IIC Graduate Spotlight: Maddie Mehrez '22

The Institute for Integrative Conservation (IIC) is excited to support these graduates as they take the next steps in their academic and professional careers. Today we celebrate graduating senior Maddie Mehrez. As part of the IIC Conservation Research Program, Maddie Mehrez conducted a geospatial analysis for American Prairie's Joint Venture Grassland Restoration Incentive Program (GRIP), exploring the impact of grassland restoration efforts on private lands on the population of a suite of priority bird species. This involved digitizing the treatment areas of these projects and analyzing the effects of restoration projects using publicly available data from sources, such as eBird and the Rangeland Analysis Platform. An interview with Maddie reveals how IIC research and engagement has heightened her William & Mary experiences.

Interview with Maddie Mehrez

"I have learned so much through my work with the IIC. I strengthened my GIS skills, learned better data and time management skills, and important professional development skills."

Why are you interested in conservation? I am interested in conservation because I believe it is the single most important problem facing our world today. Ecosystems are degrading at a rapid rate, and we must step in now to make a change. I love the interdisciplinary and exploratory work found in this field and the fact that I've been able to connect with so many professionals that are so deeply passionate about their work. 

Why do you think it is important that we take an integrative approach to conservation? The most successful conservation outcomes will be those that integrate all aspects of life together. This means bringing people together of all backgrounds and disciplines to ensure all necessary perspectives are represented. Without this approach, conservation initiatives will not create the long-lasting, wide-ranging impact that is needed to save our ecosystems. 

In what ways does your work, research, or major contribute to advancing integrative approaches to conservation? Through my research experiences, I have been able to experiment with new ways to apply GIS data to conservation programs. Future researchers can build upon my work and further strengthen it to create more powerful conservation plans.

What can the conservation field (broadly defined) learn from your discipline, sector, or major? Combining different backgrounds and perspectives is integral to successful conservation work. Getting input from a variety of stakeholders and looking at a problem from multiple perspectives is key to success. 

What advice do you have for W&M students interested in taking an integrative approach to conservation? Don't be afraid of what you don't know. Use that curiosity to ask new questions and look at problems from new angles. Ask for help often, but don't shy away from a question no one has the answer to. You could be the one to answer the question.

Learn more about how the IIC is bringing together W&M students from diverse departments and schools to conduct applied conservation research projects with IIC conservation partners.