Sarika Sharma is making strides in ecosystem restoration monitoring while pursuing her master’s degree in environmental science. 

Using drone imagery, Sharma is monitoring characteristics of tallgrass prairie environments to inform and evaluate restoration efforts. 

“Tallgrass areas provide habitat for so many of our native species. Since they’re a highly endangered ecosystem, they’re among the last remaining places where you’ll find some of these unique flora and fauna,” she said. 

“Beyond providing a home, they’re also incredibly valuable to overall ecosystem health. For example, with tallgrass prairies, you’ll often hear about their root systems. That’s because so much happens beneath the surface. The density, depth, and extent of these roots help stabilize soil, store carbon, and act as a water filtration system.” 

Sharma’s work began during her undergraduate thesis. She visited the Sydenham River Nature Reserve, an active restoration area co-stewarded by Ontario Nature, Lambton Wildlife, and the Sydenham Field Naturalists, where she captured drone images of a field being restored with native tallgrasses. The goal was to determine if and how drone imagery could accurately and efficiently portray tallgrass plant communities. 

Supported by the Robert Kingsley Jull Memorial Scholarship, Sharma said the funding supported the technical aspects of the project, including data collection and processing. 

“A lot of the technical and hardware equipment was fortunately available in the School of the Environment, but having those extra funds made supplementary tools easily accessible to me,” she said. “It alleviated some of the financial pressures, supported us during our site visit, and streamlined the entire process.” 

Receiving the $2,000 scholarship not only provided financial support but also validated the significance of Sharma’s work. 

“It was a great moment to pause and reflect on how this project represents what environmental research is all about,” she said. “The fact that we’re working with local knowledge holders and coming together to address such a prevalent issue highlights the need for collaboration in tackling problems that are larger than ourselves.” 

Now, as she builds on this work in her master’s program, Sharma plans to prioritize the involvement of local practitioners and stewards to explore the practical applications of her research and better understand the restoration needs of these ecosystems. 

“More experimentation across different habitats is needed to develop protocols to guide these ecosystem monitoring techniques,” she said. “Beyond scientific exploration, this work has raised many practical questions. Having ongoing conversations with diverse knowledge holders will help us understand and develop the project to be as impactful and applicable as possible.” 

Sharma also points to the “changemakers” at the University of Windsor who are collaborating with community partners to improve these habitats. 

“Reversing land degradation and improving our environment is a big theme, and UWindsor is a great place for projects like this,” she said. “There’s a supportive network here, and I hope projects like this encourage people to learn more about their local area and their relationship with nature.” 

Donations to the university support projects like Sharma’s, providing students with the resources and opportunities needed to pursue impactful research. 

This year, Giving Tuesday—a day that inspires people to give back in any way they can—coincided with the annual Faculty and Staff Fundraising Campaign. On that day, overall donations to the university exceeded $25,000.  

Faculty and staff who make a donation before Dec. 15 will be entered into a draw to win one of two extra vacation days in 2025. To learn more about how to give back, visit uwindsor.ca/supportuwindsor/ways-to-give.