CFUR Presents: The Abstract

Dr. Michelle Venter has studied forests across the globe but now turns her focus to British Columbia as part of the Conservation Solutions Lab at UNBC. We talked about what makes forests so important in the fight against climate change and how and where they store and capture carbon (hint, it's not just the trees!) Michelle also talked about forest practices that we see across northern BC as well as her incredible field work in the super remote and rugged forests of Papua New Guinea. If you care about forests and you care about climate change, this is the episode for you!

On this episode we spoke to PhD candidate Rahim Jafari about his research on how to reduce scouring around bridge piers, a problem that can lead to bridge collapse! Rahim also talked about other work he has done in water resources in Iran and the differences between water scarce Iran and water rich Canada. Finally, we got to hear some fun stories about living at a remote research station and what it was like to move to northern BC from a large city in Iran. 

In our first episode of the second season, we speak to Dr. Karine Pigeon. Dr. Pigeon is a post-doc working with the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative and UNBC. Her current work focuses on the intersection of environmental factors and wildlife behaviour, while trying to help humans and wildlife coexist. She is also a bear expert who has worked on caribou recovery projects in Alberta and thus, we talked about all things hibernation, conservation, and her ski-bum life prior to joining the research world! 

http://www.karinepigeon.ca/

Tune in for discussions with three inspiring female members of the UNBC Community to gain a deeper understanding of microaggressions and unrealistic beauty standards, and the effect these have on women and visible minorities. This episode is being released as part of IWAU 2020 virtual event series. More on IWAU, including upcoming events, can be found at IWAU.ca.

Dr. Erin Baerwald joined UNBC in January of 2020 to bring her knowledge of ecology and bats to the research community. Tune in to learn a wide range of facts about bats and the struggles that these incredible creatures face across the Canadian Prairies as wind energy projects are increasingly being adopted as much needed low carbon energy resources. We also learned about how her research is shifting to fit the landscape and industries of her new home in British Columbia. 

Ann Duong is a recent graduate and soon to be master's student at UNBC who has a wide range of research experience. We chatted about her work using zeolites, which occur naturally, to fight toxic microcystins associated with blue-green algae. We also talked a lot about why Ann is so passionate about research and how she got involved in so many different projects throughout her undergraduate degree. Ann is a UNBC Research Ambassador and talked about what this program is designed to do, what her cohort of ambassadors accomplished over the past year, and how students can get involved both in research at UNBC and the ambassador program itself.

Dr. Mark Groulx is an assistant professor in the School of Environmental Planning who does research in topics ranging from food security to smart growth, all within the context of northern cities. In this episode, we talked to him about some of the tenets of urban planning, a project focused in Prince George that he is undertaking with Dr. Ben Bryce that blends historical research and planning research, and why he is so passionate about our unique university in Northern BC. 

This week we speak to David Breault, a recent graduate of the NRES program who currently works as a wildlife research analyst. Tune in to learn about diving surveys of seabed invertebrates off the coast of Haida Gwaii, terrestrial wildlife surveys, using nitrogen isotopes to determine an animal's diet using samples of fur, and a discussion of science communication and education. 

PhD student Karen Church has had a long career in archaeology, spending decades on Haida Gwaii and immersing herself in the language and culture of the Haida people.  Tune in to hear about her Master's research, which used culturally modified trees to map remnant pathways left by Haida peoples up to 1600 years ago, and how her PhD is taking form on a much broader continental scale.

Track List:
Beirut - Scenic World
Saltwater Hank - Old Hazelton
Peter Gabriel - San Jacinto

PhD candidate Jeannine Randall explains how she is crafting a project investigating the effects of climate forcings and food supplies (flying bugs) on tree swallow populations. Tune in to learn about catching bugs, study design, and the lives of tree swallows (and their researchers)!

Alex Bevington is a Research Hydrologist with the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) and also a PhD student at UNBC. His research interests include remote sensing of the mountain cryosphere, climate change, and watershed management. Alex has undertaken field work all over Canada and has done extensive adventuring around the world.

On today's episode we dive into who we are, why we are hosting a radio show (now podcast!) and hype the CFUR Radiothon. It's odd times across the globe due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but at a proper social distance, the show will carry on!

Track list:

The Tallest Man on Earth - Troubles Will Be Gone
Andy Shauf - Dust Kids
Blitzen Trapper - Furr

Dr. Christine Ho Younghusband has been an Assistant Professor in UNBC's School of Education since 2018, during which time she has participated in redesigning the B.Ed. and M.Ed. programs at the university to focus more on the experience of students in rural, remote and indigenous contexts. Christine has been a member of the teaching community of BC for the last 26 years, during which time she has taught countless students and future teachers. Tune in to learn how education in BC is shifting the onus of learning back to the teacher, and how she has found herself in ever expanding roles in the North. 

Ivy Evergreen recently completed her honours undergraduate thesis under the supervision of Darwyn Coxson, looking at the ability for lichen transplanted from the BC coast to the interior wetbelt to survive under different environmental conditions. She also talks at about all of the different field and research opportunities she has had during her time at UNBC and how it may inform her career path moving forward. Finally, she tells us some epic tales  from her time at UNBC!

Track list:

Wolf Parade - Forest Green
Dan Mangan - Leaves, Tree, Forest
WALLA - Nature
Sudan Archives - Iceland Moss
Wintersleep - Forest Fire

MSc Candidate Luc Turcotte speaks to us about his work in environmental consulting, and his research into the oxygen and temperature conditions within coho salmon redds. Electrofishing, groundwater research, otiliths and lab work, its all here.

Track list:

Gordon Lightfoot - Ringneck Loon
The Pucks - Fishin' or Something
Black Spruce Bog - You Could Be a Salmon
Leon Bridges - River
Metric - Breathing Underwater
Dessa - Fighting Fish

Dr. Zoë Meletis, Associate Professor in Geography and Environmental Studies, speaks on The Abstract about her research in human geography, and her outreach work with Inspiring Women Among Us (IWAU). How do humans view themselves in the environment? How do they interact with the environment? Check it out here.

Track list:

Sturgill Simpson - Turtles All the Way Down
Canailles - Backflips
Amy Blanding - Windsong
The Feminists - Modern Working Girl
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - Inspirational Information
The Be Good Tanyas - Ship Out on the Sea

Ben Pelto is a Ph.D. student at the University of Northern British Columbia who studies glacial change in the Columbia River Basin. In this episode, Ben walks us through what glaciers are, how and why they change over time, and the impacts of climate change on glaciers. His research uses airborne laser scanning, ground penetrating radar and mass balance stakes to measure glacier change, producing datasets that inform policy makers in the basin on water resources. He also shares fun stories from the field and experiences he has had as a PhD student as he nears the completion of his dissertation. 

We also share songs that follow the theme of snow, ice, glaciers, and avalanches!

Track list: 

Willhorse - Tempered Hearts
Younglood Hawke - Glacier
The New Pornographers - Avalanche Alley
Middle Kids - Call Me Snowflake
Islands - Abominable Snow