Hooked on science crochet

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Raymond Nakamura, Multimedia editor You might think of crochet as just a pleasant hobby for passing long winter evenings during an endless pandemic. But in the right hands, crochet can also be a wonderful way to communicate science. Not only is Dr. Tahani Baakdhah a medical doctor with a Ph.D. in neurobiology, but she is […]

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Antimicrobial resistance: The silent pandemic

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Jaspreet Sanghera, Biology and Life Sciences editor When was the last time you had the stomach flu, had your wisdom teeth removed, or had an ear infection? Most likely, you received an antibiotic, a type of antimicrobial drug designed to either prevent or treat bacterial infections. Alexander Fleming’s initial discovery of penicillin in 1928 brought […]

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On the trail of the B.C. bat mortality mystery

Half of the 16 bat species in B.C. are either vulnerable or threatened, and ecologists and farmers alike worry about how the loss of these voracious pest control experts will affect our natural and agricultural systems. Dr. Glenna McGregor, a pathologist at the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, is investigating….

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The history of science: The story of humanity’s pursuit of knowledge

University of Toronto laboratory where insulin was discovered. Photo from University of Toronto Archives. Public domain.

Mary Anne Schoenhardt, Science & Society editor The summer of 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin, which is credited to the two Canadian scientists Frederick Banting and Charles Best. Insulin has saved the lives of millions of people who have diabetes. This discovery won the Noble Prize in Physiology and Medicine […]

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Feeling zine: Developing science communication skills through reflection

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Raymond K. Nakamura, Multimedia editor   “I was so proud of my public lecture. All my scientist friends say I did an excellent job. But I saw the glaze in my parents’ eyes; I missed the mark.” – Lia Formenti, from her reflection on science communication in the McGill Space Institute’s zine.   Reflection involves […]

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