Summer 2024

Newsletter Archive

Summer Student Profile: Roger Calachan

Hello! I'm Roger Matthew Calachan and I was a student at Mount Royal University that graduated in 2024 under the B.Sc. Biology program. I'm a student research assistant for the Miistakis Institute working specifically on amphibians. Working with Miistakis this summer was a great learning opportunity for me especially as a new graduate that doesn't specifically know what it is I want to pursue after MRU. It not only gave me experience but also opened my eyes to a whole new sector that I can pursue in the future. The Miistakis Institute is a very welcoming and warm environment thanks to their wonderful members! I was nervous at first as it was my first real job that was related to my degree but became very comfortable very quickly thanks to how nice and caring everybody was. This summer RA position is super fun especially to those who love experiencing nature. Looking for certain animals and randomly encountering them in the wild was always such an exciting experience that never got old no matter how many times I experienced it. Another great aspect about this opportunity is how impactful the work is. The job I did this summer will be used in a much bigger project, Calgary Connect, which can impact the wildlife in the City of Calgary and surrounding areas which makes it that much more fulfilling and inspiring.