UVic Science

Women's reproductive health can sometimes be overlooked, but that isn't the case here in the Faculty of Science. Biology professor Nicole Templeman is studying the relationship between insulin levels and reproductive and metabolic characteristics of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), with the goal of helping women manage the effects of PCOS. 🔗 Learn more about Templeman's research: https://ow.ly/RV6250SGqZ4

Images from the James Webb Space Telescope are continuing to help UVic astronomers make new discoveries about space. Using an image taken of the Cosmic Cliffs, a nearby star-forming region of space, PhD student Breanna Crompvoets has found that there is 20x more new stars forming in the region than we had previously thought--and that these stars are forming twice as efficiently as previously believed. Her findings were recently published in The Astronomical Journal. 🔗 Learn the details: https://ow.ly/Lxj450SGqPS

Research is going strong here in the Faculty of Science! Thirty-two researchers across the Faculty have received a combined $7.4 million in research funding from the most recent round of NSERC funding. 🔗 Check out the funded projects: https://ow.ly/Tq1u50SFF6L

🗺️Even PhD students get to go on exchange sometimes! Marissa, a PhD student in Biology, recently spent 2 months in Sydney, Australia, where she got to spend time with one of her PhD committee members, Dr. Suhelen Egan, at the University of New South Wales. "During my exchange, I was taught different types of data processing and statistical analyses that have greatly benefited my PhD education. I felt very welcomed and immersed in Dr. Egan’s lab, where I got to meet people in the lab and learn about new projects and attend the lab’s weekly meetings. Additionally, I got to visit another researcher in my field, Dr. Laura Parker, and visit their research hatchery (Port Stephens Fisheries Institute) where they run climate change experiments. Australia is an incredibly beautiful place and I loved being able to go to the beach after work in the middle of March (a big deal for us Canadians). Overall, I am very grateful for this experience which was made possible by travel funding such as the Student International Activities Fund (SIAF) award." - Marissa, PhD student in Biology 📸: Marissa

Some of our students are spreading the love of science this summer! 💖 Avry Bilodeau is working as a Youth STEM Instructor with Science Venture this summer. Throughout May and June she led STEM workshops in schools all over Greater Victoria, and now that summer is here, she's leading STEM summer camps at UVic! “As a recent UVic graduate who is going abroad for dental school, I wanted to spend my last summer in Victoria working a fulfilling job, so I found myself at Science Venture! Getting to make STEM more accessible to kids and making connections with them is so heartwarming. Some of the conversations I’ve had with students will stick with me forever! When a student tells me they want to be a scientist one day too, it’s amazing to know that someone so young is just as passionate about STEM as I am. Science Venture has also provided me with creative opportunities to explore STEM outside of a classroom setting. The experiments I’m planning for my summer camps have me just as excited as I hope the kids will be! I can’t wait to make more memories with them and to gain teaching experience this summer that I know I will continue to benefit from in my future career.” - Avry Bilodeau (she/her), recent BSc in Biochemistry grad 📸: Avry Bilodeau

We're excited to welcome Audrey Looby to the Faculty as our newest Banting Scholar. We can always use more fish sounds researchers! 🐠

Ross Chapman, professor emeritus in the School of Earth & Ocean Sciences, has dedicated his career to understanding the ocean through the use of sound. Earlier this year, he was awarded the Walter Munk Medal by The Oceanography Society in recognition of his contributions to the field. 🔗 Learn more about Chapman's impact: https://ow.ly/UgGA50Sxm2r

"There’s nothing more disastrous for a scientist’s reputation than to stick with a bad idea for too long. Conversely, there’s nothing worse for the advancement of science itself than to give up on a good idea too soon.” Congratulations to adjunct professor Paul Hoffman, who recently won the Kyoto Prize! The science community is forever grateful he didn't give up on his good idea(s) too soon! 🔗 Learn about Paul's career: https://lnkd.in/gcb3uVWk?

We are saddened to share the passing of S. Kim Juniper in early June. Prior to his retirement in June 2023, Kim was a professor in the School of Earth and Ocean Science and the Department of Biology, and the chief scientist for Ocean Networks Canada. He was a world-renowned scientist who had an enormous impact on ocean science in Canada, from the research he undertook, to his contributions in scientific leadership and advisory roles. Kim's legacy will be proudly carried forward by his colleagues. 🔗 Learn more about Kim's legacy: https://ow.ly/bx8B50SvBxK

For most healthy individuals, getting the flu is unpleasant but not life threatening. However, it lowers the host's immune system leaving them vulnerable to other viral or bacteria infections. UVic microbiologist Mariya Goncheva focuses her research on cases such as these. Currently, Goncheva is working to better understand the synergy seen between the Influenza A virus with the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Understanding the ways in which the bacteria affects the reproduction of the virus can be vital when constructing therapeutics. “The goal is for our research to provide new targets for the development of therapeutics and result in better patient outcomes—ultimately saving lives.” - Dr. Mariya Goncheva, biochemistry and microbiology professor and Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Virology 🔗 Learn more about the research: https://ow.ly/4cT050SoMZs