Know Your Professor With Zhyryn!

Welcome back to Know Your Professor With Zhyryn, our weekly feature that introduces students to the people behind their lectures. Each edition highlights a different faculty member, exploring their academic journey, teaching philosophy, and life beyond the classroom to help students feel more connected to their learning community.

This week’s feature takes us to the Faculty of Science: School of Climate Change and Adaptation, where I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Emma Ladouceur, Assistant Professor in Biology with a focus on climate change and adaptation. Professor Emma joined UPEI in 2024 after completing postdoctoral research at the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research Halle-Jena-Leipzig (iDiv). She holds a Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning from Toronto Metropolitan University, a Master of Science from the University of Queensland in Australia, and a PhD from the University of Pavia in Italy. Her research examines biodiversity change across both space and time.

Professor Emma’s path to academia was not a straight line. She explained that she did not always plan to become a professor. In fact, she began her studies in urban and regional planning before realizing how deeply she cared about environmental issues. As she continued along the academic path, she discovered that teaching and research were where her interests truly aligned. “I always kind of kept doors open for multiple career paths,” she said, adding that it was later in her studies that she decided she wanted to teach and conduct research as a career.

What Professor Emma enjoys most about teaching is sharing both knowledge and perspective. Having spent the last 14 years living overseas, she brings a wide range of experiences into the classroom. She values showing students how research skills can benefit them regardless of their future careers. For her, education is not just about content but about learning how to think, question, and apply ideas in meaningful ways.

Student engagement plays a central role in her teaching style. In her science and biology courses, she incorporates hands-on learning through labs, discussions, and close reading of scientific literature. Students are encouraged to share their interpretations and learn from one another. By moving around the classroom and supporting conversations, she helps clarify complex ideas while allowing students to develop confidence in their understanding. This approach makes challenging material more accessible and collaborative rather than intimidating. According to her, taking ownership of one’s education is key to gaining the full benefit of the university experience.

Outside the classroom, Dr. Ladouceur is deeply involved in community science. She currently serves as the President of Nature PEI and is a strong advocate for the use of the iNaturalist app, which allows users to document and identify species while contributing real data for scientific research. One of the most successful projects she highlighted is Mushrooms of PEI, which has helped expand the known number of mushroom species on the island from 75 to over 1,000. She encourages students of all backgrounds to get involved, noting that no prior experience is needed to participate and make a meaningful impact.

Getting to know professors like Professor Emma reminds us that learning at UPEI extends beyond lectures. Through research, community engagement, and a passion for teaching, she continues to inspire students to think critically about the natural world and their place within it.