This article is part of a series focusing on the grads of the 蘑菇AV Fall Class of 2025. Read all our profiles here in one place as they are published.
An avid outdoorswoman and passionate environmental scientist, Samantha Bennett grew up hiking and camping outside Montreal 鈥� experiences that sparked a lifelong fascination with the natural world.
鈥淎s I learned more about climate change in school and saw how human actions can impact our environment, I decided I wanted to pursue an undergraduate degree in environmental science,鈥� she says.
That curiosity evolved into a deep scientific focus on the unseen ecosystems beneath our feet. During her undergraduate studies, Sam joined a lab focused on conservation and soil ecology where she spent a summer studying soil arthropods鈥攑articularly earthworms. 鈥淭hat first summer opened my eyes to the complexity of soil biota. I became fascinated by how these tiny organisms shape entire ecosystems.鈥�
Continuing her passion
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Sam continued working in the same lab for three years, an experience that cemented her passion for research and her desire to study soil ecology at the graduate level. When it came time to choose where to pursue her MSc, her honours supervisor encouraged her to consider 蘑菇AV鈥檚 Agricultural Campus鈥攌nown for its strong research focus on agricultural and environmental systems.
In September 2023, Sam joined Dr. Paul Manning鈥檚 Insect Biodiversity in Agroecosystems Lab, where she worked on a project funded by an NSERC Discovery Grant and Dr. Dave Burton鈥檚 NSERC Climate-Smart Soils CREATE program. Her research examined how methane emissions from cattle dung are influenced by both diet (specifically, the inclusion of brown seaweeds) and biotic interactions with dung beetles.
鈥淚 was drawn to this research project because I鈥檝e always been interested in the connection between improving food security and how management practices can help farmers achieve their goals while minimizing agriculture鈥檚 environmental impact,鈥� Sam explains. 鈥淚鈥檓 especially interested in understanding how changes in management practices influence insect communities, which provide a range of ecosystem benefits but are often overlooked when assessing agricultural systems.鈥�
Through her MSc, Sam explored how insects鈥攐ften regarded simply as pests鈥攃an actually play critical roles in nutrient cycling and climate solutions.听
鈥淪am discovered some really cool things with her MSc that filled important gaps in our understanding of nutrient cycling,鈥� Dr. Manning says. 听鈥淪he has an exceptional ability to connect applied and fundamental research. Completing an entire thesis鈥攆rom fieldwork to submission鈥攊n just 23 months is a testament to her focus and determination.鈥�
Working with farmers
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Beyond research, Sam found a strong sense of belonging at 蘑菇AV鈥檚 Agricultural Campus. 鈥淢y favourite part of the AC was the community,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hether it was fellow students or faculty members, everyone showed genuine enthusiasm for what they do and always provided invaluable advice and support.鈥�
After completing her MSc, Sam began a new role as Soil Health Program Coordinator with the Greenbelt Foundation in Toronto. In this position, she helps communicate soil health results with farmers across the Greater Golden Horseshoe, prepares soil health reports and organizes events for farmers and agricultural organizations across Ontario.
Looking ahead, Sam plans to pursue a PhD, continuing to explore how soil health, insect biodiversity, and sustainable agricultural practices intersect.
鈥淪am is a deep thinker鈥攃reative, hardworking, and generous,鈥� says Dr. Manning. 鈥淪he brought infectious energy, kindness, and a can-do attitude to everything she encountered. I鈥檓 incredibly proud of the caliber of work she produced, and I can鈥檛 wait to see how her research continues to shape the field.鈥�