Lakehead University has kicked open its doors this week to give the community a glimpse of what often happens behind the scenes.
Monday was Day 1 of Research and Innovation Week, and it included the Environmental Sustainability Research Panel, providing a snapshot of the research being undertaken by students at the Orillia campus.
For Ryan Stevens, it was a chance to explain to his peers and the public an environmental threat to local forests. The biology master’s student set out to track root diseases that affect pine trees in the Simcoe County Forest.
Armillaria, a fungus, can harm both red and white pine trees and can spread quickly, he explained. Fortunately, his research showed a low infection rate in local forests. However, “the potential for it to spread is quite dramatic,” he said.
The work is a labour of love for Stevens, who grew up in this area and wants to get into forestry.
“That’s why I came to this campus. It’s close to home and there’s a lot of research you can do here,” he said.
Much of the research presented Monday had a local focus. One student is trying to determine the most appropriate method of mapping road salt runoff and accumulation in Orillia.
Another is trying to get a better understanding of how certain bacteria can lead to more effective phosphorus management in Lake Simcoe.
A group of undergraduate students are looking at the various types of wetland in the Lake Simcoe watershed with the hope of finding out how plant life can store carbon long-term. One surprise that came from their research: Reed canary grass, an invasive species, is the best at trapping carbon.
While many students set their sights on areas of local interest, Hannah Hancock is looking north. She is researching fish habitat in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. She will set off for Nunavut in July to conduct sampling.
The panel’s final presentation was from associate professor Rosario Turvey and Sreekumari Kurissery, chair of Lakehead’s Department of Sustainability Sciences. The two are editing a book titled Intellectual, Scientific, and Educational Influences on Sustainability Research. The goal is for the publication to be a reference on sustainability research, aimed at academics, students and policy makers.
Kurissery hopes that project is an inspiration to students who might aspire to become authoritative voices in their areas of research.
“It shows that they can go to the level where they can contribute to research and share knowledge with the global community,” she said.
“It makes you want to try to get published so people are aware of (the research),” Stevens added.
The Environmental Sustainability Research Panel has been a part of Research and Innovation Week for a few years, and it never ceases to impress Kurissery.
“I feel so rewarded when I see our students performing,” she said. “We’re creating the next generation of environmental sciences.”
The showcase of Lakehead’s research has become more popular every year, which is “a dream come true for me,” Kurissery said.
“I wish that it continues to grow.”
Research and Innovation Week activities continue Tuesday and Wednesday and the events are free and open to the public. Find out more here.
