A student of the Behavioural Neuroscience program at Laurentian University, Avery Morin is studying human behaviour from a biological point of view.
Studying the biochemical, psychological and physiological aspects of the brain, even hands-on experience with a real brain, Morin said the program at Laurentian is “very interdisciplinary, and I was able to conduct a variety of undergraduate research projects using both cells and human participants to explore the world of science.”
But it's not just the biology of brains that interests Morin, it's the biology of the environment.
Morin is president of Laurentian’s Environmental Sustainability Committee, made up of students, staff and faculty who work together to create sustainable initiatives on campus and beyond.
So far in 2025, they have been supporting pollinator habitats by building and installing bee hotels across campus, in association with Lockerby Composite School.
They also recently helped release 5000 lake trout into Lake Nepahwin with the Nepahwin Lake Watershed Stewardship Group. Coming up this summer they will be entering the second year of operation for the Student Community Garden at the Living with Lakes Centre, and will be monitoring invasive species on campus like Phragmites and Scots Pine.
“In my second year of university,” said Morin, “I served as vice president of education at Laurentian’s Students’ General Association, and as a part of that role I led the Sustainability portfolio. I was fortunate to connect with incredible local leaders Dr. John Gunn and Dr. Peter Beckett, and we worked together to open a new hiking trail and garden on campus. Since then, we have continued to work closely together, and I would consider them to be the best mentors in the world.”
Inspired by the community around her, Morin says she follows in the footsteps of Sudbury’s climate champions Dr. Elaine Blacklock and Naomi Grant, as she said they’ve shown her the power of supporting local initiatives.
“And on a personal level I am inspired by my grandmother, Linda Morin, who sparked my passion for nature and the environment by taking me kayaking, skiing and hiking as often as possible, and still to this day can beat me in a ski race,” said Morin.
Outside of work and school, Morin volunteers with Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury and plays flute with the Nickel City Wind Ensemble.
“Both groups are a great way to meet new people and we are often celebrating successes from organizing great events and campaigns to performing concerts or competing at local music competitions,” said Morin. “The Nickel City Wind Ensemble is getting ready for our final concert of the season on June 10. The concert will be Broadway-themed, and we’re playing some of my favourite repertoire.”
Asked what she considers her greatest accomplishment, Morin said it was “this past April.”
“I wrapped up my undergraduate degree during some of the most turbulent times in our world, which is without a doubt my greatest accomplishment,” she said. “Throughout this time my university faced many challenges that I was able to directly support such as working on the Covid-19 return to campus policy in 2021. I have been supporting the creation of new environmental programming at Laurentian. and I spent two years with Laurentian’s Students’ General Association.”
She said it was there that she was able to lobby all levels of government “to become champions for Laurentian,” and connected with thousands of students on campus and across the country to learn how to be a strong advocate for student needs.
“I am so proud that throughout my neuroscience degree I could give back to my community through the SGA and LU ESC.”
Looking to the future, Morin will begin her Masters of Science Communication at Laurentian, and hopes to continue to make a positive impact in both her school and local communities.
Avery Morin’s words of inspiration
“I’d like to share the message Dr. John Gunn shared with me: ‘Think local, act global.’ It’s a message that has stuck with me over the past few years. Even local actions matter, and every small action combines to create global positive change.”