Is your data digital or just pseudodigital?

July 19, 2019 Matt Hall Environmental and Earth Sciences

A rite of passage for a geologist is the making of an original geological map, starting from scratch. In the UK, this is known as the ‘independent mapping project’ and is usually done at the end of the second year of an undergrad degree. I did mine on the eastern shore of the Embalse de Santa Ana, just north of Alfarras in Catalunya, Spain. (I wrote all about it back in 2012.)The map I drew…

Alternative ways to celebrate: Popping the traditional balloon

July 18, 2019 Nature Conservancy of Canada staff Biology and Life Sciences, Environmental and Earth Sciences

Balloon releases have been used as a celebratory activity for decades, portrayed in films and even used as a tactic to show kids just how big the world is. Well, I hate to burst your balloon, but balloons can end up on nature reserves.

Owls, Part 2: Giant Fossil Owls and Stolas

July 17, 2019 Lisavipes Biology and Life Sciences, Environmental and Earth Sciences

It’s time for the next installment of my OWLS! series of blog posts! This one is going to be a little bit different from my other posts…although, if you’ve read any of my Bigfoot or ghost posts you may not be surprised at the theme of this post. My research takes me down a few interesting rabbit holes. One of these holes introduced me to J. A. S. Collin de Plancy’s Dictionnaire Infernal when I searched…

Walk This Way

July 17, 2019 Sarah Boon Biology and Life Sciences, Environmental and Earth Sciences

Training for a marathon walk takes a lot more time and energy than this spoonie realized.

Norma Kassi highlights the value of community-based research in Northern Canada

July 17, 2019 Chenoa Sly Environmental and Earth Sciences, General Science

Canadian Mountain Network Co-Research Director Norma Kassi is helping indigenous communities ensure they are actively involved in scientific research in Canada’s North. In her recent interview in Up Here Magazine, she states, “Now our approach is: nothing about us will be without us.” Norma was raised in Old Crow, the northernmost community in Yukon. As a member of the Vuntut Gwich’in First Nation and the Wolf Clan, local traditional knowledge was passed down to her from a…

Heard it from a Scout: The ultimate summer camping guide

July 17, 2019 Nature Conservancy of Canada staff Biology and Life Sciences, Environmental and Earth Sciences

Prepare for your next camping trip with Scouts Canada’s ultimate summer camping guide, and make your adventure both memorable and safe.

This Week in Whales: July 8 – July 14, 2019

July 16, 2019 Mark Leiren-Young Biology and Life Sciences, Environmental and Earth Sciences, Policy and Politics

By James Christensen – Staff Writer Welcome to This Week in Whales for July 8 – July 14 2019! Welcome back to This Week in Whales! This past week we’ve seen a lot happenings with whales around the world and near our home base of Victoria, BC. We’ve seen the birth of a new baby orca calf, two other Southern Resident orcas are “missing,” and more whales have wash up dead on the Alaskan shores, once again…

Don’t trust an anthropomorphic raccoon

July 16, 2019 Alina Fisher Communication, Education and Outreach, Environmental and Earth Sciences, Featured Story

Have you heard the term anthropomorphism? It refers to ascribing human-like traits to non-human entities. Most biologists discourage the application of anthropomorphism, like your cat is plotting to kill you when you won’t let it outside, or that the racoon you’re feeding thinks of you as a friend. Chances are your cat isn’t actually plotting... Continue Reading →

Ignition Point: The Underappreciated Influence of Indigenous Burns

July 16, 2019 Landscapes in Motion Environmental and Earth Sciences

Throughout April and May this year, Alberta was still receiving plenty of snow. With no end in sight, there was an element of grim humour to the announcement that wildfire season had begun. The onset of the Chuckegg Creek fire near High Level, covering approximately 230,000 hectares as of May 31st, leaves us with no doubt that we are now firmly into wildfire season.In both the present and the past, it is clear that humans…

A thank you letter to NCC

July 16, 2019 Nature Conservancy of Canada staff Biology and Life Sciences, Environmental and Earth Sciences

For as long as I can remember, I have loved animals. I used to spend my spare time sprawled in the grass with a pencil in hand, drawing pictures of my favourite animals from my Dad’s Mammals of North America atlas. I incessantly dreamed of the day when I would finally get to meet the beautiful and wild souls that I had only seen in books.

Environmental and Earth Sciences