Articles tagged with: Michael Pisaric

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
Brock students studying climate change plant tree on campus

Friday, April 22, 2022 | By Samantha Morris
FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2022 | by Amanda Bishop | REPOSTED FROM THE BROCK NEWS
Juanita Ayerbe Lozano and instructor Jayson Childs from the GEOG 2P08 Climate Crisis course see the class’s efforts pay off in a newly planted tree.
Brock University students capped off a course on the climate crisis with a commitment to positive change on Earth Day, Friday, April 22.

A small group joined their instructor, Adjunct Professor Jayson Childs, and Professor and Chair Michael Pisaric to plant a tree outside the offices of the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies.

Childs says the idea to raise money to plant a tree arose from an awareness of how much time students and scholars spend using computers.

The students of GEOG 2P08, Climate Crisis, along with instructor Jayson Childs and Professor Michael Pisaric, pooled their resources to donate a new Ginkgo biloba to Brock’s campus for future generations, which was planted to celebrate Earth Day on Friday, April 22. From left: John Dick, Manager of Ground Services, Childs, Pisaric and Dimitre Iankoulov of the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies.

“I thought perhaps we could do an optional, voluntary fundraising drive to purchase a tree to plant on campus to try to mitigate some of the emissions associated with all of us sitting on our computers, while also bringing a variety of other benefits to campus,” he says.

At Pisaric’s suggestion, they selected a Ginkgo biloba tree, which is known for dropping all its leaves at once when the first frost strikes. The species has been planted on other university campuses to help researchers track the date of the first frost from year to year, creating a specific, local data set.

John Dick, Manager of Ground Services, says his team tries to keep plantings as diverse as possible, but as there are only a few other Ginkgo biloba trees on campus, they were more than happy to accommodate this request.

“This was an initiative of the class, which is awesome,” Dick says. “We certainly appreciate when someone wants to add to the campus landscape.”

Childs says planting trees is one of the “simple activities anybody can do to help sequester carbon and mitigate climate change” but outlines several other benefits, too:

Trees planted in yards act as a buffer for warm temperatures by providing shade and cooling neighbourhoods up to 5^o

Trees absorb precipitation, which then helps reduce overland runoff and soil erosion.

Urban forests play an integral role in improving air quality and the psychological and social well-being in a community.

Planting trees can improve local biodiversity by providing habitat.

Second-year Concurrent Education student Juanita Ayerbe Lozano says an early course assignment that required her to assess how many trees would be needed to offset her own carbon footprint got her thinking about the emissions of a class with almost 500 students. Reflecting on that impact, she jumped at the chance to get involved in the tree planting initiative.

“Starting local, that was the biggest take away for me,” says the Niagara-on-the-Lake resident. “It’s not really in my control to fix everything and completely stop climate change, but if I just start small, start local, it can go a long way.”

Pisaric looks forward to seeing the tree donated by this year’s Climate Crisis students thriving for decades to come.

“This initiative led by Dr. Childs provides the students in our Climate Crisis course with a practical experience directly related to the content they learned,” says Pisaric. “Using the concept of carbon offsets, he taught the students that everyday activities such as enrolling and participating in their course work can have ecological impacts, but at the same time, showed them that there are mechanisms to lessen those impacts.”
Tags: Citizen Science, climate change, course, Dimitre Iankoulov, GEOG 2P08, geography, Ginkgo biloba tree, Jayson Childs, Juanita Ayerbe Lozano, Michael Pisaric, student, student news, tree planting
Categories: News
Longtime Geography and Tourism Studies staff member retiring this month

Tuesday, December 07, 2021 | By Samantha Morris

FROM THE BROCK NEWS | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 07, 2021 | by Amanda Bishop

Virginia Wagg, shown here celebrating 25 years at Brock in 2019 with former President Gervan Fearon, retires from Brock at the end of December.

There’s no telling who you might find in Virginia Wagg’s office on any given day.

Whether it’s a student looking for assistance or a professor working out a scheduling issue or sharing a joke, the Administrative Co-ordinator and Academic advisor’s door is always open.

And if the gallery of gifts and thank-you cards housed in the space are any indication, her help has been appreciated by the Brock community over her past 27 years with the University.

Wagg, who will retire this month, came to Brock for a career change, having previously worked as a manager of customer service for commercial accounts at Canadian Tire Acceptance. After three years in Temporary Employment Services, she moved into what is now the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies and has been there ever since.

Professor and current Department Chair Michael Pisaric says that Wagg’s contributions to student engagement and the daily operations of the department can’t be overstated, and that she can’t be thanked enough.

“I think when most of our students look back at their time in the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies, one of their first and best memories is Virginia,” says Pisaric. “She has played a pivotal role in our department for 24 years and her wit, warm-heartedness and institutional knowledge have made her a key component of our department and programs, and across the University as well.”

Professor Michael Ripmeester agrees, saying the combination of Wagg’s institutional expertise and work ethic make her contributions “impossible to account for.”

“Whether it is a colleague working through a Workday problem or student who needs just one more course to graduate, Virginia cheerfully offers the required aid,” says Ripmeester. “But it is the little things that I will miss after she retires. Her laid-back manner and good humour bring a positive vibe to the department that will not be easy to replace, nor will her willingness to organize birthday celebrations and Christmas luncheons, to teach people to play euchre, to offer support or consolation when required, or to take a few minutes for a friendly chat. Put simply, Virginia is more than a fantastic colleague, she is also a good friend.”

Professor David Butz remembers when Wagg joined the department full time in 1997, after Colleen Catling moved to a different position in the University.

“Colleen helped mentor me into my first job as a professor, was a good friend and an amazing administrative co-ordinator, and I didn’t think we would be able to replace her with someone I liked as well or got along with as well,” says Butz. “Virginia proved me wrong. She, too, has been an amazing administrative co-ordinator, both in the sense of being really good at her job, and also a wonderful and true friend.”

Butz believes that Wagg’s ability to nurture relationships with individuals in the department has created a true sense of community. “I feel that Virginia, more than anything or anyone else, has held our department together as a unit comprised of friendly and collegial social relationships,” he says.

“Virginia is a low-key person who doesn’t draw attention to herself,” says Butz. “Her impact on the department and on myself hasn’t turned on key moments or any one thing, but rather, it’s her quiet competence, unfailing helpfulness, informality, patient willingness to listen, strong sense of welcome and hospitality, nurturing and supportive attitude to colleagues and students, unflashy thoughtfulness and generosity, ability not to leak a confidence or secret, and willingness to let us into her own life and her large, active and close family.”

Many of Wagg’s colleagues say they will remember her thoughtful co-ordination of birthday and work anniversary celebrations, which she managed through a list that included preferences on cake versus pie as well as whether individuals wanted to have a big celebration or fly under the radar.

They also say they’ll miss her at the lunch-hour euchre games that have long brightened up the department with laughter and ribbing — and helped ensure that coworkers took their much-needed lunch breaks. Wagg also shared her euchre love with the wider Brock community, organizing several successful progressive euchre tournaments at the annual Wellness Day event.

More than anything else, Wagg says she’ll miss the people and the friendships that have filled her workdays for the past 27 years. She plans to visit and already keeps in touch with several former students and colleagues on social media.

She’s also looking forward to spending more time with her family — be it travelling with her husband once restrictions are lifted, hanging out with her daughter and granddaughters, or helping her mother host four generations at weekly Sunday dinners.

Since an in-person celebration is not possible due to public health guidelines, students, alumni, staff and faculty are invited to share fond memories and well wishes online.

STORY REPOSTED FROM THE BROCK NEWS

Tags: David Butz, Michael Pisaric, Michael Ripmeester, retirement, Virginia Wagg
Categories: News
New video on “Climate Politics and Science” by David Grimes

Tuesday, March 23, 2021 | By Samantha Morris

On World Meteorological Day, March 23, 2021, David Grimes presented a virtual talk on “Climate Politics and Science: Obstacles, Relationships and Responsibilities”. Watch the video below:

Tags: climate change, David Grimes, event, meteorology, Michael Pisaric, Physical Geography, Public talk, video
Categories: News
New book chapter examines the changing ecology of the Arctic from a paleoenvironmental perspective

Saturday, January 02, 2021 | By Samantha Morris

Dr. Michael Pisaric has published a new chapter in the book Arctic Ecology titled “Arctic Ecology – A Paleoenvironmental Perspective”.

In the absence of measured climate and ecological data records, paleoecology, and paleoclimatology provide unique opportunities to examine ecological and climatic conditions across long timescales and provide much needed long‐term context. Across the Arctic there are numerous ecological problems affecting the biota and landscapes of this environmentally sensitive region. Climate change is chief amongst these. This chapter examines the changing ecology of the Arctic from a paleoenvironmental perspective. Using examples from studies throughout the circumpolar Arctic, the changing ecology of the Arctic is examined across longer timescales than typically considered in ecological studies. While instrumental records of climatic change in the Arctic are generally short, dendrochronology can provide key insights into climate variability during the past several centuries to millennia. There are many types of natural archives of ecological and environmental change from marine terrestrial environments in the Arctic.

Citation:

Pisaric, M., & Smol, J.P. (2021). Arctic Ecology – A Paleoenvironmental Perspective. Pages 23-55 in D.N. Thomas (Ed.) Arctic Ecology. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118846582.ch2

Tags: book, book chapter, Canada, Michael Pisaric, northern Canada, paleoclimatology, Physical Geography, research
Categories: News
Social Sciences event to showcase faculty, student research 

Thursday, December 03, 2020 | By Samantha Morris

FROM THE BROCK NEWS | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 03, 2020 | by Jeannie Mackintosh

Michael Pisaric (left), Professor of Geography and Tourism Studies, is pictured during a trip to Sunset Beach in St. Catharines to measure the quantity of plastics turning up in the sand. Pisaric is one of three faculty members who will speak about their work at the Social Sciences Research Colloquium on Wednesday, Dec. 9.

From lake bottom sediment to digital data, from hockey to health care, and from local actions to global implications, there’s no shortage of impactful research being done in Brock University’s Faculty of Social Sciences (FOSS).

The University community is invited to hear about some of the compelling projects underway by faculty and students during the upcoming Social Sciences Research Colloquium taking place online Wednesday, Dec. 9 from 1 to 4 p.m.

This annual event recognizes the outstanding achievements of FOSS researchers and gives award recipients an opportunity to present their findings to the Brock community and wider public.

This year’s virtual colloquium will feature recent recipients of FOSS faculty awards that recognize consistent records of outstanding research achievements as reflected in the quality and quantity of refereed publications, grants awards and other research activities.

Featured recipients include Michael Pisaric, Professor of Geography and Tourism Studies, who received the 2019 Distinguished Researcher award; Assistant Professor Karen Louise Smith from the Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film, who received the 2019 Untenured Researcher of the Year award; and Nicole Goodman, now Associate Professor of Political Science, who received the Untenured Researcher of the Year award in 2018, but was unavailable to present until this year.

In addition to faculty members, three winners of the Social Sciences Student Research Award were selected to present, including Pulkit Garg, who is pursuing a Master of Sustainability supervised by Professor of Biology Liette Vasseur; Jessica Falk, a Master of Arts candidate in Social Justice and Equity Studies, who is supervised by Margot Francis, Associate Professor of Women’s and Gender Studies; and Master of Arts candidate in Critical Sociology Appiah Bonsu, who is supervised by Associate Professor of Sociology Trent Newmeyer.

This is the second Research Colloquium to showcase FOSS student researchers alongside faculty award winners. Combined, faculty and student presentations represent six FOSS departments.

Winners of the 2020 FOSS faculty awards will be announced at the Research Colloquium, providing a preview of next year’s event.

All are welcome to attend the free online event. For more information, including the draft agenda and login instructions, please visit the Research Colloquium website.

What: Social Sciences Research Colloquium
When: Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Where: Lifesize
Who: This webinar is free and open to the public.

STORY FROM THE BROCK NEWS

Tags: awards, event, Faculty of Social Sciences, FOSS, Michael Pisaric, Research Colloquium
Categories: News
Geography and Tourism Studies Chair receives Michael Plyley Graduate Student Mentorship Award

Wednesday, May 13, 2020 | By Samantha Morris

FROM THE BROCK NEWS | WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020 | by Lauryn Carrick

Associate Professor Karen Fricker, recipient of the Michael Plyley Graduate Mentorship Award, virtually meets with her graduate student, Russ Martin, and his dog Odee.

The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) has named the five recipients of the annual FGS Awards, which were delivered the news in a virtual format for the first time in the awards’ nine-year history.

The awards, typically handed out at the Mapping the New Knowledges Graduate Student Conference in April, celebrate the accomplishments and excellence of members of Brock University’s graduate community.

“Despite not being able to recognize our winners in-person at this time, handing out these awards is still an important and meaningful celebration of the outstanding graduate culture that Brock has worked hard to grow,” says Diane Dupont, Interim Dean of Graduate Studies. “Our winners have all greatly contributed to making Brock an excellent place to pursue graduate education.”

Marilyn Rose Graduate Leadership Award

The Marilyn Rose Graduate Leadership Award, which recognizes a faculty, staff and students for their work and leadership in developing and/or enhancing graduate studies and the graduate student experience for students, was presented to Rachel Yufei Luan.

“To me, leadership is all about inspiring people,” says Luan, a second-year student in the master of Business Administration International Student Program. “It’s not only what you say you and do, but how you say and do it. People with good leadership skills can influence their community every day.”

Michael Plyley Graduate Mentorship Award

The Michael Plyley Graduate Student Mentorship Award normally awards two Faculty members for their outstanding mentorship of graduate students, one in the category or mentorship of only master’s students, and one in the category of mentorship of both master’s and PhD students. However, this year the adjudication committee was unanimous in their decision to name four award winners.

Michael Pisaric, Professor in the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies, and Karen Fricker, Associate Professor in the Department of Dramatic Arts, were awarded the Mentorship Award in the master’s only category.

Pisaric says receiving the award was “easily one of the highlights of my career.”

“When my students approached me about the nomination, I was touched that they thought of me in such regard as to nominate me. To actually receive the award, however, is humbling. Graduate students are at the heart of my research program. Without my amazing students, my research program would not be nearly as successful. We are creating the scientists and leaders of tomorrow ,and my goal is to ensure they are well prepared for whatever path they follow when they leave Brock.”

Pisaric says one of the most important aspects of being a mentor to his students is cultivating a thoughtful and supportive experience for his students in the same way he received while he was a student.

The award is equally as meaningful to Fricker, whose advice to other mentoring graduate students is to “seek out opportunities and giver ‘er. Such mentorship is one of the deepest rewards of academic life.”

As there are currently no graduate programs in Dramatic Arts, the opportunity for Fricker to supervise graduate students is small. Working with her current student in the master of Arts in Popular Culture has been educational and helped her stay on her own theoretical and critical game.

In the category of master’s and PhD students, the recipients of the awards were Madelyn Law and Miriam Richards.

Law, Associate Vice-Provost, Teaching and Learning and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, was touched that her students thought highly enough of their experiences with her to nominate her for the award.

“I don’t do things to win awards — I just always focus on improving the way I work with students based on listening and understanding their research and educational goals,” says Law. “Receiving this award has allowed me to see that this approach is appreciated and making a difference for these students lives, which is all I could ask for.”

Richards, a Professor of Biological Sciences, said the award was a great boost during an uncertain time. She also comments that being a good mentor is as beneficial for her, as for her students.

“Research and academia are challenging, fascinating and sometimes very difficult,” says Richards. “Research is a team activity and for science students, is basically an apprenticeship. It’s not really something you can do by yourself. Supervising grad students is one of the best things about my job.”

When asked to provide advice and insight to others on effectively mentoring students, all winners felt similar in that there was no perfect recipe, but touted open communication, understanding and kindness.

The full list of this year’s FGS Awards recipients are below.

Marilyn Rose Graduate Leadership Award

Rachel Yufei Luan

Michael Plyley Graduate Mentorship Award

Karen Fricker
Michael Pisaric (Geography and Tourism Studies)
Madelyn Law
Miriam Richards

Jack M. Miller Excellence in Research Awards (at least one recipient from each Faculty)

Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

Talia Ritondo, MA, Applied Health Sciences
Nigel Kurgan, PhD, Applied Health Sciences

Faculty of Education

Monica Louie, MEd, Education
Susan Docherty-Skippen, PhD, Education

Goodman School of Business

Ardalan Eyni, MSc, Management

Faculty of Humanities

Simone Mollard, MA, Classics
Brett Robinson, PhD, Interdisciplinary Humanities

Faculty of Mathematics and Science

Scott Cocker, MSc, Earth Science
Parisa Abbasi, PhD, Chemistry

Faculty of Social Sciences

Madeline Asaro, MA, Applied Disability Studies
Megan Earle, PhD, Psychology

STORY FROM THE BROCK NEWS

Tags: awards, graduate studies, Michael Pisaric
Categories: News
Brock students find alarming amounts of plastic in sand at St. Catharines beach

Wednesday, January 22, 2020 | By Samantha Morris

FROM THE BROCK NEWS | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020 | by Amanda Bishop

A collection of plastics picked up on Sunset Beach in St. Catharines by Brock University Geography students in October, 2019.

A day at the beach doesn’t often involve lab work, but for a group of Brock University fourth-year Geography students tasked with assessing plastic waste on the shores of Lake Ontario last fall, it was just that.

Back in October, students from Professor of Geography and Tourism Studies Michael Pisaric’s GEOG 4P26 class visited Sunset Beach in north St. Catharines to measure the quantity of plastics turning up in the sand.

Students measured out plots on the beach and sifted through the sand to collect as many tiny pieces of plastic as they could. They compiled their findings in lab reports for the end of the Fall Term.

The results are now in, and they’re alarming.

In one sample alone, one square metre of the beach yielded 665 individual pieces of plastic material.

Pisaric called the amount and variety of plastics collected in the samples “striking.”

“I think much of the discussion concerning plastics in the environment has been focused on the oceans and we are quickly understanding that plastic pollution is also an important issue closer to home in the Great Lakes,” said Pisaric, who is also Chair of the Geography and Tourism Studies Department. “This small study of a single beach on Lake Ontario clearly shows the prevalence of plastic pollution in our own backyard is a serious problem.”

Emily Bowyer, a third-year student from Mississauga majoring in Geography and Biology who participated in the field collection, described it as “an opportunity to see the magnitude of the problems in the environment first-hand.”

Another surprise to the team was the prevalence of nurdles — small plastic pellets used in the manufacture of many different goods.

Investigation during the course uncovered a 2013 Toronto Star article that suggested nurdles may have made their way into Lake Ontario via the Humber River during a factory fire.

“It is interesting to speculate that the prevalence of nurdles we noted in our samples may have originated on the other side of Lake Ontario,” Pisaric said.

The professor plans to run a similar investigation when the course is offered again next fall to address some of the questions that cropped up in light of the results of the students’ labs.

“Perhaps next time around I will have the students compare the beaches on Lake Ontario with a beach on Lake Erie,” he said. “Are similar quantities of plastics occurring in both areas? Do the types of plastic differ between the two lake environments?”

Carolyn Finlayson, Experiential Education Co-ordinator for the Faculty of Social Sciences, attended the field trip and witnessed how interested casual beach visitors were in the students’ activities.

“It’s a wonderful example of the larger impact experiential learning can have on our Niagara community and our students,” she said. “By working at the beach that day for their lab, students were able to start conversations with beachgoers about their use of plastic and its impact on the shorelines they enjoy.”

Cara Krezek, Director of Co-op, Career and Experiential Education, said these were exactly the types of courses the University envisioned when it committed to expanding experiential learning so all students had access to meaningful experiences in their programs.

“Courses like these take our students into a real-world setting and allow them to apply their knowledge, learn new skills and reflect on how they can take these experiences forward to a future career path,” Krezek said. “I am certain these students will never forget their findings and it will change the way they interact with plastics.”

Emily Bowyer, Pravin Rajayagam and Dakota Schnierle, students in a fourth-year Geography course at Brock, sift through sand on Sunset Beach in St. Catharines to find out how many plastics are washing up on the beach.

STORY FROM THE BROCK NEWS

Other Media Coverage

Brock students find alarming amounts of plastic at St. Catharines beach: Extensive media coverage was given to an experiential learning exercise led by Professor of Geography and Tourism Studies Michael Pisaric that saw Brock students uncover more than 2,000 pieces of plastic on St. Catharines’ Sunset Beach. The story was featured in the St. Catharines Standard, CBC, CHCH, Newstalk 610 CKTB and Coastal News Today.

Tags: environment, experiential education, GEOG 4P26, geography, Michael Pisaric, Physical Geography, student
Categories: News
Film crew joins Crawford Lake research efforts

Tuesday, May 28, 2019 | By Samantha Morris

REPOSTED FROM THE BROCK NEWS
THURSDAY, MARCH 07, 2019 | by Devon Gribble

Scientists representing Brock, Carleton and McMaster University and Conservation Halton watch as Brock graduate student Joe Viscek, Professor Mike Pisaric and graduate student Scott Cocker recover the first core collected from Crawford Lake on Feb. 20. (Photo courtesy of Conservation Halton)

When a group of researchers returned to Crawford Lake to continue the search for evidence of a possible new geological era, they came with a film crew to document the occasion.

Toronto-based Mercury Films joined the team of scientists, led by Brock’s Department of Earth Sciences, shooting footage during last month’s trip to the Milton site to collect samples.

Brock Professors Mike Pisaric and Francine McCarthy, Brock undergraduate student Brendan Llew-Willams and Carleton Professor Tim Patterson discussing the stratigraphy visible in sediments. (Photo courtesy of Conservation Halton)

The team is studying the lake as a possible location to define a new geologic epoch called the Anthropocene. It is one of 10 sites being captured by Mercury Films.

The production company’s most recent film,Anthropocene: The Human Epoch, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this past September and is part of a multimedia project that includes a major travelling museum exhibition of photographs, short films and augmented reality. It has been featured at the Art Gallery of Ontario and National Gallery of Canada, and will be on display in Bologna, Italy, in April.

In addition to the field work, Mercury Films will visit Brock to obtain footage of the laboratory analysis component of this research effort. As part of a project, contracted through the German government, they will highlight each site’s candidacy for type section — a location where evidence of a time period shift can be seen — and cover all the steps leading to the formal proposal of the Anthropocene epoch.

In order to receive this ‘golden spike’ designation, a proposal must be submitted to the Anthropocene Working Group (AWG) for evaluation. If the AWG approves of this proposal, it will then be evaluated by the International Subcommission on Quaternary Stratigraphy, chaired by Brock University Professor of Earth Sciences Martin Head.

While the world is technically in the Holocene epoch, the group researching Crawford Lake, which also includes researchers from Carleton and McMaster universities as well as Conservation Halton, hopes their findings can convince fellow scientists around the globe to establish the start of the latest geological age.

Researchers suggest the Anthropocene began around 1950. While it hasn’t been officially adopted as a geological epoch, Brock Professor of Earth Sciences Francine McCarthy and her team are attempting to build a case for Crawford Lake.

Annually laminated freeze core recovered from the deep basin of Crawford Lake. (Photo courtesy of Conservation Halton)

To get a better understanding of the history that exists within Crawford, annually laminated sediments called varves are recovered through freeze-coring — a process that involves dropping a dry ice and ethanol filled-metal sampler into the lake.

“Over the next year or so, various types of analysis of the varves and the overlying water will be conducted, including radionuclide analysis to look for the ‘bomb spike’ and evidence of the Great Acceleration since the Second World War,” McCarthy said. “If a good radionuclide signature, including plutonium, is present in the sediments of Crawford Lake, the site will be a strong contender as the type section, with a ‘golden spike’ at around 1950.”

Faculty of Math and Science Dean Ejaz Ahmed commended team members for their efforts.

“I would like to send my congratulations to the team for their work on this matter,” he said. “They should be both proud of their research and excited by the attention it is receiving.”

There is still plenty of work to be done before the Anthropocene is recognized as a geological era. Progress reports from 10 candidate sites will be presented in April at the upcoming European Geophysical Union Meeting in Vienna. Additionally, supporters from each site will travel to Berlin in May to discuss the next steps that need to be taken to establish the Anthropocene epoch.

Nick de Pencier of Mercury Films Inc. filming Brock Professor Mike Pisaric and graduate student Joe Viscek as they prepare to core Crawford Lake. (Photo courtesy of Conservation Halton)

Story reposted from The Brock News.

Tags: climate change, environment, graduate studies, Michael Pisaric, research
Categories: News