Research News
Understanding the range of environmental challenges facing pollinators
Global pollinator declines are of urgent concern for maintaining food production and wild plant diversity. Understanding the range of environmental challenges faced by bees, butterflies and other insects is the focus of pollination conservation expert Nigel Raine. He joined the University of Guelph as the Rebanks Family Chair in Pollinator Conservation in May 2014. Canada’s first research chair in pollinator conservation was endowed by The W. Garfield Weston Foundation in the name of Wendy Rebanks. As well as leading cutting-edge research programs, Raine takes...
Biodegradable nanoparticles
Physics professor John Dutcher and his team have discovered a new type of polysaccharide nanoparticle derived from Ontario corn. The discovery, trade-named PHYTOSPHERIXTM, could serve as a non-toxic and biodegradable replacement for petroleum-based compounds and engineered nanoparticles, making consumer products and pharmaceuticals more environmentally friendly. Dutcher and his team received support from the OMAFRA – U of G Partnership to help bring PHYTOSPHERIXTM technology to the marketplace.
Looking to the past for tips on weathering change
In times of socio-economic change, society can respond to its most pressing challenges with careful reading of their historical context. Prof. Kris Inwood (pictured at right) is a researcher in economics and history who is cross-appointed to the College of Management and Economics and the College of Arts. Inwood is examining past and long-term change with an eye to understanding how it can inform the social, economic, and physical well-being of our population. Inwood is seen here poring over an historical census collection with post-doctoral researcher Andrew...
Facing the challenges of preventing obesity in children and teens
Since 1980, Canada has experienced a 100 per-cent increase in overweight or obese children. Obesity is difficult to reverse, which is why Jess Haines is interested in preventing it in children and adolescents. Haines, a professor of family relations and applied nutrition and pictured here with her children, Oscar, 8 and Eleanor, 5, is exploring community and family-based interventions to promote healthy behavior among pre-school children. Haines is one of three recipients of the Early Researcher Award, given by the Ministry of Research and Innovation to young...