LFS 302D – Asian Elephant Field Course [Course Offering]

Are you interested in exploring the welfare of wild animals? Do you want to join a cohort of students for an immersive cultural experience outside of North America? Are you curious to know how the behaviour of animals can be studied in the wild? If so, then the upcoming summer field course, LFS 302D – Asian Elephant Compassionate Conservation in Thailand, might be for you.

The Asian Elephant Compassionate Conservation field course explores how the science of animal well-being can be used in conservation to improve outcomes for animals, people, and the environment. Compassionate Conservation is a cross-disciplinary, scientific field that recognizes that the health and well-being of all living things – including humans – are connected.

Students will participate in an on-going research program from late June through July, 2022. Research will look at the behaviour, social dynamics, bioacoustics, and food ecology of a family re-wilded Asian elephants. Students will hike into a pristine bamboo and tropical evergreen forest to observe these elephants, assess the forest habitat, and survey other wildlife. Students will be accommodated in homestays by the local village. In addition to research activities, students will have the opportunity to participate in local activities.

Want to know more – attend a Zoom information session.

Thursday, February 17^th, 5pm

Tuesday February 22^nd, 3pm

https://ubc.zoom.us/j/65836154811?pwd=SXZNenloNDg2ZnNXdmg2YWlkYUQ1QT09

Additional Information:

Additional information including the application form can be found at: https://wiki.ubc.ca/Course:LFS302D

If you cannot attend the information session and you would like more information please contact the course instructor, Kristen Walker at kristen.walker@ubc.ca

February 7, 2022

MSc in Aquaculture at UBC

Research Area

As the aquaculture industry expands there is increasing push to reduce reliance on antibiotics and other chemicals to prevent or treat impacts from pests and pathogens. Methods to stimulate the immune system with the use of feed additives, or water treatments are of great benefit to the industry. This is a unique opportunity to work on a joint project with UBC and the Fisheries and Ocean Canada (DFO), in collaboration with leading finish aquaculture industries in the province. The successful candidate will lead scientific investigations into the use of fluvic acid as a feed and bath supplement for immune stimulation in locally important fish species for aquaculture, such sablefish, chinook salmon, rainbow trout, and/or arctic char. Desired outcomes of this study are to develop specific protocols for inclusion of these health additives into practices applicable to the hatchery environment.

Responsibilities

Capable of getting to PSEC (Pacific Science Enterprise Center) in West Vancouver
Daily fish care
Experimental setup
Data collection
Laboratory analysis
Data management
Statistical analysis
Thesis and scientific publication write-up
Eventual presentation of their results at a scientific meeting to transfer their gained knowledge to stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor in Animal Science, Marine Biology, or Related Science Discipline with a minimum grade average of 70%
For students who have not yet completed degree, there is the option to start this project as part of a Work-Learn position.

How to Apply

Please submit a current CV, a cover letter outlining your motivation for the position, and the contact details of two references to Dr. Andrea Frommel.

Additional Information

If you want more information, please contact:

Dr. Andrea Frommel at andrea.frommel@ubc.ca
Aquaculture and Climate Change Lab
Faculty of Land and Food Systems, UBC

January 12, 2022

ISCBC Provincial Youth Summit

The Invasive Species Council of BC is pleased to host the 2022 Provincial Youth Summit: “The Power of One”, on January 15, 2022.

Summit Background

The Invasive Species Council of BC convened the first Provincial Youth Summit in 2020. The Youth Summit brought together youth, leaders and industry experts from across BC. Attendees explored volunteer projects in habitat restoration and learned from environmental experts.
The 2022 Provincial Youth Summit takes place virtually on January 15, 2022.

Summit Program

Hear from several exciting speakers including Simon Jackson, the founder of the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition, and Katie and Claire, the founders of Friendly Composting. Learn how illustrative nature journaling promotes biodiversity in BC and inspires appreciation of the natural world.

Registration Link

The Deadline to Register is January 15, 2022 at 10am Pacific Time.

https://bcinvasives-ca.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcof–ppzgvGtQMGwhqiNrt_gtEIkhdtx_L

December 8, 2021

Job Opportunity: Field Worker at Close to Home Organics

Position Overview:

Close to Home Organics is a family-owned and operated organic mixed-vegetable farm, located in Abbotsford. We farm at Glen Valley Organic Farm as shareholders of the Glen Valley Organic Farm Cooperative. In 2022, our sales will focus on a Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) program that we run in cooperation with Earth Apple Organic Farm. We are seeking two farm workers to work with us through the farming season. One of those farmers would start in February, the other closer to April (we can be flexible on start-time), and work with us through to the end of October. Both are full-time positions with a Monday-Friday work-week.

Our Field Workers are expected to work outside in all types of conditions. The work is physically demanding and is at times solo. Successful farm workers are self-motivated, aware of their body’s need for water and stretching, driven to get the work done efficiently, and communicate well with others. Preference will be given to applicants with previous farm experience and proven ability to work efficiently. The work is not glamorous, but the results are tangible…and delicious.

Example Tasks:

Field and Cold-frame Tasks:

Bed preparation (using a tractor), irrigation maintenance
Seeding, and transplanting (using hand tools)
Weeding (by hand, with hand tools and mechanized tools)
Harvesting (by hand)
Pathway maintenance (using hand tools and/or walk behind rototiller)

Packing Tasks

Washing and packing vegetables according to customer orders
Following cleaning protocols to maintain a food-safe work environment

Farm Tasks

Grass maintenance
Blackberry maintenance
General help in spring clean-up and maintaining a tidy farmyard

Compensation:

$17/hour
Access to produce ‘seconds.’

More Information:

https://www.closetohomeorganics.com/work-with-us

Chris Bodnar or Page Dampier at
Email: hello@closetohomeorganics.com
Telephone: 604-897-1111

The logo of close to home organics

November 15, 2021

LFS Ace Event – Is Grad School Right for Me?

Time: Tuesday, November 23, 2021, at 5-6pm Pacific Time
Location: Zoom
Registration: https://qfreeaccountssjc1.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eDHBV1pMMFFJbRc

If you’re thinking about all of the different graduate opportunities, and are feeling confused about them joining the event will be beneficial for answering those questions.

LFS Alumni speakers will be at the event to share their experiences from their education, and careers, and will be a great opportunity to have those questions answered, and to help you figure out if grad school will be right for you!

More Information about Grad School: https://lfs-ps.sites.olt.ubc.ca/files/2020/11/Is-Grad-School-Right-for-Me-Slides.pdf