Environment & Technology

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VIU’s DNA testing reveals elusive Island wolverine not a subspecies, after all

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Darron Kloster | Times Colonist Researchers have determined through DNA analysis that the Vancouver Island wolverine — thought to be a subspecies of their mainland cousins for nearly 100 years and more recently believed to be extinct — is actually not that different after all. Vancouver Island University biology professor Jamie Gorrell and undergraduate student Evan Hessels collected DNA samples from museum skulls, bones and pelts of known wolverines from the Island and compared them with samples of wolverines taken … Continued

VIU Research looks to track spread of norovirus at sea — before it infects oysters

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A Vancouver Island University professor is embarking on research to learn about norovirus in the marine environment, where it could batter the multimillion-dollar shellfish industry. Tim Green was recently awarded $300,000 to search for environmental markers that might indicate the presence of norovirus, and find ways to track its movement through the marine environment.  Read the article here… Also of interest VIU Receives $300,000 to Research Norovirus Contamination of Oysters  

VIU turns black into green

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Times Colonist January 25, 2018 12:36 AM Vancouver Island University is betting that one of the world’s blackest fuels can be the foundation of one of its greenest energy sources. The Nanaimo campus is delving into an abandoned coal mine to provide heating and cooling for some of its buildings. The university deserves an A+ on this idea. Read more…. .  

University of the Fraser Valley researchers say unmanned aircraft could be the answer to keeping birds at bay

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Researchers at the University of the Fraser Valley believe drones may finally silence the cannons that boom throughout the summer on blueberry farms. Professor Tom Baumann and his team are reprogramming helicopter-like UAVs — properly known as unmanned aerial vehicles — to fly preset patterns over ripening blueberries in the hope they will scare way the birds that feast on farmers’ fruit and kill their profits.  Read more….

Government of Canada Supports Innovation in British Columbia’s Aquaculture Industry

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April 8, 2015 – Nanaimo, British Columbia – Western Economic Diversification Canada Today, the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced funding of $667,000 to Vancouver Island University (VIU) to support a project that will enable them to purchase equipment and undertake a comparative analysis of new technologies in shellfish farming. With this funding, VIU is proposing to advance shellfish hatchery design by integrating the latest technological developments into an operating hatchery at its Deep Bay … Continued

BCIT offers first-in-Canada Bachelor’s Degree in Mining and Mineral Resource Engineering

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BURNABY, BC: Students torn between a career as a Geologist or a career as an Engineer will soon have a much easier decision. Starting this Fall, BCIT will offer a new Bachelor of Engineering in Mining and Mineral Resource Engineering. This unique degree builds on BCIT’s 50-year track-record of offering the Mineral Exploration and Mining Diploma as well as industry relevant engineering and trades programs .   Read more…

Federal government invests $2.1 million to benefit agriculture students at UFV

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August, 7, 2014 – Chilliwack, British Columbia – Western Economic Diversification Canada Today, the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced funding of over $2.1 million for state of the art training equipment for the Agriculture Centre of Excellence at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV). The investment will provide specialized equipment to train the next generation of agricultural technicians, engineers, researchers, and scientists. The training equipment will enhance existing programs and offer two new … Continued

Industry suggests growing need for horticulture background in new jobs

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Metro Vancouver, B.C. – From increasing the durability of sports fields and buildings, to mitigating the effects of climate change: When it comes to sustaining cities and life within them, several local experts agree that succeeding will in part fall to those with backgrounds in horticulture. Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s (KPU) school of horticulture recently hosted an industry discussion, inviting local professionals to weigh in on the role horticulture will play in planning for the future……….

VIU TOURISM GRAD AWARDED ONE-YEAR INTERNSHIP IN KENYA

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Kenya’s Campi ya Kanzi has hosted celebrity guests like Naomi Watts and Edward Norton, who have travelled there on vacation to enjoy beautiful views of Mount Kilimanjaro and a luxury-filled safari experience across vast acres of East African wild land. While the views and wildlife are equally exciting for VIU graduate Katie Schneider, her attraction to this luxury safari camp is more about the work it has been doing since 1996 to promote sustainable tourism and protect wildlife and habitat, … Continued