I am a Master of Applied Science student in Environmental Fluid Mechanics. I am interested in the physical processes under lake ice. My research focuses on an arctic lake, Lake Kilpisjärvi, located in northwestern Finland. For my research, in addition to traditional sampling methods, I have been able to use an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to assist in collecting data under the lake ice.
During my Masters, I have had some pretty awesome experiences:
Solar convection and lateral currents under lake ice study, Lake Kilpisjärvi, Finland (2013)
This field study consisted of researchers from Finland, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (me). We spent 10 days looking at the physics in the water column beneath the ice.
Check out the blog about my Finnish Arctic experience at the CONCUR Blog.
Lake Kilpisjärvi at 9 pm (photo credit K.Graves, 2013)
Arctic Water: Challenges and Opportunities of the North (Student and Young Professionals Workshop) – Canadian Water Network; Iqaluit, Nunavut (July 2013)
I was chosen as one of 20 participants to attend this workshop put on by the Canadian Water Network in beautiful Iqaluit, Nunavut. This was my first time in the Canadian North, and it didn’t disappoint. Over the 5 days that we covered topics such as Arctic Exploration (with Arctic Explorer Matty McNair), Water and Environmental Landscape of the North, Wastewater management and strategy in Canada’s North (with a field trip to a local treatment plant), Traditional Indigenous Knowledge (TKE) and relationships with the Environment (with a tour led by a local Elder), Challenges and Opportunities of the North; Different Perspectives, Water treatment design (with a tour of the local drinking water treatment plant and reservoir), toured the Nunavut Research Institute, and attended Nunavut Day.
Ice at Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park, Iqaluit (credit K. Graves).
Certified Ice Safety and Rescue Technician – Raven Rescue; Edmonton, Alberta (December 2013)
In December 2013, I participated in Raven Rescue’s Ice Safety and Rescue Technician training in Edmonton, Alberta. We spent one day in the classroom learning and one, awesome day on the ice. The course covered self rescue, single rescue and multiple person rescue.
Maamuitaau-Ilinnia Gather Learn Field School – University of Manitoba, Kuujjuarapik – Whapmagoostui, Quebec (February 2014)
During Reading Week in 2014, I attended the Gather Learn field school in Northern Quebec with 20 other students from Canada and Greenland. The goal of the field school was to gain exposure to different types of Arctic science: Social and cultural dimensions of the North, Arctic marine systems (sea-ice day), arctic freshwater systems (lake day), Permafrost, and Animals and vegetation day. This course was a mix of lectures, labs and field work. We also got to interact with the community and host outreach events for the local schools.
Kelly Graves at Hudsons Bay, Kuujjuarapik-
Whapmagoostui, Quebec) (credit K.Graves).
Before starting my Master of Applied Science degree, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering (with Distinction) in 2011. After graduating from UBC, I worked as a Ports and Marine Engineer-In-Training at Hatch Ltd. While working, I researched and designed ports and marine terminals in Canada, the USA, and Oman.
Awards and Honours:
– 2013/2014 recipient of the UBC Aboriginal Graduate Fellowship
– 2 place 2014 UBC Civil Engineering 3-Minute Thesis, 3rd place 2014 UBC APSC 3-Minute Thesis, Semi-finalist in UBC 3-Minute Thesis Competition