VIU News & Experts

Wildfire prep and food security through ocean research🐚

In this issue of VIU news & experts: 

• Preparing for an evacuation
• Watching the meteor show
• Diagnosing brain injury in victims of intimate partner violence
• Presidential race predictions
• Shellfish safety through testing research

Featured experts

Tips to catch the meteor shower show

Dr. Greg Arkos, a VIU Astronomy Professor, says the Perseids is the best-known and most prolific annual recurring meteor shower. The Perseid meteors, or shooting stars, originate from debris left behind the comet Swift-Tuttle and can be seen from mid-July through mid-August, with the meteor shower peaking in number from the evening to morning on August 12 and 13 during the first quarter moon. He says no special equipment is needed to observe this celestial event, just a wide view of the sky from as dark a location as possible. Arkos says you don’t have to stay up late, if you can manage an hour or two after the sunset you should spot a few good meteors. Dr. Greg Arkos is available to speak to media about the Perseid meteor shower.

Presidential race predictions

With President Biden’s decision to end his campaign, Vice President Kamala Harris has taken up the baton. What does Harris need to achieve in the next few months? Can she win? Was this the right move? Dr. Michael MacKenzie, VIU’s Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership, is avaialble to share his thoughts.

Improving health outcomes for domestic violence survivors

“Approximately one-third of Canadian women experience intimate partner violence and 60 to 90 per cent may experience a brain injury. Even using conservative estimates, this represents a major societal and medical problem that requires urgent attention.” VIU researcher Dr. Sandy Shultz hopes to improve health outcomes for domestic violence survivors by enhancing the way brain injuries are diagnosed. He’s looking for people to participate in his study. Learn more.

Getting wildfire ready

With wildfire season in full swing across the province, Jenn Houtby-Ferguson, a Recreation and Tourism Management Professor, is available to share tips on what people can do to prepare for a wildfire impacting their own community. She is doing her doctoral work on emergency readiness and risk communications for the tourism and hospitality industries. Jenn is available until mid-afternoon Thursday to speak on this topic. Read her expert Q&A from last year.

The benefits of renting to students

VIU students come from a wide range of backgrounds. A spare room in your home could be perfect for those looking for a nice, quiet place to study, cook dinner and sleep. It can also help homeowners struggling with increased costs and inflation. And, for home owners welcoming someone into a spare room, long-lasting friendships and rewarding cultural exchange can be a genuine added bonus. Michael Witcomb, VIU’s Off-Campus Housing Coordinator, is available to chat more about the benefits of opening up your spare room to students.

Looking for an expert for another story? Connect with VIU Experts.

VIU news

Enhancing food sovereignty for Indigenous communities

Marine foods have been harvested by Indigenous communities since time immemorial, but climate change and other environmental impacts are putting the safety of food sources at risk. A collaboration between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Burnaby Laboratory, VIU and Indigenous communities aims to increase food security and sovereignty. Dr. Timothy Green, VIU’s Canada Research Chair in Shellfish Health and Genomics, says there are a range of marine biotoxins that phytoplankton produce and two of these are lethal to humans. VIU is working on two projects with the CFIA: sample preparation and sea urchin testing. This will allow the CFIA to redirect resources to increase testing capacity. Read more.

Saving Nanaimo’s flower

VIU researchers are working to save an endangered Nanaimo flower – the Hosackia pinnata, also known as Bog bird’s-foot-trefoil. The rare species is red-listed in BC and Canada. There are only five sites where this rare flower grows in Canada, all near Nanaimo. The Hosackia pinnata has been the City of Nanaimo’s floral emblem since 2010. Dr. Jasmine Janes, a VIU Biology Professor, and Bryan Lamprecht, a VIU Biology student, are studying the flower to see if they can understand the species’ health using genetics and perhaps move or introduce it to new areas. Read more.

Transforming Early Childhood Education in Canada

For too long, early childhood education in Canada has favoured indoor learning environments over the outdoors and lacked recognition of Indigenous Land-based approaches. Danielle Alphonse, VIU’s BC Regional Innovation Chair in Aboriginal Early Childhood Development, and Sheila Grieve, VIU Early Childhood Education and Care Professor, were part of a national working group aimed at changing this. Organized by the Lawson Foundation with support from an anonymous donor, the working group has created a framework to transform early childhood education programs across Canada. The new framework aims to get faculty, students and ultimately children outdoors and connected to nature and the Land. Read more about the framework.

VIU Chancellor receives Coronation Medal

Congratulations to Cloy-e-iis, Dr. Judith Sayers, VIU Chancellor and President of Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, on receiving a Coronation Medal! Created to mark the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, the medal recognizes people who have made significant contributions to Canada and their home province. Her bio on the website:
 
“Judith is a powerful advocate for First Nations rights within BC, across Canada and internationally. Judith is a bridge builder. She is a longtime champion of reconciliation between First Nations and Canada, putting First Nations rights at the forefront of her collaborative bridge building between First Nations, government and industry. She is a trailblazer, leading the way for other First Nations to follow and making waves of change across sectors. She has been Chief, Professor, Chancellor, lawyer and currently President of her nation’s Tribal council.” 

VIU in the news

A Pentlatch fish trap panel at VIU's Deep Bay Marine Field Station is one of the largest and most complete examples of Pentlatch ingenuity on display. It is available for viewing for the next six months. Read about it in the Comox Valley Record.

Environmental psychologist and VIU Professor Dr. Lindsay McCunn recently explained the science behind the feels we get in nature in a Ducks Unlimited article about the positive mental health benefits of spending time in wetlands. Read the article.
 
VIU researcher Dr. Tim Green is working with the BC Shellfish Growers Association and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to breed an oyster resistant to ocean acidification. Green spoke with the National Observer about his research.
 
A chemical known as 6PPD-Quinone is decimating salmon populations. Scientists across North America joined forces to study the issue. Julie Chadwick with The Discourse investigates and discusses VIU's crucial research on the Island. Read the article.