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I was watching the local news a few days ago and was stunned to hear a story of local farmers and ranchers wanting wolves removed from the ecosystem. I have sympathy for the individuals. I understand that the wolves affect their livelihood. I think one of the issues here, and with so many similar cases … Continue reading
Typically speaking I don’t get the flu vaccine. I cling to older guidelines that indicate that it is most necessary for the young, the old, and the otherwise compromised. However, a recent Nova episode on vaccines has forced me to think. Now I should start with the fact that I am totally for vaccination. I … Continue reading
Nudibranchs are unbelievably cool, with vibrant colours and odd shapes they really do look like aliens of the ocean. They are, in fact, a type of mollusc, which includes clams, snails, and octopus. Their name in latin means naked gills, which is what gives them the strange body forms as the gills take different shapes … Continue reading
I am a shark freak. I love them. I want to climb into a shark cage and see a great white up close. I read books about sharks, and I don’t just watch shark shows during Shark Week. Aside from some still prevalent fear of sharks and mindless person-eaters, one of the things that has … Continue reading
Someone close to my family passed away this summer of cancer. In lieu of flowers her family asked for donations to help fund a new da Vinci Surgery robot for the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton. Being me, I wanted to know what made this robot special. The da Vinci Surgery system features a 3D-High … Continue reading
It seemed fitting as it is Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend to write about the turkey. I feel safe in saying that more people have seen turkey on the dinner table than in the wild. Wild turkeys were introduced to North America from Mexico. Through their own versatility and the tendency of early Europeans to transplant … Continue reading
With October being breast cancer awareness month it seemed fitting to write about the connections between breast cancer and dragon boating. At every festival I have attended there are teams of breast cancer survivors. There are breast cancer survivor challenge races, flower ceremonies, and generally not a lot of dry eyes. But how did the … Continue reading
The Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute released a new report in June 2014 assessing the climate change vulnerability of Alberta’s land based plants and animals. 173 species were examined regarding their sensitivity, exposure to risk, and ability to adapt. Not surprisingly, amphibians are considered to be most vulnerable to climate change. This makes sense because humans create … Continue reading
I used to take people on voyageur canoe trips down the North Saskatchewan River Valley in Edmonton. Today, I paddle and coach dragon boats on the river. I bike through the river valley on a regular basis, both commuting and for recreation. I meet friends in the river valley parks for campfires and walks. And … Continue reading
I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of different people through the different positions I have had. One individual who stands out was a young mother who had gotten herself out of an abusive relationship. She was going back to school when I met her. Working extremely hard to learn what she needed … Continue reading
Connecting with Science 