Name: Sarah Jovan
SFS Program: British Columbia, Canada Spring '98
Education: BA, Oberlin; PhD, Oregon State University
Current Position: Research Lichenologist

Why did you choose SFS as a study abroad program?
I came across an SFS flier accidentally while wondering how to work more field experience into my undergraduate program. I knew I was interested in ecology generally. I saw the SFS program for Africa, which convinced me to sign up. By then, the BC program was the only one with openings left. So I went to Canada instead, not really knowing much about where I was going...

Reflecting back on your time in the program, what did you gain from your SFS experience?
An extreme lot--I jumped in with the vaguest idea that I was interested in ecology. I left knowing I wanted a future in lichenology, research, and conservation, and I just needed to determine how to knit the pieces together into a career. I knew I wanted to live in the Pacific Northwest. I don't think I'll ever leave. I gained many friends from the local community in Bamfield. I made many friends with the Huu-ay-aht First Nation who lived nearby. All in all, the experience was formative for me. It provided the elements I needed to determine my passion and plans for a future as a professional scientist.
 
What is your most profound or lasting memory from your SFS program?
There are many. The first profound memory that comes to mind was traveling for several hours in the dark to get to Bamfield, which I knew next to nothing about. I could feel it was a cold and wet place, at least the night we arrived. I remember feeling quite nervous while surrounded by a bunch of strangers and wishing I had read up more on the field station. I managed to sleep in my bunk, a little. But the next morning my fear dissolved when I opened my door and saw the beauty of Aguilar Point. Huge mossy trees covered in weird lettuce-y lichens...so green and beautiful. Having grown up in a polluted Midwest city, this was the first time I had seen lichens, which were to become my life's passion.

What advice would you give to a prospective SFS student?
I would advise a student to take careful advantage of the training offered by the program because the knowledge imparted is very realistic, practical, and holistic. You get immersed in issues relevant to your program region. In BC, many natural resource issues were based on forestry and fishery management. So we studied the ecological, social, and economic aspects of both and examined the interconnectivity of terrestrial and aquatic systems. By the end, I had a well-rounded set of tools that allow critical thinking about the ecology of any system. You learn how to investigate and gather evidence--excellent training for a researcher.  

What do you do for work?
I am a research lichenologist with Oregon State University Department of Botany and Plant Pathology. We study how lichen communities respond to air pollution and climate change. My research is for the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (FIA) of the USDA for which I am co-leader of a national program that uses lichen communities as bioindicators for monitoring forest health. The website is: http://fia.fs.fed.us/program-features/indicators/lichen/

What does that entail on a daily basis?
It varies. I travel to California and Alaska to study lichen communities in forests near pollution sources and then publish the studies in journals to promote awareness of how human activity is impacting forest ecosystems. Emissions of some ecologically problematic pollutants, like ammonia, are not usually regulated although low amounts cause shifts in the lichen community—long beard-like species used for forage and nesting material are sensitive and get replaced by small weed-like species without such clear links to wildlife. Results get presented at scientific conferences. Much time is spent mining large datasets of lichen community composition collected by FIA on a nationwide sampling grid to build models that estimate forest air quality based on which lichen species are encountered.

Tell me an interesting on-the-job tale or describe a cool project you've worked on.
My favorite task has been working with the SE Alaska crews that conduct fieldwork for the FIA program. They live on a large boat for ten-day hitches and fly into wilderness via the helicopter that resides on the back of the boat. I got to live with them briefly to conduct some quality assurance assessments on their lichen surveys. The lichens in Alaska are phenomenal and many regions are relatively untouched by human industry. This ongoing study of lichens in Alaska is part of a larger effort to establish a baseline for monitoring air quality and climate impacts in the region.

What are the two most essential skills that got you to your position?
Determination and Passion

What advice do you have for other SFS alumni looking to get into your field? 
First, learn statistics. They aren't that hard even for the mathematically impaired. Statistical literacy will help you design effective research projects. Secondly, learn good field skills early. Make time to go outside often for the rest of your employed life. It's a critical part of your continuing education. You can't be a desk-bound ecologist.