News

2025 Geography and Tourism Studies Spring/Summer Courses

Monday, March 03, 2025 | By jduff
Whether you want to jump on the fast track to graduation, reduce next year’s course load, satisfy a program requirement or pick up an elective, Brock’s Department of Geography and Tourism Studies is offering a wide array of Spring/Summer courses to help you advance your area of study and explore topics of interest.

Course Spotlight: GEOG/TOUR 2P14: Geographies of Alcohol Production in Niagara

ASY – ASYNCHRONOUS ONLINE

Interested in exploring how alcohol production in Niagara has influenced cultural and economic processes such as place-branding, regional development, and tourism? In this survey course, you’ll use geographical concepts to understand the history of alcohol production and wine tourism in Niagara.
- Explore social and cultural trends such as the rise of craft alcohol production and alcohol-related tourism.
- Examine the role of government policy on alcohol production, distribution and consumption.
- Study how health concerns, climate change and physical geography have impacted alcohol production.
Please note that you do not require any prior knowledge of geography or alcohol production and consumption to take this course.

Prerequisite(s): none

This course may also be of interest to students in Oenology and Viticulture, Economics, Sociology, Biology and History.

Other Spring/Summer Geography and Tourism Studies Courses

Spring:
- GEOG 1P03: Vulnerability, Human Communities and Environment
- GEOG 1P12: Our Changing Environment: Human Impacts
- GEOG/TOUR 2P07: Introduction to Geospatial Technologies
- GEOG 3Q99: Field School-Quaternary Geology
- TOUR 1P91: Introduction to Tourism
- TOUR 2P98: Anime Tourism
Cross-listed (Spring):
- ESRC/GEOG 3Q99: Field School-Quaternary Geology
Learn more about our Spring GEOG and TOUR courses and our Summer GEOG and TOUR courses.

Registration opens March 5!

For more information or to register for Brock’s Spring/Summer courses, visit brocku.ca/springsummer
Tags: course, geography, tourism
Categories: News
New agreement expands exchange opportunities in the Netherlands

Wednesday, May 22, 2024 | By Samantha Morris
WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2024 | by Mel Smith | Reposted from The Brock News
Brock University and NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences signed a Student Exchange Agreement in April to expand opportunities for student mobility and collaboration. Brock University Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President, Academic Brian Power (seated left) and President of NHL Stenden Erica Schaper (seated right) were joined by senior leaders of both institutions as well as staff involved in student exchange projects under the new agreement.
Brock University and NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences are working together to strengthen their global connections and create new international opportunities for students and faculty.

The universities signed a Student Exchange Agreement on Friday, April 26 that is set to expand opportunities for student mobility and collaboration.

“Exposing individuals to different perspectives, languages and cultures fosters tolerance, empathy and global citizenship, preparing graduates to thrive in a multicultural world,” said Brock University’s Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President, Academic Brian Power during the signing ceremony.

Representatives from NHL Stenden, including President Erica Schaper, Chairperson of the International Advisory Board Stephen Dunnett, Director of International Affairs Wayne Johnson and Study Abroad Co-ordinators Afke Bruinsma and Moniek Dijkema, toured Brock’s campus before the formal signing, deepening their understanding of how their students and faculty can collaborate with the Brock community.

“We constantly seek opportunities and possibilities for our students to push their boundaries and further develop themselves,” said Johnson. “We believe this partnership with Brock University will create these moments and therefore we are excited to sign this exchange agreement and look forward to further developing our relationship to include many more possibilities.”

International partnerships are facilitated through Brock International. For more information, please visit the Brock International website.
Tags: Atsuko Hashimoto, Danuta de Grosbois, David Telfer, exchange, geography, International, Michael Pisaric, NHL Stenden, Partnership, Samantha Morris, Student Opportunities, Study abroad, tourism
Categories: News
Brock, Niagara Parks to strengthen community impact through renewed partnership

Monday, April 29, 2024 | By Samantha Morris
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2024 | by Mel Smith | Reposted from The Brock News
Brock University and the Niagara Parks Commission signed a Memorandum of Understanding Monday, April 29 that will see the two organizations work together to support environmental stewardship, sustainability research and experiential education. Lesley Rigg (seated left), Brock President and Vice-Chancellor, and Graham Coveney (seated right), Vice-Chair, Niagara Parks Commission, are joined by senior leaders of both organizations as well as faculty and staff involved in projects under the new MOU.
Brock University and the Niagara Parks Commission are growing their connection — with the preservation and enhancement of local landscapes in mind each step of the way.

The two organizations built on their longstanding history of collaboration Monday, April 29 by signing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that provides a renewed focus for the partnership.

An agency of the Government of Ontario, Niagara Parks is responsible for preserving and promoting the natural beauty and cultural heritage along the Niagara River, including managing parks and gardens, historical sites, recreational features and attractions. It is one of the oldest conservation authorities in North America, established in 1885 to preserve the area amidst growing industrialization and commercialization.

With environmental and cultural conservation a significant focus, Niagara Parks works to protect and restore natural habitats, promote sustainable practices, preserve historical sites and buildings of cultural significance, all while growing tourism to Niagara and the province of Ontario.

Throughout their rich history of collaboration, Brock and Niagara Parks have achieved remarkable milestones together. From groundbreaking research endeavours to immersive service-learning experiences, the partnership has left an indelible mark on both organizations and the communities they serve.

Expanding on this relationship to include more opportunities for students and different types of research will yield valuable insights that will impact the Niagara region for years to come, said Lesley Rigg, Brock President and Vice-Chancellor.

“We could not be prouder of the work that has come from our ongoing partnership with Niagara Parks and look forward to all that will be accomplished with this renewed focus now in place,” Rigg said. “It is by working together that we will continue to grow the life and vitality of our community, including Niagara’s breathtaking landscapes.”

The history of collaboration between Brock and Niagara Parks dates back far before the signing of their first official MOU in 2018. The original memorandum included projects with Brock’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC).

The partnership has since flourished, producing a multitude of impactful projects and initiatives aimed at advancing environmental stewardship, sustainability research and experiential education.

“Building on the incredible work in the field of environmental science that resulted from the 2018 MOU, we look forward to seeing this partnership grow to include other areas of study and continue to provide numerous mutual benefits for both of our organizations,” said Niagara Parks Vice-Chair Graham Coveney.

At the core of the new MOU lies a commitment to formalize and fortify the institutional bond between Brock and the NPC. This agreement paves the way for an ambitious agenda of collaborative endeavours encompassing research, education and service.

Central to the MOU’s activities are several pioneering projects spearheaded by Brock University faculty members:

Associate Professor Julia Baird, from Brock’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, will lead efforts to build connectedness to nature and transform water governance through individual interventions.

Associate Professor David Goldblum and Professor Michael Pisaric, from the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies, will investigate the response of trees to current and future climate conditions, shedding light on vital ecological dynamics.

Associate Professor Elizabeth Vlossak from the Faculty of Humanities will oversee experiential service-learning projects aimed at enhancing site interpretation and asset creation.

These projects not only enrich the academic experience of students but also contribute to the preservation and promotion of the natural and cultural heritage of the Niagara region.

In addition, the partnership will continue to serve as a platform for meaningful dialogue and engagement with Indigenous communities to foster a deeper understanding of their cultural ties to the environment and amplify their voices in discussions surrounding climate resilience and environmental justice.
Tags: Climate, community, David Goldblum, geography, Julia Baird, Michael Pisaric, MOU, Niagara Parks, Partnership, Physical Geography, research
Categories: News
Find fine art on Brock’s campus to support student research

Monday, April 22, 2024 | By Samantha Morris

MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2024 | by Amanda Bishop | Reposted from The Brock News

Master’s student Quinn MacDonald demonstrates the Brock Art and Sculpture Scavenger Hunt, a gamified tour of highlights from the University’s fine art collection, in front of Reinhard Reitzenstein’s 2000 Years on the Edge.

Brock’s main campus is full of striking works of fine art — and Quinn MacDonald wants to send you out looking for them.

The Geography master’s student is completing research into how people can explore and engage with heritage sites using mobile devices. Under the supervision of Associate Professor David Brown in the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies, MacDonald has developed The Brock Art and Sculpture Scavenger Hunt.

The smartphone scavenger hunt includes a series of 10 clues provided through the GuideTags app, designed and maintained by Brown and colleagues, leading users to different artworks around campus and providing details and history on each.

“Brock’s art collection is something that many students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus take for granted — we often walk past it without much attention or thought,” says MacDonald. “This project may help to make connections to the pieces and provide a bit of background for participants, which may encourage further exploration and discovery.”

MacDonald says the data collected will help show how gamified activities might be useful for engaging visitors at heritage sites.

Students, staff, faculty and community members are invited to take part in the study by downloading the GuideTags mobile app to a smartphone with a data plan and then choosing “Brock University Art Scavenger Hunt” under the “Games” tab.

The activity takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete. Following the scavenger hunt, participants are asked to complete a short questionnaire.

The scavenger hunt will be available until the end of June, which means that visitors to campus during Convocation Week are also invited to pass a pleasant half hour learning more about Brock’s collection while supporting graduate student research.

The study is part of the Environments of Change: Digitizing Nature, History, and Human Experience project, an interdisciplinary initiative funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and led by Steven Bednarski of St. Jerome’s University in Waterloo. With the closure of Bader College at Herstmonceaux Castle in the U.K. last year, MacDonald’s project was moved to Brock’s campus.

Categories: News
Brock profs to share teen mental health, water research at Science Meets Parliament

Friday, April 19, 2024 | By Samantha Morris

FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 2024 | by Cathy Majtenyi | Reposted from The Brock News

Brock University Canada Research Chairs Julia Baird and Danielle Sirianni Molnar are heading to Ottawa for the Science Meets Parliament 2024 event May 6 and 7.

Canada may contain a wealth of freshwater, but for Julia Baird, the country’s water sustainability isn’t a given.

Through her work, the Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Human Dimensions of Water Resources and Water Resilience explores the importance of managing water effectively.

The Associate Professor in Brock’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre and Department of Geography and Tourism Studies will share her work during a trip to Ottawa to represent the University at the Science Meets Parliament 2024 event May 6 and 7.

Alongside Baird will be Danielle Sirianni Molnar, CRC in Adjustment and Well-Being in Children and Youth, whose work focuses on youth perfectionism and well-being.

The Brock Associate Professor of Child and Youth Studies will highlight her research into teens who, on the outside, are high achievers exceeding the expectations of their teachers and parents. On the inside, however, they experience high levels of stress and anxiety that contribute to poor mental health, Sirianni Molnar says.

Baird and Sirianni Molnar will join other Tier 2 CRCs, Indigenous Principal Investigators and Banting Postdoctoral Fellows across the country to discuss topics arising from their research with Members of Parliament, Senators, staff and civil servants.

“One of the really exciting things for me is that the event is about creating connections to those who are directly involved in policy-making, relationships that can be built over time,” says Baird.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to learn how research gets translated into policy so that we can have greater impact with the public and get our research findings to where it helps youth and their families,” says Sirianni Molnar.

Organized by the Canadian Science Policy Centre and the Office of the Chief Science Advisor, Mona Nemer, the two-day event brings together the country’s scientific and political communities through virtual workshops, face-to-face meetings, observation of committee meetings, attending Question Period and a networking reception.

“Brock University researchers make important and valuable contributions to scientific discovery in Canada,” says Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre. “I’m happy that Dr. Julia Baird and Dr. Danielle Sirianni Molnar will be representing Brock at Science Meets Parliament 2024 and proud they will be representing the Niagara community on the national stage.”

Chris Bittle, Member of Parliament for St. Catharines, says next month’s event is an opportunity to showcase Brock’s “world-class research.”

“I look forward to Dr. Julia Baird and Dr. Danielle Sirianni Molnar using this national platform to highlight their critically important research and share their knowledge with policy-makers from across the country,” he says.

Baird is looking forward to connecting with officials at the Canada Water Agency, created last year to improve freshwater management across the country.

“I explore the concept of governance and water resilience a lot in my work and was hoping to discuss those themes,” she says. “I’d love to talk about decision-making and how we can organize ourselves in ways that supports the long-term sustainability of Canada’s water.”

Sirianni Molnar hopes her meetings will help her take the pulse on mental health issues among Canadian youth as well as raise awareness of perfectionism among youth.

“I want to understand the perspectives of government officials: what are they seeing and hearing from their constituents about mental health needs?” she says. “This would be really helpful for my team and I to know so that we could better direct our research and more effectively align our resources.”

She’s also looking forward to gaining communication and networking skills from training sessions offered at the event.

Baird agrees, saying she aims to foster these communication and networking skills with Niagara community members to help them connect with local policy-makers.

Baird and Sirianni Molnar are also looking forward to meeting fellow researchers from across Canada.

Tags: CRC, event, geography, Government, Julia Baird, Ottawa, Policy, research, water
Categories: News
Data shows eclipse’s weather impact

Thursday, April 18, 2024 | By Samantha Morris

THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2024 | by Amanda Bishop and Samantha Morris | Reposted from The Brock News

Brock University Associate Professor Kevin Turner and Microcomputer Support Analyst/Technician Dimitre Iankoulov from the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies collected temperature, humidity, wind speed and shortwave radiation data using a scientific weather station during the April 8 eclipse. Turner compared the data with other local stations and confirmed that the temperature dropped by about three degrees Celsius and the wind speed climbed several kilometres per hour as the eclipse went into totality. Turner says that although the numbers do not seem dramatic, the fast pace at which it happens is captivating and triggers our human response. “The experience and observations are reminders of stellar processes and interactions that are much bigger than us or anything we can control,” he says.

Tags: Climate, community, Dimitre Iankoulov, event, geography, GIS, Kevin Turner, research, Samantha Morris, Solar eclipse
Categories: News
Brock welcomes celebrated author Ann-Marie MacDonald as research collaborator

Tuesday, April 16, 2024 | By Samantha Morris

TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2024 | by Gillian Minaker | Reposted from The Brock News

During her visit to Brock in March, Ann-Marie MacDonald (centre) met with faculty and students to discuss various narrative themes in her writing pertaining to the research project Mapping Ann-Marie MacDonald.

Brock University recently received a memorable visit from beloved Canadian author, actor and playwright Ann-Marie MacDonald.

The critically acclaimed artist is working with an interdisciplinary team of faculty and research assistants from the Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences on a project, Mapping Ann-Marie MacDonald, that is breaking new ground in Canadian literary criticism.

The visit was a full circle moment for English Professor Neta Gordon, who has been writing since graduate school about MacDonald’s invitational approach to making space for marginalized voices through her books and plays.

Gordon and Aaron Mauro, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Digital Humanities, are co-leading the project with collaboration from Associate Professor of Geography and Tourism Studies Ebru Ustundag and Brock Librarian Tim Ribaric. The project is supported by a Government of Canada Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight Development Grant.

Internationally acclaimed author Ann-Marie MacDonald recently visited Brock as part of her role as research collaborator on an interdisciplinary project entitled Mapping Ann-Marie MacDonald.

During her March visit , MacDonald discussed her internationally bestselling novel The Way the Crow Flies (2003), a finallist for the Giller Prize. The team is using the novel to develop a collaborative literary analysis framework and visualizations of plot, themes, character development and the connections between key characters and physical and embodied spaces in the narrative.

Gordon said these discussions will help establish new ways of communal reading that will challenge people to think about other literary works from a new perspective in the future.

“Our hope is that this will open up doors for new voices and new listeners engaging in the act of literary criticism; we want people who are not English professors to be able to read our research and understand it, and for it to be accessible,” Gordon said.

It was the newness of the idea and freshness of perspective that initially struck MacDonald and drew her to the project.

“One doesn’t always come across the powers of observation and understanding combined with creativity and a leap into an unknown collaboration,” she said. “This research is new, and the exploration across disciplines is essential to me and something that drives a lot of my work.”

When MacDonald learned the project was also driven by feminist ethos, it was a done deal.

She said the project has allowed her to revisit the fascinating mystery of how stories and ideas are communicated and shared with others in a way that delights and informs.

“As a writer, it is my job to tell stories in a way that is both welcoming and uncompromising. Academics like Neta are doing the same thing,” MacDonald said.

Gordon said the project, at its core, is student-centred in approach, providing Brock students an opportunity to contribute their valuable ideas to the field of literary criticism.

“Bringing worlds together is what I do in my work, so to see this kind of work happening at Brock in this collaborative manner is deeply gratifying and I am honoured to be a part of it,” MacDonald said.

Tags: Ebru Ustundag, geography, Human Geography, Project, research
Categories: News
IN THE NEWS: Eclipse on the Escarpment

Friday, April 12, 2024 | By Samantha Morris

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2024 | by Tarryn Landman | Reposted from The Brock News

Physics Professor Thad Harroun spoke about Brock’s Eclipse on the Escarpment event during an appearance on The Source on YourTV Niagara.

Brock experts talk total social eclipse: Associate Professor of Physics Thad Harroun spoke to the Hamilton Spectator, YourTV Niagara, the St. Catharines Standard and Newstalk 610 CKTB about Brock’s Eclipse on the Escarpment event and the once-in-a-lifetime celestial phenomenon. Professor of Educational Studies David Hutchison spoke to the St. Catharines Standard and to Newstalk 610 CKTB about the educational impact of the eclipse and his own experience viewing one as a child. Associate Professor of Visual Arts Amy Friend and Professor of Visual Arts Keri Cronin spoke with CBC Radio One about photographing the eclipse. Professor of Earth Sciences Mariek Schmidt spoke with CTV News from Brock’s eclipse event. Assistant Professor of Physics Barak Shoshany also spoke to YourTV Niagara about the science behind the total solar eclipse.

Newstalk 610 CKTB broadcasts from Brock: Niagara in the Morning with Tim Denis broadcast from Brock’s main campus on Monday, April 8. Throughout the morning, Denis spoke with Matt Melnyk, Director of Student Recruitment; Lesley Rigg, President and Vice-Chancellor, and Tim Kenyon, Interim Provost and Vice-President, Academic; Shahryar Rahnamayan, Professor of Engineering and Chair of the Yousef Haj-Ahmad Department of Engineering; and Julia Baird, Associate Professor in Brock’s Environmental Sustainability Research Centre and Department of Geography and Tourism Studies.

Tags: Climate, community, eclipse, event, geography, Julia Baird, Lesley Rigg, Media, Solar eclipse
Categories: News
Brock students win leadership competition

Thursday, April 11, 2024 | By Samantha Morris
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2024 | by Colleen Patterson | Reposted from The Brock News
Third-year Medical Sciences student Randa Joatar (left), second-year Medical Sciences student Tochukwu Daniel Oguejiofor, Medical Sciences Research Assistant Kanishka Wijesundara (BSc ‘23), fourth-year Business Administration student Kylor Huang, Brock University Student Life and Success, Leadership Development Coordinator Travis Greene (BA ‘19), first-year accounting student Isabella Berardi, third-year Sport Management student Aryan Debojyoti Purkayastha, and fourth-year Tourism and Management student Ryan On celebrate their first-place win at the Collegiate Leadership Competition’s National Invitational on Saturday, March 16.
A team of Brock University students took home first place during the Collegiate Leadership Competition’s (CLC) National Invitational last month.

Brock students competed against other Ontario college and university teams at Wilfred Laurier University on Saturday, March 16.

To prepare, the team spent months honing their ability to provide support and problem-solve while uncovering their unique leadership skills.

“Everyone has the ability to be a leader in their own way. Anyone can be a leader because leadership is a process, not a position,” said Travis Greene (BA ‘19), Leadership Development Co-ordinator for Brock University’s Student Life and Success and the team’s coach.

Greene and Assistant Coach Kanishka Wijesundara (BSc ‘23) worked with six students on Brock’s team:

Isabella Berardi, first-year Co-op Accounting

Aryan Debojyoti Purkayastha, third-year Sport Management

Kylor Huang, fourth-year Business Administration

Randa Joatar, third-year Medical Sciences

Ryan On, fourth-year Tourism Studies

Tochukwu Daniel Oguejiofo, second-year Medical Sciences

Joatar said training for the CLC taught her valuable lessons in leadership.

“It’s more than merely sharing a vision and delegating tasks. It’s about offering support, understanding the stresses of teammates and knowing when to act as the lead or support,” she said. “This experience was a great way to gain transferrable skills and make friends along the way.”

Greene is hopeful the CLC win will inspire more people interested in getting involved across campus, whether that be with through Campus-Wide Co-Curriculum, volunteering or enrolling in one of the many training opportunities available to students and Brock employees.

“The successes of these six students can be seen as a massive inspiration to all students at Brock,” says Greene. “This year’s team have acquired a wide arrange of skills, involvement and passions that any other student on campus can achieve themselves if they want to.”

Following the national CLC success, Brock’s team went on to compete against schools across Canada and the United States in the CLC Global Championship online on Thursday, April 4 and Saturday, April 6. The team placed seventh and was one of only three teams to get a perfect score on the final activity of the competition.

For more information about student leadership opportunities, visit Brock’s Student Life Success website.
Tags: Competition, leadership, Ryan On, student, Student Life, student news, tourism, Tourism Studies
Categories: News
Brock’s community eclipse event set to educate and engage

Friday, April 05, 2024 | By Samantha Morris

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 03, 2024 | by Jocelyn Titone | Reposted from The Brock News

Second-year Concurrent Teacher Education students Justus McRae and Sophie Della Manna hold a Sun Spotter and a pinhole camera, which are devices that can be used to safely view the solar eclipse. Brock’s Eclipse on the Escarpment event on Monday, April 8 will feature several educational exhibits, including a live demonstration on how to make a pinhole camera.

As Niagara prepares to witness the rare total solar eclipse, Brock University is welcoming the community to campus Monday, April 8 for a learning experience like no other.

Eclipse on the Escarpment will feature more than a dozen free educational exhibits that will engage adults and children alike in science, history and culture through interactive experiments, hands-on projects, informative posters and interesting simulations, followed by a community viewing of the total solar eclipse.

Among the experiences, which begin at noon in Ian Beddis Gymnasium, will be a live experiment that will see Biology researchers use an infrared thermal imaging camera to monitor the reaction of Oxalis plants during the darkness of the total solar eclipse.

“Oxalis are known to display rapid plant movement by retracting their leaves towards the shoot when kept in darkness. This phenomenon seems to be mediated by a protein called phototropin,” says Alonso Zavafer, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences and Engineering. “Phototropin acts as a light switch by detecting blue light and controlling the internal water level of the leaves. During the day, there is blue light and the leaves open, while at night when only far-red and near infrared light is present, the leaves close.”

Zavafer says the reaction is believed to be an evolutionary response to promote photosynthetic growth during the day and prevent dehydration of the leaves at night. He expects the plants will close their leaves during the total solar eclipse when the sun is blocked by the moon.

Kevin Turner (left), Associate Professor of Earth Sciences and Geography and Tourism Studies, and Dimitre Iankoulov, Micro Support Analyst/Technician with the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies, have been testing the scientific weather station they will use to measure and record shortwave radiation, temperature, humidity and wind speed and direction during the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8.

“Plants can move and sense the day and night cycles,” he says. “Our experiment will show plants can be fooled by the eclipse into thinking they are experiencing a night cycle.”

Other exhibits will explore animal behaviour during an eclipse, the role of the 1919 eclipse in confirming the theory of general relativity, the 17th-century poem titled “The Eclipse,” ancient tools used to calculate and display celestial information. the history of the moon, and a NASA initiative involving a computer simulation of a lunar rover that follows the physics of the moon.

A chemistry-focused exhibit will highlight the celestial origins of the elements in the periodic table with physical examples participants can touch, while an exhibit led by Earth Sciences faculty and students will feature a display of meteorite and rock samples, a moon photo selfie station and a hands-on demonstration on creating an impact crater.

Physics students will demonstrate how to create a pinhole camera, which can be used to safely view the eclipse as a projection on paper. Visitors can bring a cereal box or similarly sized cardboard container to make their own.

Guests from Niagara College solar spectroscopy, Niagara Geopark, SETI Institute and Space Place Canada will also be on site, many using specialized equipment to view, monitor or livestream the eclipse.

Among the scientific observations expected to take place on campus will be the use of a digital smart telescope to observe physical, meteorological and biological phenomena, while also livestreaming the eclipse to the Brock University YouTube channel with the assistance of BrockTV.

Brock’s Department of Geography and Tourism Studies will be using a scientific weather station during the eclipse to measure and record changes in temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, as well as shortwave radiation, which is the sun’s energy reaching the Earth each second.

The community viewing will take place on Alumni Field from 2 to 4:30 p.m., with the eclipse reaching maximum totality at 3:19 p.m.

Solar eclipses can be safely viewed with the use of ISO-certified eclipse glasses. Looking directly at the sun with the naked eye can cause permanent eye damage. Complimentary viewing glasses will be available on Monday, April 8 in Ian Beddis Gymnasium from noon to 3 p.m. or at several locations across campus beginning at 11 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis, while quantities last.

People coming to campus for the event are reminded that paid parking is available through the Honk mobile app. Parking may also be paid in person at a kiosk inside the Walker Sports Complex near the Hungry Badger from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Visitors travelling to campus are encouraged to arrive early to avoid traffic delays and to consider taking public transportation.

Those looking to enhance their eclipse experience are invited to attend one of two free public lectures this week about the celestial spectacle and the significance of lunar and solar cycles.

Brock representatives will also be out in the community this weekend. Physics students and professors will be at the Niagara Parks Power Station from Friday, April 5 to Sunday, April 7 showcasing eclipse-viewing tools such as a telescope and Sun Spotter, and leading children in a sun colour-changing activity.

Brock’s Let’s Talk Science team will be leading eclipse-related hands-on activities Monday, April 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Vale Health and Wellness Centre in Port Colborne as part of the City of Port Colborne’s eclipse programming. Activities include creating a pinhole camera and eclipse art.

For more information about Eclipse on the Escarpment, please visit brocku.ca/eclipse

Story reposted from The Brock News

Tags: BSc, Dimitre Iankoulov, eclipse, event, geography, Kevin Turner, meterology, monitoring, Physical Geography, Solar eclipse, weather, weather station
Categories: News