Carmen Harrold (biology)
As Carmen Harrold (she/her) enters her fifth year studying biology and environmental studies at UVic, she’s closer than ever to a career in conservation.
Originally from Summerland, British Columbia, Carmen came to UVic to study science and quickly became fascinated by courses in ecology, conservation biology and climate change.
“I knew this was the right fit because it combines hands-on experience with complex, real-world problem solving,” says Carmen.
Gaining paid work experience through co-op
Carmen joined UVic’s biology co-op program to put her studies into practice, completing several work terms with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Summerland Research and Development Centre. This included roles working with the Invasive Species Ecology and Tree Fruit Physiology teams.
This summer, she is working as a restoration field technician with Friends of North Saanich Parks, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to mobilize volunteers to remove invasive plant species and restore ecosystems in North Saanich parks.
Developing key skills
“My role is to assist with various research projects, invasive plant removal, and outreach on behalf of the organization,” says Carmen. “I have also had the opportunity to help lead weekly volunteer events, which has taught me key management, interpersonal, and organizational skills.”
For Carmen, taking part in co-op has given her the opportunity to gain experience before she graduates, in areas that would have been challenging to connect to on her own.
“Co-op has allowed me to find employment opportunities that would have been more challenging for me to find otherwise,” she says.
“Having the support of my co-op coordinator for interview preparation, navigating stressful situations, and providing professional advice has helped me gain valuable skills that I hope to carry forward with me.”
The value of co-op
Carmen also credits co-op with connecting her to different perspectives and thinkers.
“Throughout my co-op experience over the last four years, I have worked with a lot of people, all of whom have interesting, unique, and innovative solutions to present to ongoing issues relating to ecology, invasive species, and climate change.
It inspires me to continually think out of the box, but also to understand that all of these issues are highly complex and interrelated.”
Using co-op to build a career she loves
“I found co-op to be very helpful because it has allowed me to try a wide variety of employment options and understand which type of work that I enjoy and am most suited to,” says Carmen.
“I now have a strong idea of the career path I hope to take after graduation, and have gained many valuable skills that will help me get there.”