Geography and Environment Society
The Geography and Environment Society represents and consists of students enrolled and interested in environmental science, environmental studies, or geography.
We organize social events, field trips (most notably our annual trip to Joggins Fossil Cliffs in Nova Scotia), dyke walks, and academic help sessions.
Our goal is to bridge the gap between the classroom and the wider community and provide students with an opportunity to meet other like-minded students, get to know their professors, and have some fun along the way!
The G&E society is for anyone interested in the environment or the Department, you do not have to be an environment or geography student. If you like being outdoors, are interested in the local environment, or are just looking to make some new friends, be sure to come out and join us!
If you are curious about our specific events or want to see what we get up to, be sure to follow us on social media or contact us:
- Instagram: @mta_geo
- Twitter: @MTA_GEO
- Facebook: MtA Geography and Environment Society
- E-mail: g&esociety@mta.ca
Become a teaching assistant
Our TAs are very important members of our department. Becoming a TA is a great opportunity to be involved in fellow student success, gain work experience, expand your knowledge and make connections with our department. Below are the current opportunities for the Fall 2026 semester. Click the .pdf links for further information about the positions and how to apply.
GENS 1401 The Physical Environment Teacher Assistant - Fall 2026
Upcoming:
Geography & Environment Help Centre Teacher Assistant -Fall 2026
Your role will be to provide in-person support to students taking courses within the Department of
Geography & Environment. Our TAs are important members of our department and will have a
significant role in helping guide students in their learning. This is a great opportunity for you to gain
mentoring experience, build a sense of community for students, and get paid! The Fall Semester will be
focused on supporting students within GENS 1401: The Physical Environment and can extend into the
TA’s other course experiences.
Requirements:
• Third or fourth year standing.
• Majoring or minoring in the Department of Geography and Environment.
• Completed GENS 1401, 2421 and obtained a minimum of a B.
• Students are required to apply every academic year, even if you were a TA in the past semester.
• Canadian SIN number.
Time Commitment and Pay:
The Help Centre is open on Sunday and Tuesday from 7:00pm-9:00pm. TAs will require 2-4 hours per
week.
Start: September 13th, 2026.
End: December 1st, 2026.
Hourly wage: ~$17/hour
Key Responsibilities:
• Foster a sense of academic support and community for all students who come to the Help
Centre.
• Complete TA training Modules on Moodle (Teaching and Learning, Creating a Respectful and
Inclusive Environment etc.).
• Help students develop strategies for academic success. Encourage student efficacy- in other
words, their belief they can succeed in their courses. This can include showing students how to
use their course/lab materials. Show how they can develop study and time management
strategies. Encourage students’ problem solving and self-trouble shooting skills around technical
issues.
• Pay attention for any cases regarding academic misconduct and report it to your instructor.
• Note any students you notice struggling and report them to the instructor. You will be the first
to notice when students are not understanding the learning outcomes and intervention is key to
student success.
*Look at your schedule and other commitments before applying for this position. This role requires
students to show up to their shifts when you may have other commitments, deadlines, etc.
*Pending Department Policy: Student TAs are expected to maintain their attendance in their
classes/labs and maintain their GPA. If a professor notifies me that your performance or attendance is
declining, you may be removed from this position so you can focus on your studies. By applying for
this job, you accept this condition.
*By applying, you grant the Department of Geography and Environment permission to view your
Mount Allison University transcripts, verify your schedule, academic standing, and academic integrity
record.
APPLY:
Please email Chris Kelly (crkelly@mta.ca) by end of day Sept 9 with the following:
1. One page cover letter about why you fit the role
2. 1–2-page CV/resume
3. Unofficial Transcript
Geography & Environment Help Centre Lead Teacher Assistant -Fall 2026
Your role will be to provide in-person support to students taking courses within the Department of
Geography & Environment. Our TAs are important members of our department and will have a
significant role in helping guide students in their learning. The Lead TA will also have the added
responsibility for the administrative side of the Help Centre. This is a great opportunity for you to gain
experience in a leadership position, mentor fellow students, and get paid! The Fall Semester will be
focused on supporting students within GENS 1401: The Physical Environment and can extend into the
TA’s other course experiences.
Requirements:
• Third or fourth year standing.
• Majoring or minoring in the Department of Geography and Environment.
• Completed GENS 1401, 2421 and obtained a minimum of a B.
• Students are required to apply every academic year, even if you were a TA in the past semester.
• Canadian SIN number.
Time Commitment and Pay:
The Help Centre is open on Sunday and Tuesday from 7:00pm-9:00pm. Lead TA will require 2-3 hours
per week (1-2 hours in the Help Centre and 1-hour administrative work).
Start: September 13th, 2026.
End: December 1st, 2026.
Hourly wage: ~$17/hour
Key Responsibilities:
• Foster a sense of academic support and community for all students who come to the Help
Centre.
• Complete TA training Modules on Moodle (Teaching and Learning, Creating a Respectful and
Inclusive Environment etc.).
• Help students develop strategies for academic success. Encourage student efficacy- in other
words, their belief they can succeed in their courses. This can include showing students how to
use their course/lab materials. Show how they can develop study and time management
strategies. Encourage students’ problem solving and self-trouble shooting skills around technical
issues.
• Organize TA weekly schedule and keep track of TA hours.
• Organize materials required for Help Centre. For example, collecting textbooks from professors,
collecting lab materials specific to a lab’s assignment etc.
• Maintain the student attendance sheet.
• Pay attention for any cases regarding academic misconduct and report it to your instructor.
• Note any students you notice struggling and report them to the instructor. You will be the first
to notice when students are not understanding the learning outcomes and intervention is key to
student success.
*Look at your schedule and other commitments before applying for this position. This role requires
students to show up to their shifts when you may have other commitments, deadlines, etc.
*Pending Department Policy: Student TAs are expected to maintain their attendance in their
classes/labs and maintain their GPA. If a professor notifies me that your performance or attendance is
declining, you may be removed from this position so you can focus on your studies. By applying for
this job, you accept this condition.
*By applying, you grant the Department of Geography and Environment permission to view your
Mount Allison University transcripts, verify your schedule, academic standing, and academic integrity
record.
APPLY:
Please email Chris Kelly (crkelly@mta.ca) by end of day Sept 9 with the following:
1. One page cover letter about why you fit the role
2. 1–2-page CV/resume
3. Unofficial Transcript
Student research
Students carry out their own research as summer projects or as part of directed studies courses.
Students have chosen to research a diverse array of topics including:
- understanding the distribution of microplastics, which will lead to better management strategies for wastewater treatment facilities
- inclusivity in Montreal’s Gay Village
- tick education, which has led to New Brunswick’s Department of Education using the curriculum created by the researcher
Student research profiles
Laura Penny
Honors Environmental Science and minor Biochemistry
Supervisor: Dr. David Lieske
Project: Mapping seabird-fishery interactions with machine learning
Impact: This study is an intersection of machine learning and environmental management. We aimed to capture which interactions are driving the abundance of an important prey item for the gannets and use that knowledge to infer future risks.
Best part: This project has greatly increased my confidence in problem solving and dealing with challenges at the conceptual and computational level. It was an exciting project, and the best part was weaving all this work and data into a coherent and meaningful picture.
Connor Nickel
Major Environmental Science, minor Geographic Information Systems
Supervisor: Dr. David Lieske
Project: Remote sensing of tick expansion in New Brunswick
Impact: This project is a land cover change analysis of forests in New Brunswick. Specifically, the aim of the project is to show how ticks are expanding through fragmented forests in the province, to raise community awareness and monitor of ticks.
Best part: I've learnt a lot about remote sensing software and the challenges presented by such projects. This project has been an excellent opportunity to explore this technology in an academic setting and in a meaningful way.
Taylor Crosby
BSc Honours Environmental Science, Minor: Political Sciences
Supervisor: Dr. Josh Kurek
Project: Microplastic export near wastewater treatment plants in New Brunswick rivers
Impact: Microplastics are present in many of the products and materials that we use everyday. They also act as a contaminant in the environment and as vectors for other harmful pollutants. Understanding their distribution will hopefully lead to better management strategies of our wastewater treatment facilities.
Best part: I have learned so much alongside such great people! There is nothing more fun than having the opportunity to work outside in the field, even when things don't go as planned. I have been able to see so many nooks and crannies of this province as a result of my research involvement and would not trade it for the world!