Shining Student Emma Marnik

Emma Marnik has embraced every opportunity to learn and grow at ULethbridge, combining her passion for environmental science with hands-on experiences in the lab and field. From immersive field courses in Cypress Hills to uncovering unexpected interests like GIS, she’s found ways to connect her studies to the bigger picture while building lasting memories and friendships.

Being wrong is a good thing, answer questions even when you aren’t sure you’re correct. You don’t gain anything from not trying.

Meet Emma | Passionate. Creative. Determined.
Program: Bachelor of Science | Major: Environmental Science

Why did you choose ULethbridge?

The environmental science program was recommended to me. It is known to have lots of labs and hands-on time, which benefits my learning style. In addition, ULethbridge has small class sizes and many opportunities to explore subjects beyond my major.

Did you know what you wanted to study before you came to ULethbridge?

Yes and no – I decided on environmental science pretty early. I took my first environmental science class in the spring of my first year and immediately knew I was in the right major, but the Concentration in GIS and minor in French happened along the way. I didn’t know there were options to have a concentration or minor before I started at ULethbridge, and getting the chance to expand the areas I’m studying is fantastic and something I greatly enjoy.

Please tell us about your experiential or work-integrated learning at ULethbridge.

Independent study and field courses taught me how to apply classroom knowledge in new ways, pushing the ways I apply myself to problem-solving and seeing where human-biased solutions could affect results compared to the computation outputs.

What is your most memorable ULethbridge experience so far?

Field Biology with Dr. Cam Goater and Dr. Tegan Barry. A hands-on week in Cypress Hills with student-directed studies, a fantastic group of other undergraduates, and the fantastic backdrop of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. 

The Field Biology course covers tonnes of different subjects to study and learn, brings you to a unique (awesome) part of the province to explore, provides the opportunity to use the same data to answer multiple questions, and a mini-independent study. This was my first venture into designing and completing a non-laboratory experiment and lead to my presenting at the WDCAG Conference in Kelowna the following spring.

How have your professors impacted your education?

My professors are what kept me interested in my studies and encouraged me to step outside the box into new subjects. I have been lucky to take classes with highly passionate and engaging professors who helped shape how I look at my studies and how I draw connections between their areas of expertise and my own interests.

With each semester of my degree, I have been lucky to meet passionate faculty members who want to share their interests and expertise. The encouragement from Marcus Dostie, Dr. Tabitha Spagnolo, and Dr. Craig Coburn supported me to expand what I wanted to study beyond my BSc to a concentration in GIS and minor in French. 

Exploring the concentration in GIS for Environmental Science majors was an easy choice with passionate instruction from Marcus Dostie and Craig Coburn, and fun (yet frustrating) lab work to support the learning. This passion resulted in an independent study using GIS over my last summer as a student.

The decision I was interested in additional French courses was made easy by Dr. Tabitha Spagnolo, who taught me my first university-level French course and a number of phenomenal others since (French Introduction to the Multiverse? It's a real course!).

I also undertook the GCC program in my first year of studies, with Dr. Jodie Asselin as my subject coordinator. The program and instruction highlighted the importance of connecting knowledge gained from all areas of your studies.

The field biology course with Drs. Cam Goater and Tegan Barry explored another side of being an environmental science student, with outdoor research and independent data analysis. The diversity of courses and instruction I've received has cumulated in a nice variety to support my degree and learning.

Emma has displayed exemplary student leadership while being engaged in her courses. – Dr. Craig Coburn, Department of Geography & Environment

Is there anyone else who had an important influence on your ULethbridge experience?

I am lucky to have other motivated friends who are enthusiastic students and enjoy lots of discussing and debating about what we are learning in any given course. I am also happy to have met others with a wide range of interests who have encouraged me to find the joy in subjects that don’t come naturally to me.

What are your hopes/plans for the future?

I am excited to return home and finally get to do winter and cuff-season work. I look forward to all forms of professional development I’ll get to explore, and continuing studies when I find a subject I’d like to undertake for graduate studies.

What advice would you like to give those about to begin their journey at ULethbridge?

1. Being wrong is a good thing, answer questions even when you aren’t sure you’re correct. You don’t gain anything from not trying.
2. Take a wide range of courses! Minors, concentrations, or double majors let you dive deep into more areas of study.
3. Check with older students in your program, faculty, or fantastic admin staff to learn about specifics such as topic courses and other subjects offered on rotation so you can plan for those!
4. Don’t be afraid of the library, hard-copy information is a valuable resource (and often easier to understand).
5. Take walks through the coulees and stare at things that interest you.
6. Ask for help and ask questions, others around you will appreciate it.

Quick Answers

Favourite class: Geospatial Investigation of Groundwater and Geochemistry (ENVS 4990) and  Science Fiction (1532-1869): French Origins of the Multiverse (FREN 3600)
Favourite social activity at ULethbridge: GEO Club (Geography & Environment Outdoors) of course
Favourite place to study: Science Commons (I love writing on walls)

About Shining Students

Shining Students engage inside and outside of the classroom. What makes a student shine may differ from person to person, but they all share a passion for learning. They may be top students, involved in an innovative project, participating in ground-breaking research, playing Pronghorn athletics, fighting for social issues or all of the above! When students find something they enjoy and combine it with what they are good at, they shine.

Each year, the Faculty of Arts & Science's faculty and staff nominate students who exemplify the ULethbridge student spirit. Congratulations Emma!