Research & STEWARDSHIP
As well as her work in the photography and science communication fields, Alena works as a wildlife conservation scientist.
She has her BSc in wildlife conservation and ecosystem interactions through the Geography and Biology departments at the University of Victoria.
For the past several years, she has been working in the field of bear protection and stewardship in the Great Bear Rainforest, alongside several incredible organizations and Coastal First Nations.
She currently works with the Central Coast Bear Working Group (Bears Forever), to safeguard black bears, grizzly bears, and spirit bears in the territories of the Kitasoo/Xai'Xais, Heiltsuk, Wuikinuxv, and Nuxalk Nations in the Great Bear Rainforest, and as the Media Coordinator for Spirit Bear Research Foundation.
You can find a summary of some of this work, and an overview of Alena's other work in the fields of science, research, stewardship, and policy, below!