UNB News
News and stories from one of Canada’s top universities
Budworm days of summer: What climate warming means for one of forestry's smallest foes
Maddie M. Sheppard
Posted: November 27, 2025 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: Faculty of Forestry and Env Mgt
Tiny. Voracious. Cute (depending on who you ask). The eastern spruce budworm is one of Canada’s most prominent foes to the timber industry, and Quebec’s north shore is 19 years into an indeterminate contract. Taking up residence on some of eastern Canada’s keystone species, such as balsam fir and white spruce, this little critter has inflicted moderate – severe defoliation levels in almost 10 million hectares of Quebec’s forests since 2006. This resolute leaf...
From uncertainty to understanding: My path to FOREM
Haley Magee
Posted: November 21, 2025 12:00:00 AM AST
Category: Faculty of Forestry and Env Mgt
I’m Haley, a Master of Science in Forestry student at the University of New Brunswick (UNB). Today, I’m very confident that I have found the right path for me – but that wasn’t always the case. Here is how my academic journey has unfolded, from uncertainty to clarity. High school uncertainty Throughout high school, I always felt uncertain about what I wanted to do after I graduated. I spent a lot of time exploring science related fields, but still not feeling like I...
A day in the life of Ricardo Ehrler: From Honduras to Fredericton, building a greener future
Olusegun Ogunseye
Posted: October 9, 2025 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Faculty of Forestry and Env Mgt
Meet Ricardo Ehrler, a passionate environmental engineer from Honduras and current student in the Master of Environmental Management (MEM) program at the University of New Brunswick (UNB). His journey to Fredericton is rooted in a lifelong love for nature, inspired by his father’s farming and agricultural practices back home. After three years working in the private sector, Ricardo knew he wanted to expand his knowledge, gain international experience, and contribute to global...
Ask a grad: Fern da Silva – cultivating a career in forestry and beyond
Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Management
Posted: October 2, 2025 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Faculty of Forestry and Env Mgt
From Montreal to Fredericton, from the classroom to the forest floor, and eventually into leadership and consulting, Fern da Silva’s journey as a UNB Forestry alumnus is a story of resilience, curiosity, and lifelong learning. Graduating in 1981 with a B.Sc. in Forestry – Resource Management from the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Management (ForEM), Fern has built a dynamic career that spans forestry operations, rail infrastructure, and business consulting. Choosing the...
Where do they go? The missing salmon of the Bay of Fundy
Natalie Dupont
Posted: September 25, 2025 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Faculty of Forestry and Env Mgt
The Bay of Fundy is a rich and productive marine ecosystem. Known for its massive tides, these same tides mix the water column, bringing up important nutrients and cooling down the upper water layers. Since time immemorial, Atlantic salmon from rivers in the Inner Bay of Fundy would remain in the Bay to take advantage of this productive habitat. While most salmon would migrate thousands of kilometers out to the Greenland and Labrador seas, Inner Bay of Fundy (iBoF) Atlantic salmon would stay...
A day in the life of Mary Ina Boakye Yiadom: Climate education in action
Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Management
Posted: September 18, 2025 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Faculty of Forestry and Env Mgt
When you meet Mary Ina Boakye Yiadom, you’re immediately struck by her warmth, conviction, and clear passion for the environment. Originally from Ghana, West Africa, Mary has always believed that we can use the earth’s resources responsibly while safeguarding them for future generations. With a Bachelor’s in Environment and Resource Studies from the University for Development Studies and a Master’s in Climate Change and Sustainable Development from the University of...
Behind the scenes at NB Power: What planning really looks like
Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Management
Posted: September 3, 2025 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Faculty of Forestry and Env Mgt
Hey y’all! My name is Lauryn— I’m a final-year master's student in Environmental Management, summer intern at NB Power, and unofficial queen of colour-coded spreadsheets. This summer, I joined the Planning team at NB Power, where I learned that "environmental documentation" is both a serious responsibility and, occasionally, a thrilling scavenger hunt through old SharePoint folders. I came in hoping to learn more about environmental planning in action, and left knowing what...
Meet a grad: Pedro Bremberger Pássaro
Olusegun Ogunseye
Posted: August 13, 2025 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Faculty of Forestry and Env Mgt
From the snowy streets of Fredericton to the lush forests of the Amazon, Pedro Bremberger Pássaro has built a career rooted in environmental stewardship and international collaboration. A 2022 graduate of the Master of Environmental Management (MEM) program at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), Pedro’s journey is a testament to the power of global education, practical experience, and a passion for sustainability. A global path to UNB While completing his Bachelor’s...
From Sri Lanka to Fredericton: Naveenan Manoharan’s MEM journey
Olusegun Gbenga Ogunseye
Posted: July 25, 2025 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Faculty of Forestry and Env Mgt
From the coasts of Sri Lanka to the forests of New Brunswick, Naveenan Manoharan is turning his passion for the planet into real-world impact through UNB’s Master of Environmental Management (MEM) program. With a background in marine and coastal development, Naveenan was drawn to MEM’s unique mix of academic depth, field-based learning, and a strong commitment to environmental and social change. “I always wanted to pursue a master’s in environmental sciences to deepen...
Ask a grad: Massimiliano Nicola Lippa – From Toronto to Europe via UNB
Olusegun Ogunseye
Posted: July 18, 2025 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Faculty of Forestry and Env Mgt
When Massimiliano Nicola Lippa decided to leave the bustling streets of Toronto and step into the unknown at the University of New Brunswick (UNB), he did not just sign up for a degree; he embraced a transformative journey. Now a PhD student at the University of Padova in Italy, Massimiliano credits his time at UNB for shaping the person and professional he has become. A leap of faith and a world-class program During the pandemic, while working in hospitality and contemplating his future,...
Meet a grad: Tim Turriff - from New Brunswick to national policy
Olusegun Gbenga Ogunseye
Posted: July 2, 2025 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Faculty of Forestry and Env Mgt
A journey fueled by passion and purpose For Tim Turriff, the decision to pursue a graduate degree in environmental management was more than just the next academic step; it was a commitment to a career focused on sustainability and responsible resource use. After completing his undergraduate studies, Tim sought a program that would equip him with the tools to make meaningful contributions to pressing environmental issues. That search led him to the University of New Brunswick (UNB) and the...
From roots to greenhouse: Yiqun Zhu’s journey through the MEM program at UNB
Olusegun Gbenga Ogunseye
Posted: June 16, 2025 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Faculty of Forestry and Env Mgt
Meet Yiqun Zhu, a current Master of Environmental Management (MEM) student at the University of New Brunswick. Originally from China, Yiqun brings several years of hands-on experience in tree management and cultivation. His passion for forests and sustainable practices led him to UNB’s MEM program; a course-based, practical degree that perfectly bridges his past experiences and future goals in environmental management. “I wanted a program that builds on my forestry background...
Where sustainability meets design: An internship with the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design
Angela Perdue
Posted: March 25, 2025 12:00:00 AM ADT
Category: Faculty of Forestry and Env Mgt
Beginning the internship When I first joined the Master of Environmental Management (MEM) program at the University of New Brunswick, I knew I was bringing an unconventional background to the table—with a Bachelor of Architectural Studies and a work history spanning from tree planting to design firms, I wasn’t sure how my past experiences would fit into this new field. But what I quickly realized was that my design background wasn’t just relevant—it was a perfect...