Faculty of Science
Natural Resource Science (NRS)
NRS Program Info
Student Information
NRS Faculty
Contact Science

Natural Resource Science Student Employment Skill Set

STUDENT SKILLS AND ABILITIES

 AFTER COMPLETING SEMESTERS
1 TO 4 5 & 6 7 & 8

FORESTRY

Use ecological principles of Biogeoclimatic Ecological Classification System to describe and interpret forests and grasslands • • •
Assist in documenting site descriptions • • •
Assist in developing silvicultural prescriptions - • •
Describe how prescribed fire can be incorporated into a management plan - • •
Assist in habitat inventories and assessments - • •
Propose management strategies which incorporate the impacts of recreation on ecosystems - • •
Describe the impact of land use practices on erosion and water quality in watersheds - - •
Identify pests and diseases and methods of control in forest stands - • •

FIRE ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT

Conduct fire history research - • •
Employ Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System - • •
Use fire behaviour prediction software - • •

LIMNOLOGY AND FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

Measure age sex and identify important fish species - • •
Assess physical, chemical and biological features of lakes and streams and determine their relationship to fish ecology and other uses - • •
Develop a sustainable, multi-user fisheries management strategy - - •

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT/POPULATION BIOLOGY

Model population changes using computers - • •
Identify terrestrial vertebrates and conduct wildlife inventories - • •
Conduct wildlife population census (using mark recapture data) - - •

RANGE MANAGEMENT

Assess the physical and biological features of rangelands - • •
Assist in development of range management plans - - •

MEASUREMENTS

Interpret topographic and forest cover maps • • •
Make basic mensurational measurements • • •
Establish and sample vegetation plots • • •

COMPUTING

Use word processing, spread sheet, and graphics software • • •
Use the ArcInfo Geographic Information Systems software • • •

COMMUNICATIONS AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Communicate using written, verbal, and audiovisual techniques • • •
Apply the principles of natural resource conflict resolution - - •

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC

Assess the impact of resource extraction on recreation and tourism - • •
Apply cost-benefit analysis and economic models to land use decisions - - •

GENERAL SKILLS

Participate as a team member • • •
Apply statistical analysis to data sets • • •
Determine optimum sampling designs for all resource sectors - - •

For more information, comments or suggestions e-mail: ncornell@tru.ca