False promises of environmental protection? An historical analysis of the Fisheries Act and ecosystem destruction in the Jordan River Watershed, Vancouver Island, BC

Since the Fisheries Act was enacted in 1868, a year after Confederation, it has been regarded as one of Canada’s oldest and most important environmental laws. Despite the powerful environmental protections provided by the Fisheries Act, various environmental impact studies conducted throughout the Jordan River watershed show high concentrations of copper, hydrocarbon, and wood waste […]

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Safe, Legal… and Inclusive? A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring Trans People’s Experiences Accessing Abortion Care in Canada

Abortion is an essential component of comprehensive healthcare, where lack of access to safe, affordable, timely and respectful abortion is, according to the World Health Organization, a “critical public health and human rights issue.” Trans people are often left out of abortion research, as well as the clinical delivery of abortion care, which focuses on […]

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Exploring water-light interactions and protein dynamics during simultaneous environmental perturbations using near-infrared spectroscopy and aquaphotomics

This project will explore the interactions between water’s molecular structure and light, and use this knowledge to study the behaviour of proteins within the water sample. The intern will collect data using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), which can provide insight into what a sample contains based on how different materials absorb light. Samples with a high […]

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Super-resolution microscopy of caveolin-1 dynamics in response to mechanical stress: caveolae, scaffolds and cell signaling

Caveolin-1 (CAV1) is a protein on the plasma membrane that forms cup-shaped structures caveolae, which flatten to protect cells under mechanical stress. However, the relationship between the caveolae and other CAV1 structures, scaffolds and dolines, in the process of caveolae formation and flattening is unclear. A challenge is to differentiate caveolae from scaffolds using conventional […]

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Comparison of chemical reactions between cyclone and filter for collection of PM2.5

The project focuses on studying the physicochemical characteristics of cyclone-collected PM2.5 in urban environments. Utilizing advanced techniques like Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (XAFS), the research aims to provide insights into the composition of fine particulate matter, including metals with varying toxicities such as chromium. The innovative methodology involves cyclonic […]

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Estuarine reliance of juvenile salmonids in the Skeena River

Research on salmon in the Skeena River estuary in 2007 and 2013 quantified the abundance of different species of salmon in different locations of the estuary over time. These results indicate that the region where industrial development is proposed contained the highest abundances of Chinook and sockeye in both years surveyed, and coho in 2007. […]

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Developing partnerships to investigate and address the processes and outcomes of criminalization and incarceration in Canada

People in prisons and on parole in Canada face extreme barriers to health, wellbeing and social belonging. However, there is limited research on the specific processes and outcomes of criminalization and incarceration, and gaps in understanding can lead to policies and laws that do more harm than good. Given this, this project will support partnership […]

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Transport phenomena inside and across membrane inpolymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) has emerged as an eminent technology to address today’s growing energy crisis and environmental issues. PEMFC technology faces multiple challenges before widespread commercialization. Water transport inside a PEMFC has a significant impact on the cell performance and durability. In this internship a numerical model is implemented to study the […]

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Collaborative Life Cycle Assessment for British Columbia Pulp Mills to Understand Their Roles in Sustainable Biomaterials Production

Canada’s bioeconomy, utilizing renewable biological resources for producing materials and energy, holds promise for diversifying the nation’s economy. Pulp mills are integral to this shift, transforming wood fibers and residues into various high-value products, fostering innovation and sustainability. Key to this transition is understanding mill sustainability through life cycle assessment (LCA). However, there’s a notable […]

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Process Optimisation of Smart Locks for self directed, automated keyless check ins in the Hospitality Industry for any lock brand and type.

The proposed R&D project with Linkbase is focused on propelling Canada’s hospitality industry into the digital age. While the sector may be lagging behind counterparts in places like Asia that are leading the digitized hospitality space, this project aims to bridge that gap. By harnessing technology to connect locks and streamline digital check-ins, property managers […]

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Investigating the Role of Copper Radical Oxidases in Verticillium Pathogenesis

Phytopathogenic fungi secrete diverse enzymes to help them infect host plants. Foliar phytopathogens like Colletotrichum species, contain tandem copper radical oxidase (CRO) and peroxidase genes. The CRO-peroxidase pair is co-secreted during initial leaf penetration phases. The CRO oxidizes long-chain alcohols found in the leaf cuticle while the peroxidase activates the CRO. We discovered that the […]

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