Dr. Mike Yuan
How can we best use our natural resources? And what does this tell us about recreation and tourism behaviour?
These are the questions Dr. Mike Yuan commonly asks through his research, fascinated by the benefits from parks and recreation and what developments in this area infer about their role in modern society.
Within this scope of inquiry lie countless possibilities for research and real-world applications.
At present, he is working on the development of "scientifically defensible" management frameworks to further recreation planning amidst Crown Land forests. He's simultaneously endeavouring to fill an existing void in research data by better understanding outdoor recreation at a national level.
Among his many projects over the past 25 years, Dr. Yuan has developed national management frameworks within the USA, put into practice after millions of dollars of funding were successfully attained. He is also well-travelled, having collaborated on several projects across Canada and the States, worked with a national recreation research program in Sweden, and conducted workshops throughout Chile and Argentina.
Dr. Yuan cites several advantages of Lakehead's master's program in nature-based recreation and tourism: the program is small, personable, and boasts internationally recognized experts who can provide students with programs specifically tailored to their needs. Additionally, Lakehead's campus could not be more ideally situated, providing limitless prospects for outdoor studies and collaboration with rural communities.
Many of his former students have been scooped up by natural resource agencies, gone onto PhD studies, or started their own businesses. Dr. Yuan explains,
"Graduate students need to be treated and respected as adults, but at the same time need gentle prodding and guidance. The best students are not always the smartest but who have the determination, persistence and staying power for the long term... My job is to provide students with the tools, encouragement and the support for them to succeed at this level."