BC farmers are at the mercy of climate change, and things look grim
BC farmers are at the mercy of climate change, and things look grim August 25, 2023 Land and food systems professor Dr. Sean Smukler said no one grasps the fact that if we don’t deal with climate change now, the next generation can’t deal with it. “We are facing a climate emergency and we’re pretending like it’s […]
Trash pandas: Volunteer your backyard for a UBC raccoon study
Trash pandas: Volunteer your backyard for a UBC raccoon study August 14, 2023 Professor Dr. Sarah Benson-Amram (forestry; science) and graduate student Hannah Griebling (forestry) are looking to learn more about how raccoons’ brains work. “We are very interested in trying to understand how raccoons are able to live in cities alongside people, and we think that […]
Successfully managing forests must include stewarding the hidden life belowground
Successfully managing forests must include stewarding the hidden life belowground August 7, 2023 Forestry professors Drs. Cindy Prescott and Sue Grayston say forest-harvesting practices that retain living trees throughout the harvested area sustain belowground life. “Half of the biodiversity in forests is unseen because it lives belowground.” Read the full article at The Conversation, Yahoo, and […]
Children in food-insecure homes visit doctors, ER more than peers, study says
Children in food-insecure homes visit doctors, ER more than peers, study says July 24, 2023 Jennifer Black commented on a study that found children without a reliable food source make more visits to doctors and emergency departments. “The toll food insecurity takes on families is clear,” Dr. Black said. Read the full article at The […]
How to keep the fun and ditch the food poisoning this summer
How to keep the fun and ditch the food poisoning this summer July 21, 2023 Enjoying food outdoors with family and friends is a quintessential summer activity, but foodborne pathogens can thrive in the summer heat and humidity. Dr. Siyun Wang, a food safety researcher and professor in the faculty of land and food systems, […]
For these researchers, an ideal summer night is spent chasing bats through Vancouver’s parks
For these researchers, an ideal summer night is spent chasing bats through Vancouver’s parks July 24, 2023 Researchers Dr. Matthew Mitchell (CSFS Associate and Land and Food Systems) and Aaron Aguirre (Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability) are monitoring bats in B.C. to protect them from white-nose syndrome. Read the full article at CBC
B.C. drought: ‘If you’re using water you don’t need right now, it’s cutting into your food security’
B.C. drought: ‘If you’re using water you don’t need right now, it’s cutting into your food security’ July 14, 2023 Director of the Centre for Sustainable Food Systems and Land and Food Systems professor Dr. Sean Smukler said we need to start investing in infrastructure for B.C.’s future climate. “The challenge is that we need […]
Canada wildfire smoke chokes millions in North America
Canada wildfire smoke chokes millions in North America July 11, 2023 CSFS Associate Dr. Matthew Mitchell was interviewed about how wildfire smoke can have both acute and chronic health effects on wildlife, similar to humans. “There’s a whole suite of chemicals in the smoke that can affect gas exchange in the blood, lower the lung […]
Wildlife unseen casualty as forests burn in worst wildfire season of the century
Wildlife unseen casualty as forests burn in worst wildfire season of the century June 15, 2023 CSFS Associate Matthew Mitchell (land and food systems) commented on how wildfires affect Canada’s wildlife. “It can affect their lungs, it can change blood chemistry, lower oxygen levels, and so then you can also have effects on the immune […]
Most honey in America is fake — here’s why that matters
Most honey in America is fake — here’s why that matters June 2, 2023 CSFS Associate and biochemistry and molecular biology professor Dr. Leonard Foster said that it’s hard to know how much of the honey in America is fake. “The best way to make sure that you’re getting real honey is to buy directly […]