the
Kanaskis area and elaborated
on climate and forest cycles
around Barrier Lake.
 We concluded the day with a
Kananaskis history session from Sue.

7. Getting up to some shenanigans Including a flip lesson from Dave
Day 1, Sunday May 29, 2016

8. Watersheds Lecture and Lab Intro –collection and discovery
Split into work groups, we each measured our own section of the river to test the dissolved oxygen content, collect insects, test the river
ph level, collect algae, measured water flow, measure nitrogen, and characterized the stream bed.
Bryce and Jass measuring their work area. Naz, Jass, & Irene inspecting insects. Oksana testing dissolved oxygen of the river
Day 2, Monday May 30, 2016

9. Watersheds Lecture and Lab Intro –the process of discovery
Day 2, Monday May 30, 2016
Scott testing water temperature Kobi testing dissolved oxygen Allegra and Jen recording their findings

10. Watersheds Lecture and Lab Intro –look what we found!
Day 2, Monday May 30, 2016
Getting started A mayfly through a microscope Algae through a microscope

11. Watersheds Lecture and Lab Intro –look what we found!
Day 2, Monday May 30, 2016
Counting and categorizing our collected insects Taking a break to learn about a fossilized Mike taking a closer look
Mammoth tusk under the microscope

12. Bryce, Jass, and Naz to the left made up team
hotel for our auction game.
Each teams mission:
• purchase specific amount of land through
class auction.
• each team given a different budget.
• land purchased needed to have certain
characteristics depending on company. E.g.
hydro company needed access to water.
• land purchased could not exceed budget.
If your team was able to purchase its land with its
given budget the team successfully reached its goal.
Day 2, Monday May 30, 2016
Game Night!

13. Day 3, Tuesday May 31, 2016
We started our day with Sue showing us how to collect a core sample from a tree
for isotope analysis or other general chronological work.
On the right Mike is
taking a sample from
the tree where you
insert an increment
borer at chest level to
the centre of the tree.
To get the sample hold
the borer steady while
using body weight with
a twisting motion to
drive it through the
bark. Twist the
instrument to the
middle of the tree insert
the extractor, pull out
the core sample and
count the rings to
determine the age.

14. Day 3, Tuesday May 31, 2016
Sue giving us a tour of Barrier Dam

15. Day 3, Tuesday May 31, 2016
We concluded our ecology workshop in Kananaskis with a West African Djembe
drum lesson from Roger Duncan of One World Drum Co.

16. “Once in a lifetime trip: nature, bonding, drum circle! Not an easy way to escribe how revitalizing and
deep it was” –Juan Sebastian Pfeiffer
“A wonderful opportunity to strengthen the bond between classmates, Professors, and the institute hosts
while directly connecting with nature. In-line with our sustainability field of study, we shared and
learned about science, research, and the evolution and effects of energy generation and usability in the
course of history in a combination of theoretical knowledge, lab work, and outdoor exposure with
beautiful sceneries of the Rocky Mountains. I personally enjoyed very much the opportunity to interact
and learn together while having a memorable time. Lastly, I want to thank and congratulate everyone
that made this workshop an unquestioned success.” -Jose Alejandro Duenez Hurtado
“Spending three days in the Kananaskis region with the latest and greatest edition of the University of
Calgary's SEDV program was simply superb. While the formal lectures on the carboniferous period and
the complexity of sustainable development were very important and valuable, the retreat also managed
to included some less formal lessons such as smacking goats, dodging cougar scat, skipping stones, and
even conducting experiments involving various organic compounds in which the hydroxyl functional
group is bound to a saturated carbon atom! While I find myself getting bogged down by all the doom and
gloom in modern society some days, I left this trip feeling that the group of people I am surrounded by in
the SEDV program will truly change the world in an immense and positive way.” –Markus Guy Selkirk
Team Comments

17. “I thought that the visit to the U of C Biogeoscience was a great way to solidify connections within the
class and receive experiential learning in a great environment. I found the field staff and the faculty
who came added to the experience.” –Doug Koroluk
“I'm thrilled we had the opportunity to go on this trip with our cohort. Not only was this an amazing
learning experience but also a great way to connect with my peers. I am happy to have found a friend in
everyone and I have memories that I will cherish forever. I look forward to further growing the
friendships I have made as a result of this adventure. Everyone is so AWESOME!” -Jassimran Baidwan
“The ecology field trip was a great opportunity to explore sustainability in a practical setting,
particularly with regards to forestry and water resource management. Too often we discuss sustainability
as a concept, without actually seeing it in action on the ground. It was also a nice low-stress setting to
brainstorm ideas for our 625 projects with the professors, and with last year's students.” -Mike Hay
“My favourite part of the trip was the water sampling and analysis. I haven't used a microscope in a
decade and didn't realize how much I missed it.” -Kobi Thomson
I really enjoyed getting outdoors in the picturesque setting, and engaging in the activities (eg river
sampling, simulated land auction) that helped highlight the ecological considerations in sustainable
energy development. It was also a great opportunity to get to know the group a bit better in a relaxed
social setting. Fun times! –Colin Popenia
Team Comments