Global travel sparks passion for conservation

Whether exploring the backcountry around BC, traversing South America, or researching rare microorganisms off the coast of Australia, one thing is for certain—UVic student Haley Hood has an insatiable curiosity for nature and scientific discovery.

Haley has enjoyed science and spending time outdoors ever since she was a child. She dreamed of becoming an astronaut and later aspired to be a doctor. “Coming to UVic, I realized there’s so much more to science than you learn in high school," she says. Now entering her fifth year as a biochemistry student, Haley's perspective on science has widened following a global learning adventure.

Study in Australia launched research interest

“My journey in the realm of environmental conservation began with a deep-seated fascination for the intricate beauty of nature and a genuine concern for its preservation,” Haley notes.

Her courses at UVic allowed her to participate in an exchange with Murdoch University in Perth, Australia. That changed everything.

Studying marine ecology and genetic engineering in Perth, and travelling to Indonesia and Fiji in her downtime, Haley saw the effects of climate change, further igniting her interest in sustainability and conservation. “Seeing all the bleached coral, hearing about the decrease in fish, and learning how things have changed over the years really made me upset. It needs to change,” she says.

Seeing Haley’s desire to incorporate adventure, the outdoors, science, medicine and innovation, professors in Australia pointed her in the direction of extremophile research. Extremophiles are microorganisms that live in exceptionally harsh environments that are lethal for most known life forms. They can tolerate conditions such as high and low temperatures, extreme pH levels, high pressure, and high salinity, and are often found in remote terrain. Fascinated by this new-to-her field of study, Haley began working on Rottness Island, near Perth, locating and extracting halophiles (one type of extremophile) from the island’s salt lakes, with the intent of utilizing their metabolisms for different biotechnologies.

Following her curiosity, Haley reached out to an extremophile researcher in hopes of securing an international co-op placement. A donor-funded award helped make that hope a reality. Instead of returning home after her exchange, Haley travelled 45 hours from Perth to Chile, beginning her new research project a few hours after landing.

Co-op scholarship opening doors to groundbreaking research

Learning Spanish, computer science and astrobiology while getting adjusted to a new climate and culture was no easy task. “I was so overwhelmed, but in the best possible way,” she says. “I never felt so out of my comfort zone every day, [considering] the research I was doing, my living and travel experiences, and learning another language. I learned so much through this experience and bettered my problem-solving skills.” 

For the next six months, Haley learned the biopython programming interface to analyze a newly discovered polyextremophile, Acidiothiobaccilus ferrooxidans. She analyzed and compared gene features of this new species’ genome to other members of the genus. “These rare bacteria found in a volcano in Italy have the potential to be utilized in biomining due to them being halophiles and thermophiles'' explains Haley. The research has the potential to revolutionize the mining industry and provide sustainable alternatives that preserve our planet's natural resources and minimize environmental degradation. The research team Haley was working with are also investigating what these microorganisms reveal about the initial evolution of life on Earth.

Scholarships that help fund co-op placements can be particularly useful for students working abroad for non-commercial organizations. The funding allowed Hayley to focus intently on research and make the most of her time abroad. It also enabled her to travel to a conference in Pucon, Chile to present her research findings. The intent of the scholarship Haley received is to support conservation activities, meaning it has a lasting impact on the world, as well as the recipient. “Getting an award really boosts your confidence and makes you feel like what you're doing is important. It means a lot that someone sees something in you,” says Hayley.

By supporting initiatives that empower students to pursue their passions and drive positive change, donors play a pivotal role in shaping a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.