My CBU Story: Shelby MacIsaac
Shelby MacIsaac thought the plan was set when she returned to Sydney from McMaster University. She worked shifts at a veterinary clinic and changed her program from Social Work to a Bachelor of Science, Biology major at Cape Breton University. Shelby was on a straight track to what she thought was her dream career – a veterinarian. Life and CBU, however, had different plans for her. A decision to join a waiting list for a Monitoring Biodiversity class led her on a plane headed to Costa Rica, her first time abroad, where hands-on fieldwork turned curiosity into commitment and pointed her ambitions toward conservation.
鈥淢onitoring Biodiversity with Dr. Alana Pindar was the moment that completely confirmed I was on the right path. I initially added myself to the waitlist because I loved her Entomology class so much, but I didn鈥檛 realize it would include an international trip to Costa Rica,鈥� says Shelby. 鈥淭hat trip changed my life. Conducting biological fieldwork in the rainforest opened my eyes to the world of wildlife conservation, and from that moment on, I knew that was the direction I wanted to follow.鈥�
Shifting Focus
Back in Cape Breton, the shift from curiosity to commitment didn鈥檛 end at the airport. When she returned to Cape Breton Shelby joined in on a Living Lab study with Nova Scotian blueberry farmers and the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture. She spent this time setting traps, processing bug samples, weighing biomass, identifying insects to order and comparing seasonal patterns. The technical work bridged the gap between research findings and the decisions farmers actually make.
鈥淭he goal of the study was to analyze and compare insect biomass collected from shelter belt and non-shelter belt sites within blueberry fields using Malaise traps, in two-week intervals from various sites,” Shelby says. “The most valuable thing I learned during this project was how to translate data into impact, connecting scientific results with real-world meaning.”
That research also inspired Shelby to make communication skills a key part of her researcher鈥檚 toolkit. After months of rinsing, drying and counting, Shelby took the story of pollinators to an elementary classroom, turning lab work into plain language and pictures students could carry home. Shelby sees that kind of direct education having a possible ripple effect that could be a game-changer.
鈥淭he students responded so positively, and it was extremely rewarding to share something so meaningful that helped them understand that insects aren鈥檛 scary, and how crucially important pollinators and insects are to the world we live in,鈥� Shelby says. 鈥淚 firmly believe that educating youth on these topics is one of the most effective ways to promote a positive approach to science education and help protect the planet in the face of the current climate crisis.鈥�
“Her support changed my life.”
Mentorship powered the change. Shelby is clear about who opened the door for her and then stood beside her as plans shifted. She credits Dr. Alana Pindar with creating a classroom culture that allowed Shelby to grow alongside her ambitions. Later, when Shelby鈥檚 new path needed confidence, the support held.
鈥淧rofessor Pindar didn鈥檛 just teach a class; she gave a large group of students a truly life-changing experience,鈥� Shelby says. 鈥淗er classes changed my career, and her support changed my life. I can say with absolute certainty that I would not be where I am today without her.鈥�
There were hard calls along the way. Letting go of the veterinary plan meant stepping back from work and rebuilding her academic routine around labs, field notes and research questions. In her view, the choice to focus paid off.
鈥淥ne of my biggest challenges was stepping away from the veterinary path that I had built my entire life around, but stepping back from work gave me the opportunity to fully engage with school in a way I never had before,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 gained strong research and analytical skills, but also confidence, adaptability and resilience.鈥�
What’s Next?
By the time the semester turned over, the through line was solid: a waitlist seat became fieldwork, fieldwork became research at home, and research became outreach that made the science land with real people. Shelby traded clinic shifts for lab benches and rainforests, building a researcher’s and conservationist’s toolkit that pairs careful data with clear communication and a purpose that now points beyond veterinary medicine.
鈥淚 have a six-week Costa Rica trip planned just three days after convocation, where I鈥檒l be volunteering with a sea turtle conservation organization,鈥� she says. 鈥淭his experience will help me prepare for my next major goal, pursuing a Master鈥檚 degree in International Wildlife Conservation.鈥�
If she has a message for students sitting where she once sat, it鈥檚 simple and hard-won.
鈥淣ever give up. Your career path might change, even more than once, and that鈥檚 okay!鈥� And keep an eye on the moments that matter. 鈥淵ou never know which moment might change your entire life!鈥�
Congratulations to Shelby and the entire graduating class of Fall 2025