News Stories
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
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
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
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
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
Scholarly Article Sheds Light on Whether Island Wolverines are a Distinct Subspecies
February 4, 2021
Through DNA analysis, VIU researchers determined that Vancouver Island wolverines are not a distinct subspecies from those found on the mainland in North America. Scientists and conservationists have been questioning for decades whether wolverines on Vancouver Island are a distinct subspecies from those found on the mainland in North America. The answer to this question is critical because... Read more
VIU Researchers Examining Genetics of Canada Lynx
December 14, 2020
Data could help governments and wildlife conservation groups understand how climate change might impact the life cycles of the Canada lynx and other species in the boreal forest. The lynx-hare predator-prey cycle that has existed for thousands of years in North America is increasingly under threat from climate change. “The lynx are specialist predators that rely almost exclusively on snowshoe... Read more
Biology Professor Investigating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Genes in Nanaimo Region
September 1, 2020
VIU’s Dr. Mercedes Hernandez is researching how common antibiotic-resistant genes are among bacteria from urban environments. Antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a worldwide problem and where previously these bacteria were more commonly found in hospitals, now they can be found in everything from the food we consume to the soil beneath our feet, says Dr. Mercedes Hernandez, a Vancouver Island... Read more
VIU Researcher Investigates Eco-Evolutionary Process of Bog Orchids
August 11, 2020
VIU Biology Professor Jasmine Janes has received a Discovery Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) to help her research bog orchid hybridization. Bog orchids are hybridizing naturally in the wild even though there are multiple barriers that should prevent this process from occurring, says Jasmine Janes, a Vancouver Island University (VIU) Biology Professor, who... Read more
VIU Biology Professor Pens Paper About Insect Apocalypse Myth
January 9, 2020
Scientific paper sheds light on the damage sensationalist language can have on public opinion and conservation efforts of insect populations. Insectageddon. The insect apocalypse. A global crisis of insect extinction. These sensationalist words and phrases used in media coverage can lead to public apathy and hinder conservation efforts and research about insect populations worldwide, says Dr.... Read more