“If you ask New Brunswickers to tell you about their province, they might talk about the beautiful forests, fresh seafood, covered bridges, and a slower, more pleasant way of life. On the surface, these are all elements that define the New Brunswick that we know and love. However, they are also elements that play a key part in the provincial economy – something you are less likely to hear about. From our small population to our natural resources and beyond, New Brunswick relies on growth in many different areas to boost its economy and ensure the progress and prosperity of its people.”
Read moreCharacterizing Populations During a Pandemic: Our Summer on a Virtual Research Team
“Have you ever wondered what Statistics Canada does with their census data? Well we have. Our names are Nihla Hussain and Madeleine Gorman-Asal, and in February 2020 we attended the Atlantic Student Research Journal’s inaugural Reaching Higher conference. It was there that we first learned about the New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data, and Training (NB-IRDT), and its Pathways to Professions program. We both share a passion for research, which led us to attend the conference and to apply for the 2020 Pathways to Professions program.”
Read moreAdvancements in Spine Surgery in Atlantic Canada
“Experiencing involuntary spasms or aches in your lower back? Numbness, burning, or tingling down your leg? You are most likely suffering from lower back pain (LBP) or commonly referred to as sciatica, which is pain in the back radiating into the leg. Lumbar radiculopathy is one of the most common conditions associated with LBP. It is a leading cause of disability and often a reason for patients to undergo spine surgery. Traditionally, spine surgery is done as “open surgery”. However, spine surgery has transformed significantly through technological advancements and new approaches such as minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS).”
Read moreiGenNB: Intergenerational Living for Community Well-Being
“Intergenerational living is an internationally known co-living model where older adults and seniors share their homes with younger adults to foster a mutually beneficial living arrangement. In exchange for affordable living, the younger adults will provide household services such as snow removal, grocery shopping, running errands, gardening, companionship, and more.
Read this article to learn how iGenNB, a pilot intergenerational living program in New Brunswick, hopes to “improve quality of life, reduce ageism, and lessen the strain on community care services.”
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 moreHow a Mixed Methods Research Design Can Add Meaning to Our Findings in STEM
“The purpose of conducting research is to convey knowledge that is both accurate and applicable outside of a lab setting. Yet, as researchers we often limit ourselves between opting for one of two divided categories: quantitative or qualitative methods.”
Learn more about a mixed methods approach and how that can affect findings in STEM.
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 moreInformal Care giving and Driving Safety: A Complex Issue
In completing her honours undergraduate thesis at St. Thomas University, Elizabeth Dreise investigated how informal caregivers manage driving safety with their loved ones, particularly in the context of dementia or cognitive decline.
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 moreA Higher Grade of Education: Investigating Inclusion in New Brunswick High School Science Classrooms
Jeremy Smith, a Fredericton based high school science teacher, decided to focus his research on a problem he experiences daily. Smith explored the impacts of class composition on New Brunswick’s high school science classrooms to determine ways to enhance student learning. Research such as Smith’s shows that important research does not need to happen in the conventional setting to have an impact on important issues.
Read moreThe Professional Journey of Dr. Tony Reiman
Dr. Reiman didn’t always dream of entering the medical profession. As a student at UNB taking a double major in Biology and Physics, Reiman’s earlier interests were based in technological development and innovation, rather than medicine. Today, Dr. Tony Reiman is nothing short of a hero in our community. In addition to easing the suffering of cancer patients as an oncologist at the Saint John Regional Hospital, he holds various titles such as Canadian Cancer Society Research Chair and Assistant Dean of Research at Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick (DMNB) to name a few.”
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.
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