Spenser is a master’s student working with Dr. Trevor Lantz at the University of Victoria. Her work investigates the trends and drivers of tundra fire recovery across the Canadian Arctic. Before starting her master’s she completed her BSc in Environmental Science at Wilfrid Laurier University. Her honors thesis focused on the impact of permafrost disturbance on the reproductive success of tall shrubs. Influenced by the destructive fire seasons she witnessed during her time in the North, her current work involves pairing remote sensing analysis of historical satellite imagery with local investigations into fire recovery through fieldwork near Inuvik, NWT. Spenser aims to contribute to better understanding of tundra ecosystems in the face of changing disturbance regimes, and how these shifts might affect the plant, animal, and human communities that call them home.
Through LEAP, Spenser has been exposed to topics that delve into permafrost and its interactions in northern environments. With a better understanding of others’ research in this area, she is able to fit her project into a larger picture of Arctic change and is encouraged to think about the impact of her work across other disciplines. She has also met students and researchers who are encouraging and open to discussion, which is an invaluable experience in anyone’s early career in research.
