OpEd by Emeritus Professor David Bird:
David M. Bird is an emeritus professor of wildlife biology at McGill University who has studied birds for five decades.
When I read the recent headlines that North America has lost nearly three billion birds over just the past five decades, I was not surprised. But I must admit it did depress me to a degree. That’s a lot of birds!
Opinion: Instead of flight shaming, let’s be thoughtful and selective about all travel
A conversation [between Raman Navankutty and Lior Silberman, both professors at the University of British Columbia; and Elena Bennett, a professor at McGill University] about flying leads to some unexpected discoveries about how to minimize the climate impacts of getting around.
McGill entomology researcher and PhD candidate Gail MacInnis presented her findings at the Apimondia International Apicultural Congress in Montreal earlier this week
McGill entomology researcher and PhD candidate Gail MacInnis says that when comparing pollination efficiency between wild bees native to Canada and the more numerous honey bees, there is no contest. Wild bees win, wings down.
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) ensures Canada’s working landscapes remain biologically diverse, resilient, and adaptive
Two McGill researchers developing solutions to clean marine oil spills in the Northwest Passage and in oceans surrounding Canada to receive $3.7 million in funding from the Multi-Partner Research Initiative (MPRI).
Rappelling down a 650-foot cliff to catch seabirds on a remote island just below the Arctic Circle was scary enough.
“The first time you look over and you rappel over, it’s certainly not for the faint of heart,” said Kyle Elliott, a research chair in Arctic ecology at McGill University in Canada.
But for Elliott and fellow researcher Emile Brisson Curadeau, it was the hungry polar bears (Ursus maritimus) — usually one a day walking near their cabin — that raised real concerns, and devoured their research subjects.
Congratulations to NRS professor Joann Whalen who has been made a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Soil Science (CSSS). The Award is for members with a distinguished record of accomplishment in soil science & service to the CSSS.
CITATION
Congratulations to NRS professor Joann Whalen, who was recently awarded the Auguste Scott prize given by the Association quebecoise de specialistes en science du sol (AQSSS). Other professors who won it previously were Dr. Gus Mackenzie and Dr. Guy Mehuys. The prize is awarded for outstanding contributions to the field of soil science.
On June 14 in Victoria, British Columbia, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, announced an investment of over $275 million for 346 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs at 52 institutions across Canada. The Canada Foundation for Innovation also made an important investment towards these Chairs in providing more than $5.2 million in new funding for research infrastructure, supporting 30 Chairs at 18 institutions.
Some entomologists are sounding the alarm that native bees could be in danger of being wiped out, because of the popularity of urban beekeeping.
“The danger is that we’re probably losing species and don’t even know it,” says Gail MacInnis, a PhD entomology candidate at McGill University. Something needs to be done, she says, to control the number of honeybees being raised.
D’après Sébastien Faucher, professeur au département des sciences des ressources naturelles à l’Université McGill, les rince-bouche ne sont qu’une goutte d’eau dans la pollution de nos cours d’eau.
Lire dans Le Journal de Montréal
The EcoToxChip is expected to generate huge savings in time, money and live animals in testing thousands of chemicals for toxicity. The project is being led by researchers at the University of Saskatchewan, McGill University in Montreal and Environment and Climate Change Canada in Ottawa.
« Depuis le début des années 2000, plusieurs acériculteurs expriment leur inquiétude relativement aux conséquences des changements climatiques sur leur industrie. « Ils se demandent si ce secteur restera viable tant du point de vue économique que de celui du processus de la coulée de sève, relate Benoît Côté, professeur agrégé et directeur des études graduées au Département des sciences des ressources naturelles de l’Université McGill. Ça m’a incité à me pencher sur cette question au début des années 2010.
Lorsque des agriculteurs demandent à l’agronome Joann Whalen comment réduire leurs émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES), elle leur répond qu’il leur suffit de modifier certaines de leurs pratiques. « Il faut comprendre que les microorganismes du sol produisent naturellement des GES, explique-t-elle. Comme ces organismes ont besoin de carbone organique et d’azote (nitrates), on peut “jouer” sur la disponibilité de ces éléments pour diminuer leur activité et, par conséquent, sur les émissions de GES. »
NRS students and staff receive "Principal's Prize for Public Engagement" recognition
Kudos to FAES Science Communicators Allyson Menzies (PhD Candidate-NRS-Humphries), Marianne Falardeau-Côté (PhD Candidate-NRS-Bennett) and Emeritus Professor David M. Bird (NRS), who recently received well-deserved recognition from the Principal’s Prize for Public Engagement through Media.
