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I have three general approaches to finding topics to write about here. I search recent research on a general topic, I look up answers on a specific question that someone asked me, or I go down a rabbit hole where one question leads to the next and the next. Designing research studies can be similar, … Continue reading
I already bike for fun and to commute. Am I thrilled with all the available or, as the case may be absent, infrastructure for cycling? Of course not. Changes to the network though have changed my routes but not my participation. However, there are lots of people who have shared with me that they are … Continue reading
I’m interested in the idea of having heated pathways to support mobility in the winter. I think it could support active transport and increased community accessibility by keeping the paths clearer of snow and ice. But the sustainability of doing this has always been problematic. It generally requires energy use most often through some sort … Continue reading
I used to bike all over my city to get to work. In the process I saw that there seemed to be differences in the bike infrastructure in different areas. Unfortunately, I often found worse infrastructure in lower income neighbourhoods. Since then, the city has improved some infrastructure, but a lot of those improvements are … Continue reading
This one surprised me, but it does make sense. A new study by Hawes and colleagues (2024) looked at the emissions of urban agriculture compared to conventional agriculture. There is, not surprisingly, some complexity here but generally speaking the carbon footprint of urban grown produce is six times higher than conventional agriculture. So what causes … Continue reading
I notice a significant difference in my mental health when I bike to work compared to driving or taking transit. I’m more relaxed and more focused. Getting up for a workout when I work from home helps but it is not the same. When I bike, I get exercise, but it is different because I … Continue reading
Walking through an underground parkade, you can feel the heat from all the cars, so perhaps it isn’t surprising that some asked what could be the effects of that heat. Noethen and colleagues (2023) looked at how the underground parking impacted nearby groundwater. The short answer is, underground parkades increase the temperature of groundwater, especially … Continue reading
September 30 was the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. The day is in recognition of the past and ongoing harm of residential schools. In recognition of the day and to make sure reconciliation is an action I’m aiming to find research this month that features Indigenous knowledges and was carried out by … Continue reading
The short answer is not much. Unfortunately, according to a systematic literature review by Karjalainen and Juhola (2021), the research is really inconsistent in how sustainability is defined and what indicators are used to measure sustainability. There are also issues with diversity and representation and how social and well being factors are considered. Karjalainen and … Continue reading
I’ve spent enough time around hospitals that I’ve thought about what the carbon footprint is. It can’t be positive. And there have to be possible improvements. At the same time, it’s easy to think “it’s a hospital, the services are too vital to care about the impact.” I definitely understand this perspective and to some … Continue reading
Connecting with Science 