How WEC Works: Ben North

Ben North is a WEC PhD student seeking to better understand how to balance bioenergy production and forest conservation on private land in the Southeastern United States. He is advised by Dr. Pienaar.

Work

When did you know you wanted to work in ecology? Is there an origin story?

I used to volunteer for a nature camp where I developed a fascination for wildlife through catching insects and pond life and teaching campers about ecology.

What’s one word that describes how you work?

Adaptive. I have tried to be relatively nimble and take advantage of diverse opportunities. I have conducted research on environmental policy as well as ecological field research. I try to blend different disciplines as many of our most pressing environmental issues inherently have multiple dimensions.

So you’re studying bioenergy production?

I’m collecting data from private landowners, ranging from small family forest owners to large industrial timber companies on their motivations and preferences for bioenergy production, wood produced for electricity generation, on their forestlands. These data will then be used to create policy and program recommendations to best balance landowner interests, economic growth, and the ecological benefits that forests provide.

Do you have a go-to tool?

Listening to and learning from others would be my go-to tool.

What’s your favorite organism you’ve studied and why?

When I was an undergraduate, I used to do research in a genetics lab that studied the Tasmanian tiger. This extinct species provides an excellent example of convergent evolution and a reminder of the fragility of our world’s biodiversity.

What’s an unexpected experience you’ve had because of your work?

Prior to starting this program, I wrote a report on conservation finance and policy in New England which allowed me to understand the power of collaboration and connecting with others to learn and produce something much greater than I could have on my own.

What groups of people were you working with for that?

I collaborated with a range of conservation professionals from nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, academic institutions, and private companies to write a report discussing strategies to attract more funding for land conservation in New England.

Lifestyle

How do you manage your time?

Although I would like to improve my time management, I find setting daily goals has been helpful for me.

How do you balance work with your personal life?

I find continuing to visit new places and exercising on a regular basis helps me to be more productive with my work.

What do you like about living in Gainesville?

I like that it’s not too big or too crowded but it also has many of the amenities you would expect a city to have, like the different kinds of restaurants. It’s a city that’s just the right size for me at this point.

You’re from New England originally. How do you keep touch with your friends and family?

I use WhatsApp. I have a family chat and another chat with a group of my close friends which has been a great way to help me stay in touch with them.

What are you currently reading?

Reading for fun takes a back burner when the semester starts, but I’ve been reading Charles Darwin’s Voyage of the Beagle.

In Closing

If you could call yourself on the phone right before you started undergrad, what advice would you give yourself?

Take time to explore resources and disciplines your college has to offer that may not initially interest you. You may find unexpected relationships to your area of interest.

Who else would you like to see answer these questions?

Diego Garcia Olaechea!

Is there anything else you’d like to tell people?

Conserving healthy and connected ecosystems will be critical for growing our economy well into the future.

Why?

Healthy ecosystems provide a foundation for productive economies and function as earth’s life support systems.

~

This interview by Rhett Barker, and lightly edited by Rhett Barker and Claire Williams for clarity.

Thanks to Ben North for sitting down with us.

The concept for this interview is based on an interview series by the University of Washington called How UW Works, which is in turn based on a series called How I Workby LifeHacker magazine.

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Posted: March 1, 2018


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