Alyssa Bourgeois

MSc student
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta

BSc McGill University

Email: [email protected]

It all began with a documentary highlighting Earth’s dwindling water supply. I became fascinated with my dependence on water in everyday life and the need to maintain freshwater quality and quantity in the face of anthropogenic disturbances. This fascination led me to obtain my BSc in environmental science from McGill University, where I studied water ecosystems and environmental change. After graduation, I discovered that I could conduct important and practical research to help understand and provide solutions to regional water problems. This motivated me to pursue graduate research in water biogeochemistry at the University of Alberta. In the Tank Lab, my research focuses on forestry and water quality on the maritime pacific coast. I am specifically investigating how British Columbia’s forest management practices impact drinking water quality in source waters with varying dissolved organic carbon concentrations and compositions. This research will not only provide novel insight into the connections between forest management and drinking water quality, but it may also improve local source water quality, which would positively impact communities dependent on these waters for their supplies. Outside of water research, I enjoy attending barre classes, eating ice cream, and listening to podcasts.