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Dilshan Kariwasam
Dilshan Kariyawasam

Dilshan Kariyawasam

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Undergraduate student, Geography

I’ve just joined the Trail Valley Creek team this field season. I’m entering my fifth year and I almost have my BSc in Geography (I just completed the Environmental Science Option and I’m aiming to complete the Geomatics Option as well this year). It’s nice to have the extra titles on my degree but I figured I should be exposed to more science (hence the Environmental Science Option) and learn at least the basics in handling, processing and analyzing data (hence the Geomatics Option).

During my final year of high school I took a class called "Earth and Space Science" and thoroughly enjoyed what I learned. It was the first time material clicked so well with me. It was fun to take my knowledge outside of class and analyze the world around me. After that, I decided to follow a field that allowed me to continue learning science and the world around me.

As I progressed year by year at university, my classes continued to be interesting. Admittedly, I preferred learning about rocks (geology) more than the atmosphere and water (hydrology). However, since my early years of high school a friend and I prioritized exploring the world, including the Arctic. At first I knew I had to start smaller than the world, so I started with learning about Canada. In the middle of high school my friend managed to make her way to Yellowknife by driving all the way from Ontario. She bought me a glass inukshuk standing on granite with a metal "Yellowknife, N.W.T." label. I’ve placed it on my table for years now. I guess this was the beginning of me thinking about the Arctic from time to time.

During my third year of university I took Phil Marsh’s hydrology class. After a few conversations with Phil and his teaching assistants Branden and Tyler, I think I managed to get a foot in the door. Snow hydrology is an important part of this beautiful country and now I’ve found an opportunity to pursue it. Combined with my apparently unusual love for winter/snow, and my curiosity for the Arctic, I’ve found myself here now. I’m here to learn about the Arctic and hopefully contribute to Arctic research.

Currently, I’m looking to use aerial imagery to construct a series of maps for some of the lakes surrounding Trail Valley Creek. The goal is to extend a currently existing record of imagery and hopefully demonstrate a prominent direction of change. This imagery could be used to help further explain my colleague’s findings and perhaps provide a better understanding of hydrological activity at Trail Valley Creek.

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