Biology

News Stories

Chloe McLaughlin stands by a tank, holding an urchin.

Enhancing food sovereignty and security for Indigenous communities

July 23, 2024

Research collaboration between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Vancouver Island University and Indigenous communities focuses on the safety of marine foods. Marine foods have been harvested by Indigenous communities since time immemorial, but climate change and other environmental impacts are putting the safety of food sources at risk. A collaboration between the Canadian Food Inspection... Read more


Headshot of Dr. Andrew Loudon

VIU researcher examining how microbes could protect frogs and Pacific oysters from diseases

November 22, 2023

Dr. Andrew Loudon received a $165,000 NSERC Discovery Grant to pursue his research. Dr. Andrew Loudon is working to protect the Columbia spotted frog from a deadly disease and breed a more disease-resistant and resilient Pacific oyster. The Vancouver Island University (VIU) microbiology professor’s research focuses on the relationship between animals and microbes. He’s looking into how these... Read more


Culinary arts students serve their seaweed creations to attendees during Urchin Tank, 2022.

VIU students showcase innovative seafood creations during Urchin Tank

November 20, 2023

What: Urchin Tank – Seaweed Challenge When: Friday, November 24, 5 to 7:30 pm Where: VIU’s Malaspina Theatre (Building 310), Nanaimo campus Vancouver Island University’s (VIU’s) Urchin Tank is back this fall with five new student teams competing to see who has created the best fermented seaweed product. Urchin Tank is a Dragons’ Den-style show where students pitch their products to a panel of... Read more


Brian Timmer wears a SCUBA suit while swimming surrounded by kelp.

Alum of the Month: Brian Timmer

July 31, 2023

As a SCUBA instructor at Sundown Diving, Brian Timmer swam amongst the kelp forests in the waters of Nanoose Bay. During heatwaves in 2014 and 2015, he witnessed those kelp forests disappear.   A few years later while attending Vancouver Island University, he worked for the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute on a kelp restoration project, studying kelp forests and nearshore... Read more


Caroline Josefsson, left, and VIU student Megan Kollman, sit on a hill weeding a section with several small green plants.

VIU biology professor restoring one of Canada’s most threatened ecosystems on Nanaimo campus

May 1, 2023

The Garry oak ecosystem is home to many species at risk in British Columbia. One of Canada’s most threatened ecosystems – the Garry oak – is coming to life on VIU’s Nanaimo campus. VIU employees, students and community volunteers have maintained a Garry oak ecosystem restoration plot since 2021. The 500-square-metre plot is located west of Building 470 near the top of campus. Dr. Caroline... Read more


An brown Vancouver Island marmot sits on a grey rock with some green bushes around it.

VIU lecture series kicks off with the story of the endangered Vancouver Island marmot

January 31, 2023

Science and Technology Community Lecture Series features seven presentations by VIU faculty. Scientists are sharing their insights on everything from the endangered Vancouver Island marmot to investigating deep-sea organisms with computational chemistry during the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Science and Technology Community Lecture Series. The lecture series has run almost every spring for... Read more


Kimberley Barrett wears a white lab coat and stands in a research lab.

Vancouver Island Marmot Breeding Program is Preserving the Genetic Diversity of the Species

February 24, 2022

VIU alum Kimberley Barrett publishes a research paper in an esteemed international journal that promotes conservation of biodiversity. The Vancouver Island marmot is one of Canada’s most endangered mammals and a captive breeding program was started in the late 1990s to help prevent extinction. With such a small population, however, conservationists were concerned about the genetic diversity of... Read more


Kevin Gourlay hikes through the backcountry.

Alum of the Month: Kevin Gourlay

December 20, 2021

On the last day of a week-long survey this summer in Strathcona Provincial Park, Vancouver Island University (VIU) alum Kevin Gourlay made a remarkable discovery – a new Vancouver Island marmot colony. The Vancouver Island marmot is Canada’s most endangered mammal. According to the Marmot Recovery Foundation, in 2004 there were fewer than 30 marmots remaining in the wild. Recovery efforts since... Read more


Sara Guzman stands in front of a building, wearing an orange sweater.

Alum of the Month: Sara Guzman

September 15, 2021

Sara Guzman has always been fascinated by tiny things you can’t see with the naked eye, from microbes to chemical reactions in cells. It’s the reason Guzman knew she wanted a science career. Her parents encouraged her to pursue higher education. Guzman, originally from Bogota, Colombia, decided to attend university abroad and selected Vancouver Island University (VIU). She graduated from VIU in... Read more


Genevieve van der Voort examines insect samples with a microscope.

VIU Undergraduate Student Publishes Research Paper in Peer-Reviewed Journal

June 9, 2021

Genevieve van der Voort was the lead author of the published research – a rare accomplishment for an undergraduate student. Genevieve van der Voort is graduating from Vancouver Island University (VIU) with a significant accomplishment under her belt – she is lead author on a research paper published in The Canadian Entomologist. “I still haven’t quite got my head wrapped around it,” says the ... Read more