Wheaton senior wins Fulbright to conduct research in Canada

NORTON -- Wheaton College senior Ashley Young, a biology major from Westford, Mass., has been awarded a research Fulbright to study the effect of an invasive insect and animal on the lives of indigenous people in Canada.

In particular, the Balfour Scholar will investigate the impacts of the black-tailed deer on the Haida people of the Queen Charlotte Islands, which is off the coast of British Columbia, and the emerald ash borer beetle on tribes in the Southern Ontario Region. Her research project aims to give the previously underrepresented indigenous people who are affected a voice in the decision-making process.

Young's interest in the environment began in her own backyard. ''As a child, some of my best memories are exploring the woods around my house looking for the most bizarre plants and insects,'' she wrote in her Fulbright application essay. ''I remember feeling proud of myself for 'discovering' these samples, since no one else could have yet discovered a specimen as charismatic as the one I just found.''

Because both her parents work in the business world, Young had not considered a career in science. An environmental science course she took at Wheaton her sophomore year opened her to the possibilities. ''I decided that a career in environmental preservation and restoration was my ideal niche.''

Young, who is pursuing a minor in environmental studies, became interested in studying invasive species after taking a senior seminar class on the topic this fall titled ''Alien Invasion.''

''I had heard of invasive species before the class, but did not realize their extent across the United States or even on Wheaton's campus. Just a few weeks into the class, I began to look on the side of the road during car trips and notice all the species we talked about. What really intrigued me was the concept that even though most of these species have only been in the United States for a few decades, it has been long enough that most people consider them native.''

Young said that ultimately she would like to be a leader in invasive species management. Throughout her time at Wheaton, she has built a strong foundation for her career choice by getting as much experience as she can. She has had internships with the New England Forestry Foundation, a nonprofit known for practicing sustainable forestry, and the Army Corps of Engineers, where she worked with a diverse group of professionals ranging from geologists to chemists.

Her interest in the human impact on the environment led her to take a Wheaton biology course in 2005 taught in Costa Rica and Belize.Tropical Field Biology

Wheaton biology professor Scott Shumway said Young's research team produced the best conceived, executed and analyzed experiments in her class. He describes her as a skilled writer and a thorough library researcher who has strong critical-thinking skills. ''Ashley possesses an unusual package of intellectual talents.''

Her list of honors proves it. She won the Phi Beta Kappa Book Award for having the highest freshman GPA in 2004 and the Wheaton Presidential Award for outstanding academic achievement. Young, a statistics tutor, is also well-rounded with her involvement in extracurricular activities. She is co-president of the Wheaton Archery Club and co-founder and co-president of HOPE (Helping out Pets Everywhere).

Her desire to help is a driving force behind her Fulbright research. Part of her project will focus on the emerald ash borer, a beetle native to Asia.

The beetle, which was first spotted in Detroit in 2002, has been causing turmoil in Ontario and locations in the United States. Young points out that millions of ash trees have been destroyed by the beetles, which feed on their bark. The beetles potentially can cause drastic economic loss because indigenous tribes of the Great Lakes Region use ash bark to make baskets to sell as a source of income.

Young will interview indigenous people about their perception of the beetle and what the response to it should be. ''The standard response so far has been to quarantine ash wood in infected areas. I would like to determine if indigenous tribes have a different opinion of how to prevent the species from getting to their lands,'' she said.

Young will work with Brendon Larson, an assistant professor at the University of Waterloo in Canada, on the next phase of his research with the Haida people.

As part of that research, she will investigate the current problem of overpopulation of black-tailed deer that has affected the health of forest plants used for traditional food and medicine

Young plans to co-author a paper with Larson on the research. Her goal is to demonstrate the need for scientists to better engage the people that their research is having an impact on.

''This research is unique because it critically examines the role of environmental science in society,'' she said. ''I am thrilled I have been chosen to receive an award. I look forward to working with Dr. Larson in what should be an exciting and fulfilling year.''