Research News
U of G Project Shifts Art Gallery Displays to Virtual Walkthroughs
Photo Credit: Emil White
By Caitlin Ford
In response to COVID-19 art gallery closures, a University of Guelph project has used 360-degree photography technology to enable virtual visits to U of G galleries.
The project, called Creating Virtual Spaces for Artists and Performers, was led in 2020 by Dr. Christian Giroux, a professor in the School of Fine Art and Music; Dr. John Phillips, manager of the Interdisciplinary Design Lab in the College of Arts; and digital design technician Thoreau Bakker.
“The visual art world is always interested in how virtualization can be...
U of G Wastewater Surveillance Provides Valuable COVID-19 Data during Times of Limited Testing
By Caitlin Ford
A University of Guelph wastewater project for early detection of food-borne illness has proven to be an invaluable tool for understanding the viral transmission of COVID-19 on campus and in the surrounding community.
In summer 2020, Dr. Lawrence Goodridge, a professor in the Department of Food Science, and his lab team repurposed their research on food-borne illness surveillance to begin surveying U of G’s wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID-19.
Used to monitor COVID-19...
Consumer Perspectives on Virtual Grocery Shopping amid a Pandemic
Photo Credit: Pexels
By Vanessa Virgo
Despite online grocery shopping options during the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers still prefer to shop in person, according to a new University of Guelph study. Among shoppers opting for online service, the study found, more women prefer to pick up their groceries in person, while men prefer direct home delivery.
Dr. Kimberly Thomas-Francois, Post-Doctoral Fellow, and Drs. WooMi Jo and Simon Somogyi, professors in the School of Hospitality, Food and Tourism Management in U of G’s Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics, aimed...
OVC Researchers Study Manure Treatment Strategies To Reduce Resistant Bacteria
By Otaiba Ahsan
An ongoing study co-led by a research team in the Ontario Veterinary College found that anaerobic digestion can significantly reduce instances of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in manure used on farm fields. In a recent article, former SPARK writer, Otaiba Ahsan, discusses how reducing antibiotic-resistant bacteria on farm fields can reduce infectious and resistant bacteria spread into the human population...
Investigating The Effects Of Climate Change In Fur Seal Immune Systems
By Mya Kidson
Research by Ontario Veterinary College professor Dr. Mauricio Seguel investigates wildlife immune systems and their vulnerability to climate change. A recent article by SPARK Writer, Mya Kidson, explores Seguel’s project -- based in Peru and Patagonia -- looking at the impact of environmental changes in the ocean on milk quality in maternal fur seals and how these changes further impact the immune systems of their young...
COVID-19 Forces Restaurants to Adapt and Plan for Future Crises
Photo Credit: Unsplash
By Cate Willis
A new University of Guelph study shows that many pandemic-hit restaurants have adapted their services and created plans to respond to future crises.
Dr. Simon Somogyi, a professor in the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics, said the study of the pandemic’s impact on food service businesses found that many companies have moved from thinking about short-term survival to considering the long-term picture.
At the beginning of the pandemic, many businesses focused on surviving day-to-day and keeping as many people...
University of Guelph Reaffirms Its Longstanding Commitment to Research Commercialization
Photo Credit: Junelle Fisher
From OAC 21 barley that transformed the brewing industry a century ago, to Yukon Gold potatoes developed 50 years ago that remain a staple on dinner plates, to novel biopolymers that are fuelling the green economy today, University of Guelph has been a leader in using research to create new products and processes to improve life.
Today, with the introduction of the ...
A Lack Of Effective Canadian COVID-19 Communications Can Impact Public Trust, Study Finds
Photo Credit: Unsplash
By Caitlin Ford
A recent University of Guelph study examined the public's response to various COVID-19 communications. This research was conducted on Facebook posts from key government accounts and found that Canadians have low trust in the messages being shared. Find out more in the recent article written by SPARK writer Caitlin Ford...
U of G Chemists Find Microwaves May Help Treat COVID-19
Photo Credit: Unsplash
A University of Guelph study has found that the electromagnetic fields from microwave radiation may offer a way to disable the coronavirus even at body temperature. Dr. Khashayar Ghandi, a professor in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, conducted the study with M.Sc. student Michael Anthony Lapolla and research assistant Pooya Afaghi. The team is looking for novel methods for dealing with persisting contagions and rendering viruses non-functional...