In the Media - Archive 2017
Recent Posts
Technology can help breed better cattle
Producers can improve commercial herds by knowing the sires of calves and their ancestries, says cattle geneticist John Crowley
Alberta exporters hope NAFTA can be saved but ponder life without it
Scrapping dispute resolution mechanisms is a deal breaker, says agricultural economist Ellen Goddard
Some forests aren't growing back after wildfires, research finds
Shift from coniferous to deciduous trees could affect northern ecosystems, PhD student says
It's not just spraying water: How the pros fight wildfires
Wind is the most critical factor once the fire is going, says wildland fire expert Mike Flannigan
Baking with bugs
Scientists educated in Department of Renewable Resources launch baking business featuring cricket flour
How artificial intelligence could help fight -- or even prevent -- another wine country wildfire
Researcher Mike Flannigan says that AI could produce a more accurate forecast, allowing more time to rally firefighters and evacuate victims
Red meat has long had a black mark against it
In a balanced diet lean meat is healthful, especially if it is from grass-fed animals, says nutrition researcher Spencer Proctor
Soil sensors, drones and data analytics are the new tools for farmers
Stan Blade, dean of the Faculty of ALES, comments on the agricultural data revolution
Experts talk about clubroot in region
Emergence of new pathotypes is making clubroot management more difficult, says researcher Stephen Strelkov
How will Canada manage its wildfires in the future?
Fire researcher Mike Flannigan argues that only by taking on more risk in some situations, can we reduce major losses in others
A new Golden Age of Canadian comics
Patti LaBoucane-Benson's graphic novel, The Outside Circle, is one of the acclaimed Canadian entries to the comic industry
Creating a gateway to a better life
With Sweet Moms, researcher Rhonda Bell is battling effects of sugar on pregnancy
Consider this: Making an impact across the years
Clothing and Textiles Collection renamed to honour founding curator Anne Lambert
New techniques may reduce spread of mountain pine beetle
ALES researcher Jennifer Klutsch finds that changes to bait and to the spacing of trees helps catch more of them
Heating Up
Climate change played a major role in BC's intense fire season, says researcher Mike Flannigan
Water walkers group grows
William Shotyk has 25 years of data attesting to the water purity of an Ontario aquifer that farmers, First Nations and activists are trying to safeguard from industry
The Catch-22 of oat production
Crop scientist Linda Hall is showing Alberta growers how to shift to high-value oat crops from lower-value oat feed
Into the fire
Wildfire expert Mike Flannigan accompanied a film crew from The Nature of Things to B.C.'s biggest blaze of 2017, to give viewers a riveting explanation of fire behaviour
CBC documentary to explain science behind BC wildfires
Wildfire scientist Mike Flannigan featured in Nature of Things film that airs Nov. 5
Lost in the woods: why boreal caribou are in trouble and why that matters
ALES researcher Fiona Schmiegelow says caribou can no longer avoid such human-created disturbances as roads, logged areas or seismic lines.
Scientist grades water risks from wildfires; prairies at top of list
Burned areas more prone to floods, mudslides and water contamination, says study by PhD student in Department of Renewable Resources
Carla Prado named a Top 40 Under 40
CAIP Chair in Nutrition, Food & Health and director of Human Nutrition Research Unit is celebrated for her internationally recognized nutrition guidelines for obese people with cancer
Mental health plays huge role in student success
Jim Bohun, ALES' assistant dean of academic and student programs, describes a pilot program that will see senior students pair up with new undergrads
Volunteer firefighter dies as winds help ignite, spread wildfires across Western Canada
Mike Flannigan comments on frequency of October wildfires.
The world ablaze
With wildfires now a deadly feature of a warmer planet, researcher Mike Flannigan says we need to adjust our understanding and response
Here's what we know about wildfires and climate change
Mike Flannigan reveals the few factors a raging inferno requires, and the vast stores of carbon it releases into our atmosphere
It's not an opinion: U of A integrates Indigenous knowledge for new climate change study
Impact on northern waterways observed through traditional knowledge and contemporary science
Riverworld: Indigenous knowledge reveals harm climate change causing Canada's largest watershed
Study led by environmental sociologist Brenda Parlee documented observations from 12 communities in Mackenzie River Basin
Attack of the clones: Sperm-stealing Prussian carp threaten to overwhelm Alberta waterways
Fisheries biologist Mark Poesch says voracious plant eaters can cause native species to fight for food and space
Food waste unappetizing
The numbers are shocking, says Stan Blade, dean of the Faculty of ALES -- the United Nations estimates that one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted.
Stark Evidence A Warmer World Is Sparking More and Bigger Wildfires
The evidence is more and more overwhelming that climate change has increased risk of fire around the world, says wildfire expert Mike Flannigan.
Are lentils the new vegan and vegetarian superfood?
Food scientist Lingyun Chen and her team have developed a lentil protein powder that replaces eggs and milk in baked goods.
University of Alberta Botanic Garden parking lot part of $4.9 mllion makeover
Funding will also upgrade infrastructure items including sewage, power, water and gas, roadway, lighting and entrance
Some old ways aren't better, but…
Myles Dyck explains what eight decades of soil research at the U of A tells us about soil health
Women, doing all the household chores is bad for your relationship
Recent master's graduate Rebecca Horne discovered that women consistently perform more household chores than men, which another recent study shows can harm couples' relationships.
Waterton forest will take decades to regrow after Alta wildfire, experts say
Fires help maintain biodiversity and kill off diseases, says Mike Flannigan, wildland fire expert
Controlling traffic to improve your soil
Using a new method of measurement, Guillermo Hernandez and his graduate students found that limiting how heavy equipment moves through a field improves soil quality and water infiltration
Incentives could entice cattle producers into carbon storage: expert
It's hypocritical not to pay ranchers when farmers get incentives, says rangeland ecologist Edward Bork
Spud research looks at greenhouse gas emissions
Reducing nitrous oxide emissions could improve sustainability and market access
No end to pine beetle battle in Alberta, experts say
Forest entomologist Nadir Erbilgin says beetles now face an expanse of fresh territory without natural barriers
Tim Caulfield takes his medical myth-busting to television as host of new show
ALES researchers Carla Prado, Rhonda Bell and Matthew Johnson make appearances
U of A gets cash boost from feds
Restoration ecologist Justine Karst says the funding allows her the freedom to take necessary risks on the frontier of scientific discovery.
Restoration ecologist receives Discovery Grants funding
Justine Karst is a scientist benefiting from Canada's billion-dollar investment in natural sciences and engineering, being announced today
How artificial intelligence could help predict major forest fires
Mike Flannigan and his research team have trained a "self-organizing map" to identify high-risk days for fires
Restoring wetlands through market based solutions
With an economic incentive called a "reverse auction," developed in the Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology, researchers convinced landowners to allow restoration of 10 wetlands
From oilsands mine to wetland: Is Syncrude's reclamation experiment working?
Wetlands researcher Lee Foote commends the efforts but doubts the wetlands can be fully reclaimed
Genomic tools for commercial cattle within sight
Researcher John Basarab is looking for ways to generate genetic information that works well in crossbred cattle
Sticky sap protects trees from mountain pine beetles, Edmonton study suggests
Discovery by researcher Nadir Erbilgin means that seedlings can be bred to survive beetle attacks
Artificial intelligence could be used to better predict extreme wildfire weather in northern Alberta
Researcher Mike Flannigan says self-organized maps (SOMs) can be trained to find patterns in data and model complex relationships
Industry still chafed five years after end of Canadian Wheat Board monopoly
Farmers are generally happy because they have the freedom to market their grain as they want, says train transportation expert Mohammad Torshizi.
Want a divorce? Why you should tell your spouse and give it time
Just because you are thinking about it doesn't mean it's inevitable, says researcher Adam Galovan.
Watching forests recover after wildfire gives scientists new ideas for oilsands reclamation
Understanding how forests develop provides important information for forest mining areas says Simon Landhausser
Thinking about divorce? Think twice, researchers warn
Attitudes change quickly for about half of the people who have thoughts of divorce, says family scientist Adam Galovan
Half of people contemplating divorce think differently a year later
Marriages ebb and flow, and many simply need time to rebalance, says family scientist Adam Galovan
Wildfires will only get more devastating if we don't make big changes
Allow more low-risk fires to burn, and free up resources for more imminent threats, says Mike Flannigan
Clubroot spreads as new pathogens develop
Its spread in canola is much faster than anticipated, says plant pathologist Steve Strelkov
Climate change has made devastating wildfires the new normal
We need to learn how to co-exist with them, says fire researcher Mike Flannigan
Get used to wildfire smoke, says forestry professor
August is BC's busiest month for fire, so brace for more, says Mike Flannigan
Elk Island National Park sees dramatic jump in visitors
Tourism pressure is starting to affect ecological integrity and visitor experience in some parks, says environmental science professor Glen Hvenegaard.
Will wildfires get too intense to fight?
It's the few, extreme fires that do most of the damage, says researcher Mike Flannigan
The science behind wildfires
The severity and length of wildfire seasons can be linked to climate change, says wildfire scientist Mike Flannigan
Uncontrollable wildfires could double in Canada due to climate change
Higher temperatures mean drier vegetation and more lightning, and that leads to more fires, says wildland fire professor Mike Flannigan.
Construction of $25-million Aga Khan garden reaches halfway point
Construction of a multimillion-dollar, Islamic-inspired garden at the University of Alberta Botanic Garden has officially reached the halfway point.
Connecting The Dots
Dean Stan Blade talks to Grainswest magazine about the student experience and the impact our graduates have on food security and the bioeconomy.
Conditions fuelling wildfires
Wet winters can actually increase risk of fires because they promote biomass growth, says Mike Flannigan.
'It could get much, much worse'
Weather could exacerbate B.C. wildfire situation, says Mike Flannigan, the University of Alberta's wildland fire expert.
Lightning storms predicted to spark more fires in North American boreal forests
Unless we change the way we do things, that won't change, says wildland fire expert Mike Flannigan.
Wildfire readiness stepped up as heatwave drags on
Wildfire readiness stepped up as heatwave drags on
Southern Alberta heat wave raises wildfire concerns
Fire officials around southern Alberta are bracing themselves for hot, dry weather conditions that increase the risk of wildfires.
Lightning-Caused Fires on the Rise in the World's Largest Forest
New NASA study shows how lightning is driving fire and pushing it north, with a likely link to climate change.
National pulses competition yields some tasty winning foods
Pulse Canada held its annual national Mission: ImPULSEible food product development competition, giving students - and pulses - a chance to shine
You want pollinators to make their home on your range
There are scores of native pollinators in Alberta - and the more you have on your rangeland, the better
Why do women's clothes never seem to fit?
Women's clothing sizes are based on the corseted and girdled dress form of the 1940s, says Anne Bissonnette, co-curator of the student-built exhibit Misfits: Bodies, Dress and Sustainability.
Painted ladies fly by
Alberta should soon see a rare butterfly migration as weather pushes them north to Canada
Influx of painted lady butterflies expected in Alberta in July
Last mass migration this far north was in 2005
Can a high protein diet help cancer patients live longer?
Health reporter Su-Ling Goh interviews researcher Carla Prado about her study that gives colorectal cancer patients high-protein diets in order to boost their muscle mass and potentially improve survival rates.
University of Alberta researcher studies cyclist identities
Cyclists feel their bike is an important part of who they are, much the way car owners do, says researcher Karly Coleman.
Your bicycle is your buddy, Edmonton research suggests
Bike riding allows people to express feelings about their personality and freedom, says Karly Coleman.
Canada is using genetics to make cows less gassy
The Genome Canada project, co-led by Paul Stothard in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, is identifying cows that produce fewer greenhouse gases, with the goal of shipping their bull semen to regions that lack the resources to develop greener cows.
Green and Gold Community Garden Story
Professor Emerita Shirley Ross, a 2017 Community Connections Award-winner, explains how UAlberta's Green & Gold Community Garden teaches people with no prior experience how to garden, and is the core funder for a women's counselling and education group in rural Rwanda.
Cyclists form bonds with bikes, University of Alberta researcher says
Karly Coleman discusses her master's thesis on how people's identities are connected to their bikes. Also reported in Cycling Weekly and Canadian Cycling Magazine.
Bonding with your bike
Karly Coleman explains how and why people form connections with their bikes and how that enhances their relationships to their environment and their past.
University of Alberta exhibit highlights the absurd reality of women's clothing sizes
An exhibit by human ecology students says that standards more than 75 years out-of-date are still used in sizing women's wear, and that's detrimental to the environment.
Bananas: the fight is on but the banana we know may lose
The world's most popular banana species is under attack from a powerful fungus, but Stan Blade, dean of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences, explains the work being done to produce resistance and create diversity of choice.
University of Alberta food economist has a beef with 'antibiotic-free' label
Ellen Goddard says that misunderstandings of what the term 'antibiotic-free' means animal welfare could be threatened.
Antibiotic-free Meat Unappetizing When it Comes to Animal Welfare
Ryan Jespersen Show: Agriculture economist Ellen Goddard talks about risks of antibiotic-free meat. Clip starts at 7:06.
Inside a unique agriculture museum in Edmonton
Our Edmonton: Jack Francis, curator of the Faculty of ALES Agricultural Museum, shares highlights of the collection.
The jewel of our faculty
Our Edmonton: Stan Blade, dean of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences, explains the innovative research taking place on the University of Alberta's South Campus farm site.
I love the animals
Our Edmonton: Interview with Harold Lehman of the Dairy Research Technology Centre at South Campus
Anne Bissonnette's full interview on Radio Active podcast, May 18, 2017
Anne Bissonnette discusses the historical reasons why women's garments are inaccurately sized.
Edmonton researcher has theory about why women's clothing never fits quite right
Metro Edmonton: Fashion historian Anne Bissonnette explains what the new Misfits exhibition illustrates about sizing inconsistencies.
Misfits exhibit on CBC Edmonton News
CBC TV, Edmonton News: A profile of the Misfits exhibit in the Department of Human Ecology starts at 28:34 of this news show.
Chaos When it comes to women's clothes that's about the size of it. expert says
CBC Radio, Radioactive: Material culture professor Anne Bissonnette says that many shoppers blame themselves when clothing doesn't fit, but the problem is with the industry. Story also aired in French on Radio Canada.
University of Alberta seeks colorectal cancer patients for nutrition study
Edmonton Journal: Carla Prado's ongoing study on the effect that high-protein diets have on the muscle mass of colorectal cancer patients is highlighted.
Alberta cattle industry isnt just beef -- milk cows give the province a dairy air
Edmonton Journal: Responding to President Trump's complaints about Canada's unfair competition in the dairy industry, agricultural economist Ellen Goddard says our national supply management system evolved over decades to help smooth out volatile prices for a highly perishable product.
Grappling with food inequality in food energy and water research
India Climate Dialogue: Environmental sociologist Debra Davidson says that a new field of research about food, water and energy security needs to involve social scientists who study how people make decisions and how those decisions are influenced by inequality.
Meat purchases linked to views on animal care
Western Producer: People have set ideas about how animals should be treated which do not change, and which influence their decisions to eat meat, said agricultural economist Ellen Goddard.
This is how the food industry is tricking you into making unhealthy choices
Global TV: Nutrition professor Rhonda Bell says that by emphasizing or de-emphasizing certain ingredients in snack foods and beverages on packaging or in advertising, manufacturers give the impression that the products are healthy despite a lack of evidence to back up the claims.
There's a fine line between average and excellent performing bison herds
Alberta Farmer: Students in Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology have created a multi-year benchmarking study that compares performance indicators in Alberta and Saskatchewan bison herds.
How pickin cans with my dad shaped my view of Canada
CBC Radio: Arlana Bennett, a graduate student in the Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology, penned a powerful Canada 150 essay about racism, poverty and her father's dignity.
Aga Kahn drops $25 million gift on University of Alberta Botanic Garden
Edmonton Journal: North America's largest Islamic-inspired garden to open in summer of 2018
Curry flavoured granola bar wins Mission ImPULSEible
Alberta Farm Express: UAlberta students won first and second place in the food development competition sponsored by Alberta Pulse Growers, Pulse Canada, and the Leduc Food Processing Development Centre.
Preventing farmland from development comes with a price
Western Producer: Farmland is still being paved over between Edmonton and Calgary, says environmental economist Brent Swallow, because developers want to be near large cities and a major highway.
Bananas in good research hands
Edmonton AM, CBC Radio: Stan Blade, dean of the Faculty of ALES, explains why the world's banana industry is once again at risk from a new strain of disease.
New clothing for people with mobility issues
Edmonton AM, CBC Radio: Audio interview with Megan Strickfaden, co-designer of clothing that lets people with mobility challenges enjoy the outdoors in cold weather.
Made in Edmonton accessible clothing keeps winter adventurers warm
Metro Edmonton: Garments developed by Human Ecology design studies professor Megan Strickfaden allow people with mobility challenges to enjoy outdoor activities in extreme winter weather.
Level of toxic metals found in Athabasca River is normal: University of Alberta studies
Edmonton Journal: Three studies show that the section of the Athabasca River that runs near the Fort McMurray oilsands does not contain higher-than-usual levels of toxic metals
Botanic garden in Devon renamed University of Alberta Botanic Garden
Edmonton Journal: The province's largest botanic garden was christened with a new name Tuesday to become the University of Alberta Botanic Garden.
Concerns over oilsands river contamination overstated scientist says
Globe and Mail/Canadian Press: New research from the University of Alberta suggests concerns about contaminants in the Athabasca River from the oilsands may be overstated.
Dry winter could lead to active wildfire season in Alberta
Global News Edmonton: Mike Flannigan, the director of the Western Partnership for Wildland Fire Science, said a fairly dry winter creates conditions similar to those that caused last year's blaze in Fort McMurray and the 2011 fire in Slave Lake.
Alberta's agri-food business is leaving money on the table committee hears
Edmonton Journal: Stan Blade, dean of the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences, told a legislative committee this week that Alberta should aim to double agri-food production by 2025.
Caring for your partner boosts mental health in future
CBC News Network: Human Ecology professor Matt Johnson's study on couples' relationships and mental health was also covered by CBC's The World At Six, UK Daily Mail, Men's Fitness and 10 other international media outlets.
Some partners need extra loving this Valentines Day
WBRC, Fox 6 News: Birmingham TV station picks up on Matthew Johnson's research that shows providing a romantic partner with support when they are stressed is associated with improved self-esteem and lower risk of depression in the future.
University of Alberta researcher shares scientific formula for love
Edmonton Journal: Human Ecology professor Adam Galovan teamed up with researchers in the United States to identify five elements needed to keep an intimate relationship alive, happy and loving.
Fort McMurray seeing big spike in water treatment costs
CBC Radio: Video includes water researcher Uldis Silins who has worked with the province and the municipality to monitor the wildfire's impact on the Athabasca River.
Love is the drug that can help a depressed partner, researchers say
Daily Mail: Study co-authored by Human Ecology professor Matthew Johnson finds that support provided to a stressed person by their romantic partner has an impact on their future feelings of self-worth and depression.
Costing the Earth
BBC Radio 4: Mike Flannigan, professor of Wildland Fire in the Department of Renewable Resources, is interviewed in a half-hour radio documentary about how wildfires engulfed Fort McMurray in May 2016.
Precision feeding raises reproductive potential of hens
Western Producer: Poultry researcher Martin Zuidhof has helped develop the world's first system of feeding broiler-breeders at just the right time, so that the birds don't have to store nutrients.
Research suggests healthy gut bacteria guts can be transferred from pig to pig
Farmscape: Ben Willing's early research shows that microorganisms in the guts of pigs that help ward off disease can be transferred to other pigs to improve their health.