Academic and Professional Background

• Research:

  Preliminary thesis title: Application of Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing in Forest Management

• Personal Resume:

  Dawn is a environmental science PhD student at the University of Canterbury's Biomathematics Research Centre. She started her PhD in 2007 and has two advisors - Dr Jennifer Brown (Canterbury University) and Professor Phil Hulme (Lincoln University).
  
  Dawn's focus is on the application of GIS, remote sensing and landscape modelling in forest management. She is collaborating with the USDA Forest Service and Alabama A&M University, both in Huntsville, US.
  
  The first stage of her research is on modelling non-native plant spieces on the Cumberland Plateau and Mountain Region in the Southeasten US. In her research she is comparing the relative value of information from presence only, presence/absence, and density surveys. She is assessing the use of environmental and landscape variables for ecological modelling.
  
  The later part of her research will include landscape level modelling of the forest communities and regeneration probabilities.
  
  Dawn is involved in local environmental community groups and has trained both community and local school groups in the use of technology for environmental science. This has included community-based habitat assessment and the mapping of outdoor classrooms.