Kate Zell stands beside the pond at Medicine Hat College, where she is part of the Urban Tree Study through the Centre for Innovation. NEWS PHOTO SAMANTHA JOHNSON
reporter@medicinehatnews.com
By Samantha Johnson
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
reporter@medicinehatnews.com
Kate Zell at Medicine Hat College (MHC) in her second and final year of the Sustainable Innovation program with a focus on business. “I wanted something that was going to be comprehensive and touch on lots of different aspects. This program has ties to science, business and a bit of the arts as well with creativity and thinking outside the box. It covers a wide range of topics.” At the moment, Zell is hoping to work with the City of Medicine Hat in their environmental department or something similar once she graduates in Spring 2024.
She was looking for a job this past summer that was related to her program and came across the Urban Tree Study at the Centre for Innovation (C4i) located on MHC campus. “I read through the bio and it seemed like something that was perfect for what I was studying.”
The study is focusing on reducing emissions and water usage. Soil sensors have been put in the ground and the levels of irrigation needed to keep the trees and plants is being monitored. “We are going to be collecting native tree seeds from around the city and grow them in a greenhouse. Hopefully, we’ll be distributing them throughout the city where they grow best without irrigation.”
It is anticipated the Urban Tree Study will open more doors for further research and they are glad to have the City of Medicine Hat on board with their work. “We’ve talked to them and they seem excited about it, so I think we are going to have lots of good connections with them in the future,” concluded Zell.
“This study is funded through an impact climate grant through Colleges and Institutes Canada, which we are very grateful for,” added Chelsey Ehresman, Manager of C4i. “If we put the right tree in the right place, we don’t need to water them as much and we don’t have to worry as much about utilities and greenhouse gas emissions.”
