Characterizing fucoidan-degrading enzymes from marine bacterium

Fucoidan is a polysaccharide found in brown algae (seaweed). ARC Medical Devices Inc. markets fucoidan purified from brown algae for post-surgical veterinary use to reduce interorgan adhesion development. This product works very effectively, prompting a desire to develop a similar product for use in humans. The challenge to this, however, is that fucoidan is an […]

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Passive CO2 Refrigerated Intermodal Shipping Container

Ultra-low frozen food temperatures between -30°C to -60°C are important when shipping high value seafood products to worldwide markets. Maintaining these temperatures using a traditional vapor compression refrigeration cycles becomes increasingly difficult as the span between desired cargo and external temperature increase. Solid CO2 has the capacity to sustain ultra-low frozen temperatures even during hot […]

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Development of Smart Energy Management Algorithms for Commercial Building Retrofit

The Unity Integration Smart Energy Management System (SEMS) will be a technology that fills a critical niche in realizing the Smart Grid of the future. Green building codes are driving energy efficient design of new buildings, but the vast stock of existing buildings – responsible for 30% of Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – needs […]

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Ecological and Cultural Restoration of an iconic Plant Food (Fritillaria camschatcensis) in the Squamish River Estuary, British Columbia

I am a member of the Squamish Nation and my research focuses on restoring an important traditional plant food into the Squamish estuary. The title of my research is “Ecological and Cultural Restoration of an iconic Plant Food (Fritillaria camschatcensis) in the Squamish River Estuary, British Columbia.” I will be working with Dr. Nancy Turner […]

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Penetration of diluted bitumen on shorelines in the event of a marine spill

The goal of this research is to create a knowledge tool that can assist responders to act quickly and effectively in the event of a marine oil spill. In order to accomplish this goal, we will (1) develop a simple field test to gauge shoreline permeability in relation to stranded diluted bitumen on natural shorelines; […]

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Use of remote sensing data to define spatial-temporal salmon habitat status

The Salish Sea is a temporally and spatially dynamic coastal ocean under strong influence from terrestrial and oceanic inputs, and of major economic importance, due in part to fisheries. The Salish Sea is highly productive, especially from early spring to summer when resident and migratory fish populations are either spawning or entering. The interannual productivity […]

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Fresh Water Geography in Sao Paolo

Fresh water is becoming an increasingly precious resource, and correct management plans are vital to the continued survival of groundwater aquifers and rivers for human use. 2013/2014 was the driest year in São Paulo State, and this drought is still affecting agricultural land use. In parallel with the decreasing water supply, we have an increasing […]

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Diversity and structure of coastal eelgrass communities and their importance for maintaining juvenile Pacific salmon

On the coast of British Columbia, both eelgrass meadows and Pacific salmon species are declining, yet eelgrass community dynamics and reliance of juvenile salmon on these communities are poorly understood. We will assemble the first large-scale dataset from monitoring efforts of coastal BC organizations in order to assess eelgrass community diversity and structure across environmental […]

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Diversity of coastal eelgrass communities and their importance for maintaining juvenile Pacific salmon – Year Two

On the coast of British Columbia, both eelgrass meadows and Pacific salmon species are declining, yet eelgrass community dynamics and reliance of juvenile salmon on these communities are poorly understood. We will assemble the first large-scale dataset from monitoring efforts of coastal BC organizations in order to assess eelgrass community diversity and structure across environmental […]

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Developing an Indigenous-led ‘conservation economy’: Ecosystem service synergies and trade-offs from shellfish aquaculture in British Columbia’s Great Bear Sea

Without careful management, the growing number and intensity of human activities can negatively affect ecosystem health and cause conflict between users. Recognizing the need for integrated management, the Province of British Columbia and 18 Coastal First Nations collaborated to develop an integrated spatial Marine Plan for the North Pacific Coast. A critical part of implementing […]

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Long-Term Ecosystem Monitoring of the British Columbia Coast across a Gradient of Human Stressors

Proposed developments (pipelines, super-tankers) along the coast of BC have the potential to negatively impact (shell)fisheries. Direct monitoring of fisheries can only detect negative impacts which have already occurred; therefore, indicator species (meiofauna) and environmental variables are monitored to detect disturbances before productivity is impacted. Our project will monitor intertidal ecosystems (numerous species and environmental […]

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