Public engagement

Michelle and host Tim Hammerich have a great conversation about McCain’s commitments, how the progress has been so far, and how their farms of the future are designed to serve as farm-scale laboratories for regenerative transition. We also discuss why biodiversity should be a goal we should strive for in agriculture, who is responsible paying for soil conservation, and a whole lot more. 

Future you: How to build a career in environmental sustainability

Canada Foundation for Innovation / Invited speaker / Nov 2023

Participated as a distinguished panelist in the session titled ‘Future you: How to build a career in environmental sustainability’ to discuss her career path, highlight the diversity of careers available in STEAM, and inspire young researchers to solve pressing environmental problems.

Climate Emergency, Smart solutions for a sustainable future

Genome BC Annual Genomics Forum / Invited speaker / May 2022

Participated as a distinguished panelist in the session titled ‘Agri-Smart: Feeding the World in a Changing Climate’ to emphasize the crucial role of genomics in mitigating the climate-related obstacles encountered in agriculture.

Partners in Research Canada (PIR)

PIR Live Event / Invited speaker / May 2019

Led an immersive webinar engaging high school students nationwide in Canada on an enlightening biodiversity assessment project that collaborated with rangers and scientists to gain insights into insect populations in South Africa, fostering a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Stellenbosch University

Invited speaker / Stellenbosch, South Africa / May 2019

Gave a seminar at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, titled: ” Interpreting beta diversity with time: an assessment of local- and broad- scale patterns in arthropod communities.”

7th Meeting of the iBOL Scientific committee

University of Guelph / Guelph, ON, Canada / Oct. 2018

Communicating effectively as we transition from BARCODE 500K to BIOSCAN: Led discussion with diverse stakeholders at the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics on the design objectives for the International Barcode of Life website on the onset of the $180-million
BIOSCAN project.

Canada-Americas Trade Related Technical Assistance (CATRTA)

DNA barcoding workshop facilitator / Honduras / Aug. 2016 – Feb. 2017

Organized and delivered impactful workshops aimed at strengthening technical expertise and knowledge in DNA technologies. Actively facilitated dialogue among key stakeholders, including Honduran government regulatory agencies, biodiversity researchers, and other relevant parties, to explore the potential adoption of DNA-based identification methods for economically and ecologically significant organisms.

D’Souza ML, (2017) What DNA barcoding can do for conservation in Honduras: results from 4 years of summer sampling in the cloud forests of Cusuco National Park. First National Workshop on Advancing DNA Barcoding in Honduras, Zamorano University, Honduras, Jan.19-20 (Spanish ver.)

DNA barcoding research facilitator

Operation Wallacea / Honduras / Jun – Aug. 2016

Organized and executed impactful DNA barcoding projects in support of conservation objectives within Cusuco National Park. Led the training of junior staff in the collection, identification, preservation, and export preparation of invertebrate samples. Mentored and supervised volunteers and student researchers in the field, guiding their dissertation projects. Actively contributed to volunteer recruitment initiatives in Ontario, Canada.

Teaching Assistant University of Guelph, Guelph, ON

University of Guelph, Guelph, ON / Jan. – Apr. 2013 – 2017

Led comprehensive seminars enhancing student understanding of lecture concepts and assignments in various biology courses. Mentored over 100 students, providing guidance on biological identification, statistical analysis, and scientific writing. Courses included Methods in Evolutionary Biology, Populations, Communities, and Ecosystems, Conservation Biology, Biostatistics for Integrative Biology, and Discovering Biodiversity.