“In 1938, German chemist Gerhard Schrader was attempting to make pesticides that were more effective. Instead, he accidentally discovered one of the most dangerous weapons of war ever produced: the nerve agent, sarin (Amarasingam, 2017). In the years that followed, German and British governments discovered analogues to the original chemical, and governments began producing stockpiles of such weapons. Since then, nerve agents have been used in terrorist attacks and assassination attempts (Stone, 2020).”
Read moreBetween Space and Earth: A Researcher’s Journey to the Ionosphere
Dr. P.T. Jayachandran, a professor at the University of New Brunswick, seeks to accelerate the human understanding of the upper atmosphere. He has founded Atlantic Canada’s largest space research organization, implemented a radar system throughout the Arctic, and collaborates with industry partners to reduce error in navigation signals.
Learn more about Dr. P.T. Jayachandran.
Read moreThe Atlantic Canadian Roots of Nobel Laureate Dr. Arthur McDonald
“Nobel Laureate in physics Dr. Arthur McDonald has deep roots in Atlantic Canada. Born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, his passion for math and physics was instilled in him by his high school math teacher. By going out of his way to offer extra classes beyond the curriculum, this teacher was able to truly engage Dr. McDonald and other motivated classmates. Despite his clear affinity for mathematics, when Dr. McDonald went on to Dalhousie University for his undergraduate degree he was unsure of which science he intended to pursue. Another mentor, this time his first-year physics professor, showed Dr. McDonald the power of using mathematics as a tool for understanding and describing the universe. From here, Dr. McDonald embarked on a lifelong partnership with physics.“
Learn more about Dr. Arthur McDonald’s Atlantic Canadian roots.
Read moreThe Career Path of Dr. Valerie Reeves
“It is commonly believed that experiences shape people's lives, which is more than true for Dr. Valerie Reeves. Coming from Salisbury, New Brunswick, Dr. Reeves chose to start her professional career here at UNB, Fredericton. Enrolled in a Bachelor of Science program, she had her sights set on pursuing a biology degree with the hopes of someday becoming a Marine Biologist. Learn more about a mixed methods approach and how that can affect findings in STEM. “
Learn more about Dr. Valerie Reeves Career Path.
Read moreWhiteFeather Hunter: An Artistic Interpretation of Biology
To the average person, science and art are two directly opposing fields. At first glance, science seems as if it is solely concerned with empirical facts and research, while art seemingly has little application outside of creative expression. However, upon taking a deeper look, it is difficult to imagine a world in which one could function without the other.
Read moreThe Solution to Pollution: Using Porous Materials to Clean the Air
“The passion for my research was sparked long before I ever entered academia. As a young boy growing up on a farm in rural Nova Scotia, the idea of sustainability was taught at an early age. I recall cool springs spent planting crops followed by warm summers spent reaping the fruits of our labour. This was the first piece of tangible evidence that demonstrated to me that we could get our basic needs from the planet without completely destroying it in the process. This idea has influenced both my personal, and academic, journey to date.” - Devon McGrath
Read moreSmart Devices and Their Impact on Societal Health
Smart devices that quantify and monitor the motion of individuals are being developed at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering. This project has the potential to drastically improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and reactivity of our health care system.
Read moreVergence Adaptation & Vision Rehabilitation
Vergence eye movements allow us to change our depth of focus and see in 3D. The ability to recalibrate these eye movements is crucial for accurate depth perception in different visual environments, just as adaptation is crucial in many other aspects of our success and survival. With virtual and augmented reality technology becoming increasingly popular, understanding the adaptive capacities of vergence eye movements has never been more important.
Read moreHeart Health & Research: Discovery of Electrical Conductivity Between Healthy and Damaged Heart Tissue
Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Canada, and 2.4 million Canadians were affected by it in 2012—a number which is only increasing. The well-documented risk factors that increase the likelihood of encountering such illness are a familiar topic of discussion among Canadians. In North America, we live in a fast-paced, work-focused, and often stressful environment that causes a significant amount of anxiety; many of us cope with such a stressful environment by picking up harmful habits such as smoking, altering our lifestyle to accommodate our work schedule, or opting for processed fast foods in lieu of healthier homemade options—all of which have a detrimental effect on our health.
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