People

Peter Bush, Lab Supervisor and Adjunct Professor

Dr. Bush is a Provincial Forester with the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and an Adjunct Professor at Saint Mary’s University. Peter holds a Doctorate in Geography from the University of Western Ontario, a Master’s in Forestry from Lakehead University, and an Environmental Geography degree from Nipissing University. Peter’s research focuses on forest ecosystems (old-growth forests, forest disturbance, and succession), GIS/RS of ecosystems (wetlands and forests), landscape ecology of wildlife habitats (fragmentation and connectivity), and conservation area management and design. When not working, Peter enjoys fishing, canoeing, and hiking. Peter is also a swim Dad, Go UNB Reds!

Megan O’Brien

Megan O’Brien is a Master’s student in Geography at Saint Mary’s University. Her research focuses on using remote sensing, including satellite imagery and laser scanning, to predict where we might find more old-growth forest in Nova Scotia. This work supports conservation efforts for old-growth forests in the province. When she’s not in the lab, Megan enjoys getting outside with her dogs and reading.

Lily Binney

Lily Binney is an old-growth forest researcher and landscape ecologist pursuing a Master of Arts in Geography degree at Saint Mary’s University. For her master’s thesis, she is assessing the structural and ecological aspects of old-growth eastern hemlock and red spruce forests to highlight why these forests are so important to the landscape in Nova Scotia amid their decline due to both natural and anthropogenic effects. Lily also holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies with a minor in Geography from Saint Mary’s University. In her free time, Lily spends most of her time outdoors exploring nature. She is fascinated by the outdoors and loves to bask in the tiny beauties of nature. She also enjoys spending quality time with her two cats, family, and friends. 

Ava Gould

Hi! I’m Ava, a Master’s student in Geography at Saint Mary’s University, studying the stand dynamics of wet old-growth deciduous forests in Nova Scotia. My research looks at how these forests grow, change, and respond to natural disturbances over time, helping us better understand their role in the landscape and how to protect them. I spend a lot of time out in the field collecting research, identifying old growth forests, and soaking in the quiet beauty of these ecosystems. Outside of research, I enjoy camping, concerts, and hanging out with friends and family!

Marie-Ève Côté

Marie-Ève Côté is in her fifth year of pursuing a Bachelor of Environmental Studies degree at Saint Mary’s University. She is an avid hiker and all-around nature lover, and loves learning about the Acadian Forest region and its habitats! She is currently working on her undergraduate thesis with Dr. Bush, and her focus is on the history of wind and fire disturbance in Kejimkujik National Park and Historic Site. She is utilizing dendrochronology to analyze the data. It’s no surprise that she calls the forest her second home.

Marina Penner

Marina is a current Environmental Studies honours student, going into her fourth year of university. She is minoring in Geography and hopes to continue her education in forestry and pursue a career in forest management after graduating this spring. Her research will focus on the ecological connectivity of American marten in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, and how differing intensities of forest management may impact this connectivity. Hailing from Peace River, Alberta, Marina is passionate about the boreal forest, embedding nature within our communities, and all things northern.

Sophie Kent-Purcell

Sophie is an honours student working towards a Bachelor of Science majoring in Environmental Science at Saint Mary’s University. Her honours thesis will use GIS software and geospatial analysis techniques to assess habitat connectivity challenges facing the endangered Canadian Lynx in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Despite a deep attachment to the Acadian Forest of Nova Scotia, Sophie hopes to explore a new ecological region after graduating this spring in order to pursue a Master’s Degree in Forest Science. Besides a love for trees, Sophie is passionate about landscape ecology, accessible science communication, and anything to do with maps.

Aiden Redden

Examining avian biodiversity in burned and unburned bogs of the Barrington
2023 wildfire

Mackenzie Crawford

BES Honour’s Thesis Student

Old Forests, Young People: An Investigation Into the Old-Growth Forest
Values of Young People in Nova Scotia

Miranda Frison

MA Thesis Student 

Bush Lab Alumni

Innis MacMullin

Innis is a Saint Mary’s Alumni, who graduated in 2025 with an honours in Environmental Science and a Minor in Geology. Outside of the University, Innis is a seasoned Wildfire Firefighter in Lytton, British Columbia, and hopes to pursue a career in forest and wildfire management

BSc Honours Thesis: Survival and Regrowth: Assessing Red Oak Recovery After the 2023 Shelburne Wildfire

Madeline Dalzell

BES Honour’s Thesis : DEVELOPING A FRAMEWORK FOR EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION ACCOUNTING AND STEWARDSHIP OF OLD-GROWTH FORESTS ON PRIVATE LAND IN NOVA SCOTIA

Hannah  LeBlanc

Hannah LeBlanc is a graduate from Saint Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies and a minor in Global Environmental Politics. She completed 3 Co-op terms with the federal government as a student and worked alongside Dr. Bush to complete her Honours thesis. Hannah has a diverse range of experience and interests extending beyond forestry, and will be pursuing a graduate certificate in Marine Geomatics at the Nova Scotia Community College Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS).

BES Honours Thesis: An Analysis of the Influences on Eastern Hemlock Succession in the Aftermath of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Infestation in Nova Scotia, Canada

Cate Majury

Cate Majury graduated from Saint Mary’s University in 2025 with an Honours degree in Biology. Her undergraduate thesis focused on the impact of insecticides on the conservation of eastern hemlocks. Cate is passionate about forest ecology and conservation and hopes to pursue research in forest ecology. Outside of her studies, Cate enjoys exploring the outdoors, watching movies, and spending time with her cat.

BSc Honour’s Thesis : Assessing the Impact of Insecticides on Hemlock Woolly Adelgids (Adelges tsugae): Implications for Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) Conservation

Olivia Kokkinen

BA Honour’s Thesis: ASSESSING FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGICAL CONNECTIVITY FOR PROTECTED AREA DESIGN FOR SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA

Meaghan Pollock

THE AGE AND STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TOLERANT HARDWOOD OLD GROWTH FORESTS IN EASTERN MAINLAND NOVA SCOTIA

Madison Silver

Madison Silver Lloyd graduated from Saint Mary’s University in 2021 with her Honours in Environmental Science and a major in Geography, working in the Bush Lab on old growth and ecological connectivity research. She went on to complete a Master of Applied Science at SMU in 2023 and currently works in the non-profit sector, leading forest restoration programming across Nova Scotia.

Emily Woudstra –

Leah Fulton –