Yukon University has appointed Dr. Fiona Schmiegelow as the new Dean of Applied Science and Management for a five-year term.
Fiona is a renowned scholar in wildlife and conservation science, and a recognized leader in landscape sustainability, who has lived in the Yukon for almost 20 years. She has directed the partnered Bachelor of Environmental and Conservation Science program hosted at YukonU, as a professor with the University of Alberta, and retains her position as senior professor during her term as Dean with YukonU.
A research paper released this month confirmed that significant declines in boreal caribou herds over the past 30 years are due to habitat disturbance. “Boreal Caribou Can Coexist with Natural but Not Industrial Disturbances”, was published in the Journal of Wildlife Management by five co-authors including Yukon University and University of Alberta professor, Dr. Fiona Schmiegelow. The paper concludes that caribou can persist with wildfire but will continue to decline in disturbed areas as a result of cumulative industrial activities if preventative or mitigative actions are not taken.
