Congratulations to FEELed Lab Researcher Emma Carey who successfully defended her MA Thesis, “Growing Plant Love: Park User Perceptions of Invasive Plants in Two Regional Parks of Kelowna, BC” on Tuesday! With this, Emma joins the cohort of graduates from UBCO’s MA in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies (Sustainability Theme).
Emma has spent the last 2 years learning with plants in Woodhaven and Mission Ridge parks (right near to the FEELed Lab). This has included walking interviews with park users to exchange ideas about invasive species — what they are, what they do, how we feel about them, and how we might develop different kinds of relations with them.
This research also included arts-led community workshops, exploring themes of invasive species — also analyzed as part of Emma’s thesis.
Emma has been an amazing addition to the lab. For one, thanks to Emma many of us now pay a lot more attention to the plant friends that surround us. Emma has also truly invigorated the Lab community – bringing other students to work here, and strengthening the Lab’s connection with the local community (and also being sure to WATER THE PLANTS!)
Emma, we will sure miss you when you head off on your new adventures!
Readers will be able to read more about Emma’s research once her thesis is published in the UBC library repository – we will put a link up on our FEELed Lab pages!
The FEELed lab 