Education
PhD University of Waterloo, Social and Ecological Sustainability (2024) Dissertation: Volunteer Participation in Ecological Restoration: Motivations, Organizations, and Conviviality. Committee: Dr. Stephen D. Murphy (chair), Dr. Eric Higgs, Dr. Andrew Trant, Dr. Sean Geobey
MJ Toronto Metropolitan University, Journalism (September 2012) Advisor: Dr. Gene Allen
BA Hons. University of Waterloo, Peace and Conflict Studies (September 2009)
Research experience
Doctoral researcher, University of Waterloo
Advisor: Dr. Stephen Murphy
- Conducted a systematic review and map of literature on volunteering in ecological restoration.
- Prepared field studies focusing on organization and volunteers.
Ecological Restoration Knowledge Synthesis project, University of Victoria
2020 to Current Research Associate
- Conducted bibliometric analysis using Bibliometrix R package.
- Collaboratively produced systematic map of Canadian restoration ecology literature.
Teaching experience
University of Waterloo, Waterloo Jan 2024 to Apr 2024 Sessional lecturer, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
ERS 253 – Communities and sustainability(38 students; in-person)
- Re-designed course including entirely new readings, structure, assignments, lectures and online space through LEARN.
- Incorporated inquiry-based learning and professional guest lectures into course materials.
University of Waterloo, Waterloo Sept 2019 to 2022 Teaching Assistant, Sustainability, environment and resource studies
- Experience instructing tutorials to help unpack core concepts in the course.
- Experience grading lab reports and written project-based assignments.
- Taught online using message boards to encourage discussion and facilitate learning among students.
Courses taught as teaching assistant
- ERS 401 – Translational Ecology – Winter 2021
- ERS 335 – Restoration Ecology – Fall 2021
- ENVS 200 – Field ecology – Summer 2020
- ERS 402 – Senior research seminar – Winter 2020
- ERS 300 – Systems thinking – Fall 2019
Publications
Alamenciak, Tim, and Stephen D. Murphy. 2024. What makes a convivial community tool? Investigating grassroots ecological restoration. Ecology and Society 29(3):3. [online] URL: https://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol29/iss3/art3
Alamenciak, Tim, and Stephen D. Murphy. “Motivations for Volunteers to Participate in Ecological Restoration: A Systematic Map.” Restoration Ecology, April 19, 2024, e14155. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.14155.
Alamenciak, Tim, Dorian Pomezanski, Nancy Shackelford, Stephen D. Murphy, Steven J. Cooke, Line Rochefort, Sonia Voicescu, and Eric Higgs. “Ecological Restoration Research in Canada: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How?” FACETS 8 (January 1, 2023): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1139/facets-2022-0157.
Sutherland, William J., Jake M. Robinson, David C. Aldridge, Tim Alamenciak, Matthew Armes, Nina Baranduin, Andrew J. Bladon, et al. “EDITORIAL: Creating Testable Questions in Practical Conservation: A Process and 100 Questions.” Conservation Evidence Journal 19 (January 1, 2022). https://doi.org/10.52201/CEJ19XIFF2753.
Alamenciak, Tim. “Cycles of Use on the Landscape: Relationships for Long-Term Ecological Restoration Planning” Network in Canadian History and Environment (NiCHE) (March 23, 2021). https://niche-canada.org/2021/03/23/restoring-relationships-dismantling-colonial-visions-of-landscape-restoration/
Lazurko, Anita, Tim Alamenciak, Lowine Hill, Ella Muir, Augustine Osei, Dorian Pomezanski, Kyle Schang, Dilruba Sharmin (2020) “What Will a PhD Look Like in the Future? Perspectives on Emerging Trends in Sustainability Doctoral Programs in a Time of Disruption,” World Futures Review, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/1946756720976710.
Presentations, invited lectures and workshops
2024
Alamenciak, T. & Steffanie Scott. “Engaging instructors and students in transformative learning amid polycrisis,” University of Waterloo Teaching and Learning Conference 2024 May 2.
Alamenciak, T. “People-powered ecosystem restoration,” University of Arizona, Gornish Lab – Dr. Elise Gornish. (Invited) 2024 April 4.
Alamenciak, T. “Taming Complexity: AI Approaches to Knowledge Synthesis,” University of Waterloo, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability Salon 2024 April 1.
Alamenciak, T. “People-powered ecosystem restoration,” Carleton University class, Dr. Christina Davy (Invited) 2024 March 25.
Alamenciak, T. “Hand papermaking from recycled fibres,” University of Waterloo ENVigorate Festival 2024 March 20.
Alamenciak, T. “People-powered ecosystem restoration,” Carleton University, Environmental Solutions course, Dr. Steven Cooke. (Invited) 2024 March 11.
Alamenciak, T. “People-powered ecosystem restoration,” University of Waterloo, ENVS 195: Introduction to Environmental Studies, Patricia Huynh (Invited) 2024 February 13.
2023
Alamenciak, T. Volunteer Engagement in Ecological Restoration, 2023 September 22.
Alamenciak, T. Ecological Restoration Research in Canada: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How? Symposium: Assessing the State of Ecological Restoration Knowledge in Canada. RE3 Conference: Reclaim, Restore, Rewild, 2023 June 11-15.
2022
Alamenciak, T. Guest speaker. Landscapes of Holistic Sustainability and Wellbeing Retreat. Wilfrid Laurier University, 2022 October 22. (Invited)
Alamenciak, T., “Championing Change in the Field and Office,” Designing Change for a Living Planet – World Wildlife Fund, 2022 June 11. (Invited)
2021
Alamenciak, T., “Working Together and Giving Back: Building and sustaining volunteer motivation,” Wholistic Restoration – Ignatius Jesuit Centre, 2021 December 9.
Alamenciak, T., “Decolonizing Worldviews: Unpacking nature and wilderness,” Wholistic Restoration – Ignatius Jesuit Centre, 2021 November 23.
Alamenciak, T., Gornish, E., Murphy, S. How to design techniques for volunteer ecological restoration. National Extension Conference on Volunteerism-Lite, 2021 April 26.
Higgs, E., Alamenciak, T., & Voicescu, S. Ecological Restoration: Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Mitigation and Engaging Canadians with Nature. Presentation at the Living Within the Earth’s Carrying Capacity Forum, 2021 March 25-April 14.
Alamenciak, T., & Pomezanski, D. Analyzing Canadian ecological restoration literature with bibliometric analysis and a systematic map. Presentation at the Evidence Synthesis & Meta-Analysis in R Conference, 2021 January 21-22. Video
Alamenciak, T. & Pomezanski, D. Charting the evidence landscape: A systematic map and bibliometric analysis of ecological restoration in Canada. Presentation at the Society for Ecological Restoration Conference, 2021 June 21-24.
Alamenciak, T. Facilitator. Food Systems Summit 2021: Green Growth Dialogue. Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph. 2021 March 5.
Alamenciak, T. “Who gets to care for nature? Participation in ecological restoration,” Guest Lecture – University of Waterloo, PACS 310 – Peace and the Environment, Winter 2020 & 2021. Instructor: Dr. Jennifer Ball.
Alamenciak, T. “Assessment in restoration ecology,” University of Waterloo, ERS 342 – Ecosystem assessment, Spring 2020 & 2021. Instructor: Dr. Shefaza Esmail. (Invited)
Professional training
Mental Health Literacy Certificate Program University of Waterloo, April 2024.
Certificate in University Teaching Centre for Teaching Excellence, University of Waterloo, March 2020 Description: This certificate is awarded for the completion of six teaching workshops, three micro-teaching sessions, feedback and pedagogical research. Workshops completed include Teaching diverse learners, Effective lesson plans, Group work in the classroom and others.
Ontario Master Naturalist Lakehead University, Orillia, July 2020 Description: This course covers the major flora and fauna of Ontario in a systematic, connected format.
Data-Driven Ecological Synthesis workshop Universite de Montreal, April 2019 Description: This workshop taught me how to use R and GitHub to work collaboratively on ecological data projects.
Ontario Benthic Biomonitoring Network, Government of Ontario Lakehead University, Orillia, March 2019 Description: This certification allows me to conduct surveys of benthic invertebrates in lakes, streams and wetlands.
Professional affiliations and service
Emerging Leaders for Biodiversity (ELB) Board member, 2024 – Current
Society for Ecological Restoration (Ontario Chapter) Board member, 2019-2022
Society for Ecological Restoration (UW Student Association) Graduate president, 2019-2022
Peer Reviewer for: Restoration Ecology, Sustainability Science, Ecology and Society
Judge for: Canadian University Press JHM Awards (2020-2024); ENVigorate poster competition (2024)
Tim Alamenciak 