Permafrost thaw will speed up global warming, predicts study
The thawing of permafrost in Canada’s Arctic and other northern latitudes will significantly accelerate the rate of global warming in the coming decades, predicts a new study by three researchers from the University of Victoria’s School of Earth and Ocean Sciences.
World’s most advanced microscope is here
The University of Victoria is now home to the most powerful microscope ever built. On May 22, the 7-tonne, 4.5-metre tall Scanning Transmission Electron Holography Microscope (STEHM) arrived on campus in 22 pieces. The next day, four large pieces were lowered into a special room in the basement of the Bob Wright Centre, where the microscope is now being assembled.
Craigdarroch Research Awards 2012
Passion, enthusiasm, a commitment to making a difference in our lives—these are the qualities that are shared by all winners of the Craigdarroch Research Awards, and this year’s “class” is no exception. The 2012 Craigdarroch Research Awards, which honour achievement in research at UVic, were presented at a celebration event on May 1.
Meet the “Faces of UVic Research”
Who are our faculty researchers? What do they study? And how is their work relevant to our lives? Find out in the newly launched Faces of UVic Research video series in which individual faculty researchers give a short and succinct “elevator pitch” on their work—in everyday language—that quickly gets to the heart of what they do and why it matters.
New research chairs tackle molecular basis of disease
Collaborative work by the University of Victoria’s two newest Canada Research Chairs may one day slow down the spread of influenza—especially when the next global pandemic strikes. Organic chemist Jeremy Wulff and biochemist Martin Boulanger are among a slate of new and renewed Canada Research Chairs across the country that were announced on March 13 by Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology.
UVic biochemist wins Steacie national research award
Finding molecular ways to thwart microbial infections and generate biofuels will be uppermost in the mind of University of Victoria biochemist Dr. Alisdair Boraston for the next two years. Boraston is one of six Canadian scientists to be awarded a prestigious 2012 E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship, announced on Feb. 27 by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.
Chris Barnes on Building NEPTUNE
This June, Dr. Chris Barnes retired as founding director of NEPTUNE Canada, the world’s largest and most advanced cabled ocean observatory network. It and the VENUS coastal network make up the ONC Observatory, which is managed for the University of Victoria by Ocean Networks Canada.
Ottawa funds green technology for UVic research ship
he University of Victoria is aiming for a world-first in green shipping technology, thanks to new funding from the federal government.
In July, Western Economic Diversification Canada announced $1.19 million in funding to help transform UVic’s recently acquired research vessel into the world’s first plug-in hybrid “green ship” powered by electricity, hydrogen fuel cells and low-emission diesel fuel.
New chair focuses on the health of people and forests
Imagine the day when we can use a simple screening test to detect diabetes, cardiovascular disease or cancers in their early stages—or have new and improved drugs for the treatment of AIDS and Creutzfeld-Jakob disease. Or how about the day when we can breed trees that can naturally ward off attacks by pests like the mountain pine beetle? And trees that are super-efficient at storing carbon and reducing global warming?
Those days might not be far off, thanks to a new research chair recently awarded to the University of Victoria by the BC government.
Leading climatologist heads UVic Consortium
One of Canada’s leading climate researchers has returned to the University of Victoria to head a consortium that promotes collaborative research on the physical impacts of climate change on Pacific North America. Dr. Francis Zwiers, an internationally recognized expert on climate variability and change, began his term as president and CEO of the Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium (PCIC) on Sept. 1, 2010.
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