Sloshing around in streams is all in a day’s work for research assistant Brian Black. But the work is serious—Black is finishing up his Master’s degree in Integrated Biosciences and his thesis research examines how stream temperatures respond to local conditions and changes in the landscape in the Lake Superior basin.
“To examine these relationships, we integrate GIS (Geographical Information Systems) mapping with stream temperature profiles and habitat assessments,” he explained. Black is hoping his research results will help city planners and natural resource managers mitigate the negative impacts of development.
During his three years at NRRI, Black has many fun (and funny) memories of field research with other graduate students, and he highly values his collaborations in NRRI’s GIS Lab. Black has honed his expertise in stream monitoring and landscape effects on streams.
Of course, there’s always more to know. Black wants to expand his knowledge of statistics, modeling and GIS.
Black is passionate about family, friends, food and nature. He says he’d change the world by taking away “contentious and superficial” boundaries that divide countries. And when life gives him lemons, he eats them! (Really.)
Brian’s Favorites: