Gros Morne National Park offers a wealth of experiences for Grenfell Campus’s students – not just for outdoor activity, but for research as well.

In fact, over the last 20 years, students enrolled in undergraduate environmental programs have conducted almost 30 separate research projects within the boundaries of the park.

These data have been collected by Dr. Christine Campbell, a professor of environmental science within the School of Science and the Environment.

"I wanted to raise awareness of the research that undergraduate students have conducted in Gros Morne over the last 20 years," said Dr. Campbell, who added that as Grenfell Campus moves towards greater collaboration with Gros Morne National Park, she thought documenting past capacity was important.

In fact, from 2000 to 2009 Parks Canada’s science director in GMNP together with the Gros Morne Co-operating Association would issue internships so that undergrads in environmental programs could conduct relevant research, she said. Research subjects for environmental science students included biodiversity issues such as freshwater ecology of plankton, fish and frogs, and terrestrial studies of birds, bats and biting flies Environmental studies students focused on sustainable area tourism and the environmental impacts of snowmobiles.

"The interest from the park is what made it work," said Dr. Campbell, who supervised or co-supervised a number of the students involved. "The ability to do research is a great advantage – the park is so close to Grenfell. It’s an amazing experience, and many of these students have gone on to do wonderful things."

Today, community leaders and stakeholders from Grenfell, Parks Canada, the Gros Morne Co-operating Association and government agencies are engaged in developing other opportunities and how the diverse research conducted by Grenfell faculty and students has the potential to help with long-term planning.

To that end, Dr. Campbell is developing a list of related research that could help facilitate the process, such as initiatives that focus on waste management and climate change.

"We’re asking, ‘What kind of science projects does the park want to focus on?" she said.

In the meantime, undergraduate students continue to conduct fieldwork in the park and the park continues to be supportive of this activity. Anyone interested in reading the students’ theses will find them bound in Ferriss Hodgett Library, Grenfell Campus, or see the posters outside AS285 and AS2026.