Rowenna has always been fascinated by what animals do and where they do it, especially marine mammals. After completing a degree in biology and oceanography, she achieved a master’s degree in GIS (studying Steller’s sea lion habitat) and has applied her interest in statistics to environmental assessments, marine mammal surveys, and data analysis.
As an environmental scientist, Rowenna believes in taking a holistic approach to understanding the environment and helping clients do the best job with the lowest impact possible. An example of this is her participation in the Marine Arctic Ecosystem Study (MARES) where she served as the marine mammal lead. This study helped the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management better understand the structure and functions of the eastern Beaufort Sea. Rowenna is currently completing her Ph.D. and is studying how to include Indigenous Knowledge (IK) into statistical approaches to understand animal movement and habitat use.
In her spare time, Rowenna enjoys being outdoors, spending as much time as possible on the coast camping and surfing with her husband, son, and Bernese Mountain dog. Her dog hasn’t learned to surf yet, but they are working on it.
