Carleton alumni, students, and staff attend and present at BeaverCON 2024
Emily Fairfax ’14, Ken Tape ’99, Caitlin McWilliams ’25, Jonah Docter-Loeb ’25, and Arb director Nancy Braker ’81 were a major part of BeaverCON 2024.
Carleton was well-represented at BeaverCON 2024!
Emily Fairfax ’14 gave the opening address at the conference, presenting on her groundbreaking research showing the ways beaver complexes mitigate wildfire damage and thus are crucial in building resilience to climate change. Ken Tape ’99 presented on his research and founding of the Arctic Beaver Observation Network — an organization composed of research scientists, Indigenous observers, and land managers who are working to understand the scale and implications of beaver colonization of the Arctic.
Current students Caitlin McWilliams ’25 and Jonah Docter-Loeb ’25 — supported with funding from Carleton’s fellowship office and Career Center — facilitated a panel they organized about beavers on college campuses. Arb director Nancy Braker ’81 joined them on stage to speak about her experience managing Carleton’s beavers and their educational potential, alongside Andrea Knutson (Oakland University) and Alexis Mychajliw (Middlebury College). Together, they’re launching a Beavers in Higher Education working group for students, professors, and other campus community members interested in campus beaver coexistence efforts, research, or organizing a Beaver Festival! If you’re interested in helping out or know of other campuses with beavers, fill out the interest form.