CURRENT MEMBERS

Emma Bugg (she/her) is an Interdisciplinary PhD student studying scholarship at the intersection of environmental sustainability and the arts at Dalhousie University. Emma previously completed a Master of Environmental Studies at Dalhousie, and also holds a Bachelor of Arts Honors from the University of Saskatchewan. Emma's research focuses on the intersections of art, environmental sustainability, and scholarship, where she is exploring ways of finding cohesion and collaboration among practitioners at this nexus towards more impactful application of the arts towards sustainable transformations. Emma has a lifelong visual arts practice, focusing mainly on drawing with ink or graphite, and loves experimenting with new mediums. She also has experience in environmental education through public-engagement roles at environmental non-profit organizations including the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, and Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council, and Evidence for Democracy. 

Naomi Noseworthy (she/her) is a second-year undergraduate student working towards a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science at Dalhousie University. Naomi has previously worked on a research project with ECCC analysing modelled boreal tree growth in the CLASSIC model and is currently completing an environmental communications internship under Dr. Tarah Wright, supporting the SATA project. 

Jessica MacKeen (she/her) has worked with Dr. Tarah Wright since 2019. Her research has continued to build on a chain of studies being conducted under the Education for Sustainability Research Group that explores measuring preschool children’s connection to nature (bioaffinity). She started working with Dr. Wright on her honour’s thesis, titled Refining a Games Testing Tool for Various Cultural, Social, and Geographic Situations to Evaluate Preschool Children’s Bioaffinity. This study sought to modify a games testing tool to become more appropriate for young Canadian children and then test it with a cohort of 3-5-year-old Canadian preschoolers. Results indicated that the tool’s revisions effectively enhanced the children’s understanding of the game’s testing.  Jessica continued  this research by pursuing a Master’s of Environmental Studies in the School for Resource and Environmental Studies under the supervision of Dr. Wright. Her Master’s research focused on determining the validity and reliability of the above-mentioned modified game’s testing tool through an expert-informed survey and semi-structured interviews, and another pilot test with preschool children. By establishing validity and reliability, the tool is now usable in various contexts. Jessica has fostered a passion for early childhood education and developmental psychology throughout her research and continues to work with our group as a Research Associate.

Petra Ottenbreit-Born (she/her) is an undergrad student in her third year of her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science at Dalhousie University. Petra is currently completing an internship under Dr. Tarah Wright, supporting the project No Culture, No Future.

Lenka Tomlinson (they/she) completed their final Bachelor of Science, double majoring in environmental science and sustainability at Dalhousie University in spring 2024. Working on their Honours thesis under Dr. Wright, they focused on the nexus of arts and sustainability in museum-type institutions, examining how these educational spaces have engaged with climate change, and what ought to be done moving forwards.

With a background in environmental science, sustainability, and art history, this intersection of topics has continued to interest Lenka as they have worked in exhibition design and sustainability offices across the HRM.  They continue to work with this group after graduation as a Research Associate.