Logan Boyer has worked with MSES for over 2 years, assisting in research and report development. He graduated from the University of Calgary in 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, concentrating in the Biological Sciences
What initially interested you about the field of ecology, or got you into it?
When I was a kid, I was fascinated with animals and always loved spending time with them despite being allergic to mostly all of them. As I grew older, I loved spending time outdoors and I came to realize that nothing tops the magnificence of nature. I figured any job which allowed me to spend time outdoors would be great, and if I could somehow contribute to its enhancement, that would be a bonus. Plus, my guidance counselor was pretty convincing.
Who inspired you in the field of ecology, or mentored you along the way? How did they shape your path?
I was lucky to be given a summer field position while in university with Dave Mayhood, an experienced aquatic ecologist. He taught me about putting the scientific method into action, from setting up a study design to collecting and analyzing samples in the lab to developing an impactful report.
What is an example of an interesting project that you have worked on? What made it interesting?
I am currently on a team which is working on an open access hub for water quality data across Canada called DataStream. The hub contains millions of data observations from various organizations and communities and is expanding every year. It is a great tool for communities to track and understand what is going on in nearby water bodies.
What has been a highlight for you while working at MSES?
The biggest highlight is the awesome team here, and the people we get to work with on a daily basis.
What is your wildest experience while out in nature?
During my summer field position in university, one of my first objectives was to locate sources of sediment delivery to a creek by walking the length of the creek. While surveying the creek one day, I heard a strange noise emanating from the direction of the creek. It sounded like a bleating lamb – like nothing I had heard while out in the woods before. As I drew near to the waters, I was surprised to see a tiny baby moose trapped by the steep banks of the creek, and unable to move because of the cold water that was up to its neck. I was able to pull the moose out of the creek, but I immediately became paranoid that the mother would be nearby. I was in a floodplain with with minimal vegetation around me and the mother was nowhere in sight, so I figured the moose was abandoned. I was able to spend a few fleeting moments with the calf before spotting the mother on a distant ridge. I hurriedly made my exit, and the baby moose tried to get up and follow me. Weeks later, I saw a mother and baby moose in a nearby area, and I like to think that it was the same calf.
In your opinion, what is an ecological issue that more people should know about?
This year has been so eventful that other major events have gotten a bit swept under the carpet. This summer, East Africa has been battling the largest locust swarms they have faced over the past century, which have been linked to shifting climate patterns. Changing temperature gradients in the Indian Ocean were in part responsible for multiple cyclones from 2018 to 2019, allowing a long period of wet conditions in the Arabian desert for locusts to breed. Once the swarms grew large enough, they crossed the Red Sea into the horn of Africa and have caused widespread destruction of crops. This is especially devastating in an area where subsistence farming is so common.
What does your optimal weekend in the Rockies look like?
Downhill mountain biking, hiking, and eating good food with a nice view of the Rockies.
What is the most interesting place you have visited and what made it interesting?
It has to be Iceland, the topography was like nothing I had ever witnessed before. Being my first time outside of North America, the volcanic rock structures and lack of vegetation made the landscape look like a completely different planet. There was something enthralling about the desolate ruggedness of the terrain, and the waterfalls there are unparalleled. Plus, the traditional fermented shark meat has to be the worst thing I have ever tasted… it was like spraying an ammonia-based cleaner in my mouth – not that I have tried that.
“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he or she has overcome.“