Marissa is interested in investigating how individual attitudes influence conservation action and policy in protected areas. Her research will focus on exploring public perceptions of rare plant species in the Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve. She will communicate with private landowners as well as provincial and federal representatives of the biosphere reserve to gain an understanding of the value they place on the existence of rare plant species on their land and whether conservation incentives could be used to address rare plant conservation challenges in the biosphere reserve. Broadly, she hopes her research will help to promote dialogue amongst stakeholders regarding social and environmental sustainability within the biosphere reserve.