News Stories
Alum of the Month: Melissa Ayling
May 22, 2024
One assignment changed the trajectory of Anthropology alum Melissa Ayling’s life. The paper she wrote for an upper-level Anthropology class about baklava and its significance to Middle Eastern identity sparked a passion for studying ancient food systems. “I hadn’t realized that the relationship between food, culture and identity was something you could even study, but I knew then that it was the... Read more
Study sheds light on the ancestry and genetics of Coast Salish woolly dogs
December 18, 2023
VIU honorary research associate part of Smithsonian study on woolly dogs published in the journal Science. A study from researchers at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) sheds new light on the ancestry and genetics of woolly dogs. The now-extinct breed was a fixture of Indigenous Coast Salish communities for millennia. The study was led by Audrey Lin, an Evolutionary ... Read more
VIU Grad Discovers Two-Million-Year-Old Skull while Attending Field School in South Africa
June 14, 2021
VIU Anthropology graduate Samantha Good unearthed skull at the Drimolen Palaeocave System in 2018. Samantha Good is graduating from Vancouver Island University (VIU) with an accomplishment few anthropologists achieve in their lifetime – unearthing a two-million-year-old skull belonging to an early human ancestor. Good, who graduates with a Bachelor of Arts, Major in Anthropology this June,... Read more
VIU Professor Receives Province’s Medal of Good Citizenship
April 6, 2021
Congratulations to Dr. Imogene Lim, VIU Anthropology Professor, on receiving a BC Medal of Good Citizenship. “This important honour recognizes people who have gone above and beyond to offer help and kindness to others during these exceptionally challenging times,” said Premier John Horgan. “The latest recipients of the Medal of Good Citizenship make our province a better place through their... Read more
Students Conduct Research for Local Non-Profits
July 29, 2019
Students in the Community-Based Applied Interdisciplinary Research course delve into issues facing local community groups. A unique interdisciplinary program that allows Vancouver Island University (VIU) students to design and carry out a research project over eight months is helping community groups solve real-world problems. From exploring how to increase public awareness of ecoforestry, to... Read more
Raising a Pint of Ale to Build Links to Ancient Cultures
March 29, 2019
A VIU Ethnoarchaeology research project brings the past to life through the re-creation of ancient-inspired ales hailing from ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and Scandinavia. Digging up centuries-old artifacts to study human activity may not appeal to everyone, but a Vancouver Island University (VIU) Professor and an undergraduate student have found an engaging way to bring the ancient past to life... Read more