Alex Arkilanian - Dissertation du lauréat, 2025
Growing up, I spent my summers teaching myself to code, unlike many of my peers who spent theirs outdoors. As an undergraduate studying Ecology, I often felt like an outsider among classmates who had been inspired by nature through firsthand experiences. However, I soon realized I brought a unique skill set to the field. While others excelled at fishing, camping, or fieldwork, I thrived in coding and data analysis—skills that complemented their hands-on expertise and offered a fresh perspective on our shared goals.
Now, as a PhD candidate at Memorial University of Newfoundland, I have experienced the advantages of this unique expertise. I’ve co-authored three publications in leading journals and, in 2021, founded a consultancy to accelerate the translation of science into actionable solutions. Through this consultancy, I’ve secured eight contracts with local, provincial, federal, and Indigenous agencies to advance watershed conservation across Canada.
I am deeply committed to addressing complex conservation challenges. I developed open-source software to identify priority restoration sites in rivers, directly influencing decision-making in both provincial and international conservation initiatives. My academic and consulting work has fostered partnerships in New Zealand, the United States, and Europe, creating a global effort to tackle these challenges collectively. I have already established myself as an emerging conservation leader in Canada, and my long-term goal is to enhance Canada’s capacity to preserve its natural heritage by innovating conservation methods and fostering international collaboration.