Short bursts of exercise known as exercise snacks could help make workplaces become healthier environments.

Getting up from the desk, taking a walk around the block or using the stairs instead of the elevator can go a long way in helping the health of sedentary workers, according to new research from UBC Okanagan.

A team of UBCO researchers recently published a study looking at the feasibility of short bursts of exercise—known as exercise snacks—performed in the workplace. The paper suggests if exercise snacks became as routine as sitting, virtual or in-person meetings and water cooler breaks, the workplace could become a healthier environment.

“Sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity are two key factors that have been independently linked to premature morbidity and mortality,” says the study’s lead author, Dr. Matthew Stork. “Moving more throughout the work day may not only improve physical health but also has the potential to positively impact mental health and work productivity.”

But a full day at work, combined with any household duties such as dinner preparation and helping the kids with homework, leaves little time for full-time employees to get 30 minutes of cardio exercise. That’s where the idea of exercise snacks comes in.

Exercise snacks are a modern convention, and previous studies by Dr. Jonathan Little, Professor in UBCO’s Faculty of Health and Social Development, have demonstrated that repeated short bouts of this style of exercise can help people get fitter.

This newest research, published recently in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, says exercise snacks, along with health improvements, could easily and enjoyably be integrated into the workplace, says Dr. Alexis Marcotte-Chénard, who worked on this research as a visiting scholar from the Université de Sherbrooke.

“We know traditionally prescribed moderate-intensity exercise may be impractical for many office employees who are unfit and short on time,” says Dr. Marcotte-Chénard. “The main objective of this study was to determine people’s receptivity to completing exercise snacks in a real-world workplace setting and evaluate a person’s psychological responses to two types of stairclimbing activity.”

The researchers recruited participants at UBC’s Okanagan campus, and the stairclimbing exercise was completed across five different buildings on campus—the participants’ natural working environment. The study compared two options of exercise: high-intensity interval training (HIIT), performed as three bouts of about 60 stairs (three flights) within a structured five- to six-minute HIIT session, and exercise snacks, consisting of three isolated bouts of about 60 stairs performed sporadically throughout the work day.

“We wanted to determine which option the participants found to be more pleasurable, enjoyable and practical for completion in their natural work environment,” says Dr. Marcotte-Chénard. “Participants tried both options while supervised by the researchers, and then were free to try either option unsupervised in their workplace for one week.”

Results showed that 71 per cent of participants preferred completing exercise snacks, compared to stair-climbing HIIT. There was also a lower perceived rating of exertion during the exercise snacks. Whether they preferred HIIT or exercise snacks, all participants noted high post-exercise enjoyment and self-efficacy towards both types of workplace exercise.

“There has been a lack of research to assess the psychological and affective response to exercise snacks, which is a major gap because these are known to be important predictors of exercise participation,” adds Dr. Stork.

“This study addressed this key knowledge gap by examining the psychological responses to exercise snacks. To our knowledge, this was the first study assessing the acute psychological responses to exercise snacks in a workplace setting. The findings are encouraging because they indicate that exercise snacks, simply climbing three flights of stairs three times per day, might be an attractive way to increase physical activity and fitness in the workplace.”

This new study helps build the foundation for future research on the potential health benefits of exercise snacks in the real world. Drs. Little and Marcotte-Chénard continue the research in the Exercise Metabolism and Inflammation Lab at UBC Okanagan.

The post UBCO researchers show it’s possible to step up activity, “snack” more at work appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

UBC Okanagan faculty and community partners are hosting a two-day virtual symposium about the ongoing Columbia River Basin Treaty.

As the clock ticks on the existing Columbia River Treaty, UBC Okanagan faculty members are preparing to discuss the river, its environmental effects, treaty operations and how climate change has affected the waterway throughout BC, Washington State and Oregon at a two-day virtual symposium scheduled for Nov. 29 and 30.

The symposium will cover many aspects of the Columbia River including the long and storied history of the 60-year Columbia River Transboundary Treaty between Canada and the US, governance, vitality and the future of this 2,000-kilometre-long body of water that stretches across the 49th parallel.

The Tribes and First Nations Advisory Committee, which includes members such as Pauline Terbasket of the Okanagan Nation Alliance and DR Michel from the Upper Columbia United Tribes, among others, has been pivotal in shaping the symposium’s topics and speaker selection. They’re drawing from extensive knowledge and experience in the Columbia River Basin and their guidance reflects over a decade of trusted and reciprocal relationships, which are fundamental to the ongoing dialogues and gatherings organized in the Basin.

Dr. Joanne Taylor, a Postdoctoral researcher in UBCO’s Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, is the lead event organizer. She says a new treaty is imperative for First Nations, Tribes, Basin residents and the environment.

Can you explain what is at stake for residents of the Columbia River Basin?

Residents have numerous concerns including flood control and flexibility in how the river is operated. Sixty years ago, when the treaty was first put into action, the First Nations and public were not consulted or included in negotiations as the treaty was designed solely for flood control and hydropower between the two countries.

Controlling the Columbia River caused irreparable damage to the environment, decimated First Nations’ and Tribes’ fisheries and cultures, and displaced more than 2,000 people while submersing viable farmland in the Arrow Lakes area that was flooded when one of three Columbia treaty dams—the Hugh Keenleyside—was built in 1968 under the treaty.

This speaks to the heart of my research into food and water security for both colonial settlers and First Nations. Although the Grand Coulee Dam built prior to the treaty killed fish passage, we cannot ignore the unfair operations of dams in the area.

Many residents are calling for the removal of dams as has been done on the Klamath River along the Oregon-California border and the Elwa River in Washington State where anadromous (migrating) fish species returned naturally and almost immediately.

What is concerning about the current state of the basin?

Along the 230-kilometer-long Arrow Lakes reservoir, we are seeing some of the lowest water levels ever which are exposing First Nations’ archeological sites, relics of lost homes and farmland on dried river beds, and thousands of fish that are dying due to a lack of normal flow and water levels. Basin residents are deeply saddened and want to see flexibility in how the river is operated which would include consulting Sovereigns—a call that is consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

How Canada and the US proceed in creating a revised treaty is an opportunity for reconciliation between Canada and Indigenous Peoples. We need to think about the salmon, the river and what legacy we are leaving to our children, seven generations into the future.

When is a new treaty expected to be announced?

After 19 rounds of negotiations that began in 2018, both US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have encouraged treaty negotiators to work hard to create a newly revised transboundary agreement by Sept. 16, 2024. This date is when the guaranteed flood control component of the current treaty expires and reverts to on-call; something that neither country necessarily wants to see as they wade into unknown waters, literally. Hydropower generation continues indefinitely until the treaty is renewed or expires. Negotiators are now meeting on a weekly basis.

What is being organized by researchers and partners of the Columbia Basin?

We have organized a two-day virtual event where Indigenous voices will join academics, community and government leaders, and residents of the Columbia River Basin in a non-partisan forum that will discuss the future of the river and its resources.

Who will be speaking and what will be discussed at this event?

This event is organized by UBCO, the Universities Consortium on Columbia River Governance, the One River Ethics Matter Project and the North American Youth Parliament for Water.

We will also have presentations from people across the basin and the globe, including those from Tribes and First Nations, concerned youth, not-for-profit representatives and individuals from private and public sector businesses.

Some of the topics that will be discussed are Indigenous-led salmon revitalization initiatives in the basin, water quality in the Elk and Kootenai/y watersheds, global perspectives on governance models, ethical and intergenerational aspects of public engagement in water governance and other pressing issues facing the third largest watershed in North America.

Through open invitations to not only basin residents but to participants globally, this symposium is designed to engage a broader public through synthesis, exchange, networking and facilitated dialogues between and beyond the Columbia River Treaty, and will act as a catalyst for an in-person gathering that organizers are currently considering for next year.

How can people learn more?

For more information and to register, visit columbiabasingovernance.org.

The post UBCO faculty members to voice concern at Columbia River symposium appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

A still from The Floating Man shows Smith dressed as Peanut, a “genderqueer clown in love with pink,” in a reflective moment.

What: The Floating Man film screening
When: Wednesday, November 22, 7 to 10 pm
Where: Mary Irwin Theatre, Rotary Centre for the Arts, 421 Cawston Ave., Kelowna
Cost: Sliding scale $10 to $25

In his intimate self-portrait, Michael V. Smith’s feature documentary The Floating Man explores his gender journey with his signature vision of iconic imagery.

During the documentary Smith, who is Professor of Creative Writing in UBC Okanagan’s Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, sources his art practice to examine a lifetime of untrue stories about his body. Beginning with interviews in his hometown, and moving forward through mentors—such as queer filmmaker John Greyson— and then students of his own in Kelowna, Smith explores the kaleidoscope of a body’s relationship with gender.

Running parallel in a second storyline is footage from a disastrous art project Smith attempted in 2005. Dressed as Peanut the Dancing Clown, Smith hitchhiked from Vancouver to the Sunshine Coast over the Canada Day long weekend in search of celebrated artist Joni Mitchell. However, he felt too awkward to perform as Peanut and never did meet the iconic Canadian singer.

Smith says this new movie is a conversation starter.

“It’s a love letter to my young self, to tell him what beauty is available if he listens to his own joy. And to let other people know that nuance and being in between are exquisite tools for self-actualization and social change, to help others find themselves too.”

The Floating Man premiered at Chicago’s Reeling Film Festival, and is now scheduled in other festivals across North America. The sold-out Canadian premiere took place October 22, in Vancouver, in partnership with UBC Connects at Robson Square and Out On Screen.

“Queers invent ourselves in such communal and compassionate and inquisitive ways, gender being a particularly joyful example of that embodiment, which gets negotiated against social pressures and ignorant lies,” Smith says, noting that he is excited to share this work with the local community in Kelowna. “I’m so glad that people are seeing the movie for what I’d hoped. It’s wonderful to be so witnessed. And to receive that sharing of themselves in return.”

He does warn there is some harmless nudity towards the end of the film, similar to what might be seen in an art gallery. Viewer discretion is advised.

A bar and concession will be available before and during the show. The venue is wheelchair accessible and has gendered, stalled washrooms, with a gender-neutral, accessible washroom available by request.

Doors open at 7 pm, with opening remarks at 7:30 pm. The film is 77 minutes long, with a time for questions afterwards. Tickets for the screening are available on a sliding scale between $10-$25 and can be purchased at: www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-floating-man-kelowna-film-premiere-tickets-731354028587

This event is made possible with the support of UBC Okanagan, the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies and the Rotary Centre for the Arts.

The post <em>The Floating Man</em> Kelowna documentary premiere appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

Recent UBCO research explored burrowing owls in the Okanagan and how they’re adapting to climate change. Photo by Ray Hennessy on Unsplash.

As the world grapples with the pressing challenges of climate change, new research from UBC Okanagan emphasizes the critical role of grasslands in sustaining biodiversity, particularly for migrating species like the burrowing owl.

A recent study from Dr. Lilian P. Sales, a postdoctoral fellow working with Dr. Lael Parrott in UBCO’s Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences department, explored the burrowing owl and how it’s adapting to climate change. The iconic species might see its habitat expand toward northern latitudes due to changing climates; however, this expansion is contingent on the availability of its primary habitat, native grasslands.

“A key motivation for this is the preservation of the Okanagan grasslands,” says Dr. Sales. “Despite its low abundance, the burrowing owl is often used as a symbol for grassland preservation and serves as a cultural icon linking the land, its people and conservation efforts.”

The burrowing owl depends on grassland environments for nesting and breeding. The study, employing ecological niche models coupled with climate and soil data, projected that under specific high-emission climate change scenarios, the burrowing owl could expand its range three to 10-fold toward northern regions. However, nearly half of these newly suitable environments might lack grassland coverage, predominantly due to human activities like agriculture and urbanization.

This deficiency might hinder the establishment of breeding populations for the owl. Such discoveries underline the urgent need to prioritize the conservation of grasslands across western North America.

“Not only could these grasslands offer sanctuary to the burrowing owl, but they could also serve as pivotal habitats for many other species migrating from the south,” says Dr. Sales.

The researchers strongly advise that any land-use plans for the future should integrate strategies for protecting grassland habitats, which are well adapted to the conditions of our changing climate. Such foresight will ensure that these areas can be practical tools for regional climate adaptation and biodiversity preservation.

“In the Okanagan, conservation areas such as the South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Area and the proposed South Okanagan Similkameen National Park Reserve are critical parts of a strategy for ensuring our landscape can be resilient to climate change,” says Dr. Parrott. “As a climate adaptation strategy, local governments should strive to protect a connected network of grasslands and open habitats from Osoyoos to Vernon.”

A focused approach towards safeguarding grasslands, intertwined with targeted conservation initiatives for species like the burrowing owl and burrow-digging mammals, can potentially maintain the diversity of these unique ecosystems in our changing climate.

“While it’s tempting to label the burrowing owl as a climate change indicator, we lack sufficient data to do so confidently,” Dr. Sales says. “However, we can predict range expansions for grassland-dependent species, and they will need natural cover to thrive.”

Dr. Sales says she was especially invested in the research because it connected her with the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society of BC. The group was instrumental in helping the UBCO researchers give their work real-world context.

The research offers a broader perspective on biodiversity conservation, says Dr. Sales. Landscape management should evolve as species move and adjust their geographic ranges in response to changing climates. Holding onto historical species lists as benchmarks for ecosystem health might become obsolete given the rapid ecological changes expected this century, she says.

“Adopting a forward-thinking approach to conservation might be the key to safeguarding global biodiversity in an ever-changing world,” says Dr. Sales.

The study appears in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

The post Grasslands key to burrowing owl expansion amid climate change, UBC Okanagan study finds appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

Not only did Remission Possible participant Amy significantly improve her blood sugar levels, but she also lost weight and started feeling better physically and mentally.

A team of UBC Okanagan researchers recently won an award for a social media campaign that helps showcase research findings showing that Type 2 diabetes remission is possible.

More than 90 per cent of the diabetes diagnoses in Canada are Type 2—when a person’s body does not make enough insulin and the body becomes insulin resistant, leading to risese in blood sugar levels and the body not creating the energy it needs for proper functioning.

Today is World Diabetes Day and UBCO researchers Dr. Jonathan Little, a Professor in the Faculty of Health and Social Development, and Dr. Barbara Oliveira, a Research Coordinator with the School of Health and Exercise Sciences and the Centre For Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, want people to know that diet and exercise changes can help control Type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Little talks about Remission Possible, the award they won and new hope for many people with Type 2 diabetes.

Can you explain the T2 Spark Innovation Challenge?

The T2D Spark Innovation Challenge was a recent contest that provided a platform for students, researchers, health-care providers, innovators and people living with or affected by Type 2 diabetes. Participants had an opportunity to pitch, in front of a panel of judges in a Dragon’s Den style format, creative ideas that could help with Type 2 diabetes prevention, management, and remission.

The event was sponsored by the BC Diabetes Research Network, Interior Health and UBC Okanagan’s Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management Centre, along with private partners. Our team won $15,000 for our story-telling and social media campaign Remission Possible.

What is Remission Possible?

There is emerging scientific evidence that Type 2 diabetes can be put into remission and this provides new hope for people because it indicates their condition may not be chronic and progressive and they may be able to control their blood sugar and come off medication with specific changes to diet and exercise.

Harnessing the power of character and story—from people with lived experience of Type 2 diabetes remission—our team created an inspiring social media campaign to spread the word that remission is possible.

The campaign shares the real-life journeys of people who have achieved Type 2 diabetes remission. With social media advertising, we are able to promote these stories to reach thousands of British Columbians, spreading the word that Type 2 diabetes remission is possible.

The campaign provides evidence-based information, a toolkit with tips on remission and a letter they can bring to their health-care provider.

What are some of the stories from your participants?

Working with documentary filmmaker Damien Gillis, Remission Possible tells the inspiring journeys of JJ, Theresa, Chris and Amy.

JJ was enrolled in one of our UBCO clinical trials to achieve remission by following a low-calorie diet. Theresa worked with her doctor to follow a low-carb diet, engaged in time-restricted eating and started taking post-dinner walks. Chris learned how to follow a ketogenic diet and became an avid hiker and rock climber. Meanwhile, Amy started exercising and worked with a dietitian on a sustainable eating plan.

All of the participants explained in their videos how remission gave them hope that they could manage their condition and that remission was a journey, not a destination. Each story was unique but one commonality was that a supportive health-care provider—a doctor, registered dietitian or pharmacist—was key.

And what were the results? Is this typical?

Each individual has their own inspiring pathway. Amy, for example, noticed her blood sugars were going too high, with an A1C at 11.1 per cent—higher than the 6.5 per cent threshold for diabetes diagnoses. She worked with a dietitian to change her diet and got active by incorporating tennis and dragon boat racing into her routine. Her A1C numbers came down to 5.6 per cent—which is in the normoglycemic range—and she doesn’t have to take any medications.

Amy also lost some weight and started feeling healthy again. She highlights how important it is to respect your body and accept “pauses or small missteps” along the ongoing journey of Type 2 diabetes remission.

What direction do you see your research going in the future?

Through the power of story and social media, we wish to connect with broader audiences nationally and internationally to demonstrate the value and hope that Type 2 remission can bring to patients.

We would also like to integrate health-care provider-based remission programs and empower interested patients to take the next step in their health journey.

To learn more, or share a success story, look for Remission Possible stories on social media, at facebook.com/T2Dremission or learn more at: diabetesremission.ca

The post UBCO researchers spread the message that Type 2 diabetes remission is achievable appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

Wendy Wong, UBC Okanagan Professor of Political Science.

It’s critical to understand how Big Tech is mining, storing and profiting from your data, says UBC Okanagan Professor Dr. Wendy H. Wong, because human experiences are becoming data.

Wong is a Principal’s Research Chair and Political Science Professor interested in human rights, global governance, international relations and, especially, data rights.

“We face losses on both individual and societal levels,” she says. “Our identity and humanity are at risk. When companies gather data and build profiles about us, they steer us toward particular outcomes. This challenges our autonomy and how we’re perceived and treated by others. This isn’t just about respect but dignity and equality.”

Dr. Wong attempts to unravel many of these sticky issues in her new book, We the Data: Human Rights in the Digital Age.

Can you shed light on the role of Big Tech companies in creating data?

Data about us is co-created. Every piece of data is a collaboration between the individual’s actions or thoughts and the entity collecting it. This mutual creation complicates our ability to claim complete control. While we might want rights to “our data,” we have to recognize that this data, in its current form, didn’t even exist before the 2000s when companies began actively collecting it. Big Tech shapes our world through data collection. The pathway to empowerment is through data literacy and becoming a data stakeholder.

How does becoming a stakeholder help us?

Being a data stakeholder means understanding how data affects us and our communities. It’s realizing that we have power over AI and data technologies. We don’t have to let machines dictate our lives. By understanding data better, we can make informed decisions and have more control.

How does data affect human rights?

From an individual perspective, data collection can strip us of our identity and humanity. Algorithms categorize all of us, based on our past actions and the actions of those “like us.” They nudge us, but they assume our pasts predict our futures. But often they don’t. It’s a loss of autonomy, and in a sense, dignity. We’ve seen the effects of this in social media. People can adopt toxic behaviours when exposed to toxic content, leading to real-world harm that prevents others from acting or treating others as lesser, in simple black-and-white terms

How do you respond to the idea that AI’s emergence is unavoidable?

I’m not saying we should stop AI’s development. It’s important to know that conceding control to machines is a choice, not a conclusion. Our current challenge is that we’re attributing too much power to these machines. Consider cars: they’re faster and stronger than humans, but we never envisioned them taking over. We control them. With AI and algorithms, there’s this disconnect. These machines are human-made tools, not entities that magically appeared. It’s vital we remember that and take back control.

Why do you write that data, and not algorithms, are the larger problem?

An AI is only as good as the information it’s fed. The rise of machine learning took off once companies began hoarding data. Let’s shift our focus from algorithms and hone in on data. If we handle data correctly, we can avoid harmful outcomes. Instead of tweaking algorithms, let’s evaluate and manage the data they’re using. That way, we can preserve our human identity and uphold our values.

Isn’t the genie out of the bottle? How can we expect corporations to stop something so profitable?

I genuinely question if these major technology companies, with all their smart, highly trained personnel, can’t find a new business model if data collection becomes more stringent or costly, both financially and socio-politically. Would companies adapt if suddenly accessing loads of data came with more friction or costs? I believe so. Some suggest paying individuals for their data. I’m not a fan—it feels wrong, like selling parts of yourself. Instead, why not have users pay for services? If apps became pricier, maybe users would prioritize and only use what truly benefits them. It could naturally sift out unnecessary data-hungry apps.

How does government play a role?

It can create policies that safeguard individuals and groups while putting checks on technology companies. What gets to me is when I see efforts, like Parliament, trying to regulate AI by only consulting those who profit financially from AI development. By doing that, we’re getting their wish list of regulations rather than what might be best for society. If we don’t want machines to dominate, we have to actively make that choice. And, if AI companies are the only voices shaping the policies, it’s unlikely those regulations will truly reflect the society’s broader wishes.

Is the onus on individuals to protect their data?

Handing someone a lengthy terms and conditions document, filled with complex jargon, is like passing the buck. If everyone just agrees, why would companies change? Even if you decide to switch off all your apps, you’re one person. Imagine trying to navigate modern urban life, especially a professional one, without online tools. Our capitalist system pushes this idea of individual control, even when the broader system isn’t really in an individual’s hands. I might sound critical of capitalism, and that’s a broader issue, but when technology giants claim they can’t adjust because of profits, given their historic wealth, I find it hard to believe.

Dr. Wendy H. Wong is a Professor and Principal’s Research Chair in Political Science. In her latest book, We the Data: Human Rights in the Digital Age she explores how technology companies play a pivotal role in governing our lives by leveraging the countless amounts of personal data generated in our everyday interactions online.

The post See the humanity in data, UBC Okanagan professor says appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

An aerial view of the Bonaparte River (Kluhtows to the Shuswap people) floodplain surrounded by burnt slopes. Photo credit: Dr. Alessandro Ielpi.

After wildfire, the devastation to the landscape and communities is obvious and unforgettable.

And now, a UBC Okanagan researcher is taking a different look at fire-impacted areas. Dr. Alessandro Ielpi, an Assistant Professor in Geomorphology with UBCO’s Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, recently published research examining how the record-setting 2017 Elephant Hill Fire affected the Bonaparte River near Cache Creek, BC.

The research was recently published in CATENA, and was developed in collaboration with his colleague and long-time friend Mathieu Lapôtre, an Assistant Professor in Earth and Planetary Sciences at Stanford University.

The wildfire started in July 2017 southwest of Ashcroft, rapidly growing northward. It eventually burned 192,000 hectares and destroyed more than 100 homes in two months.

“It takes a few years to gain a full picture of how a wildfire has impacted a river. It’s sort of like a fog of war slowly lifting,” says Dr. Ielpi. “The Bonaparte River’s watershed was significantly impacted by the Elephant Hill Fire—about half of the entire watershed was burned to some degree.”

Dr. Ielpi says it’s important to keep in mind the Bonaparte—with a watershed shy of 4,000 square kilometres in surface area—is not a huge river system compared to, say, the Fraser, Mackenzie or Yukon rivers.

“When you think of a wildfire that impacts 1,900 square kilometres, it is indeed enormous. But watersheds are typically much larger,” he explains. “If you look at the watershed of very large rivers, they are hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions of square kilometres. To put that in perspective, even the largest wildfire we have burning in Canada is like a drop in the bucket when you look at the dynamics of really large river systems we have here on the continent.”

“Watersheds such as the Bonaparte River’s represent a sweet spot between sizes large enough to host mature floodplains with farmlands and communities, and small enough to be significantly impacted by large wildfires. And even though wetlands and riverbanks may not have directly burned, barren soils from hillslopes started releasing higher amounts of sediment to the river once the stabilizing vegetation was gone.”

To track changes to riverbanks, the research team surveyed the Bonaparte River in 2019 and again in 2021, and collected a number of satellite and aerial images that depicted the channel at different times before and after the fire.

“It generally isn’t until two or three years later that you really start to see what’s happening,” he says. “And what we saw is that the channel expanded and widened in response to the addition of sediment from burnt slopes. And it also accelerated its pace of erosion—the speed at which it erodes banks and moves across the floodplain has accelerated substantially.”

The Bonaparte River has widened up to 130 per cent and the researchers estimate the erosion pace has increased by 230 per cent. People who live nearby, or depend on the river, especially farmers and Indigenous communities such as the Bonaparte First Nation, also noticed a change in spawning beds, an increase of river silt immediately after the fire and that the water was supercharged with sediment.

“We can’t say with certainty how long-lasting this change will be; rather, we expect—and hope—that it will recalibrate with time. But it’s still important for communities and planners to understand that in a five-year timeframe after a wildfire, rivers and floodplains continue to be affected.”

Dr. Ielpi says they cannot predict if this is going to take place at every river touched by a wildfire—as every river and fire are different—but the data they collected allowed them to develop a model to estimate the increase in sediment supply. They were able to document post-fire channel widening and accelerated migration, and provide first-hand evidence of major alterations in landscape dynamics at the watershed scale.

These findings, in turn, have implications for hydraulic engineering and hazard forecasting related to changes in river dynamics downstream of wildfire areas.

The data can also be used for other regions like the Amazon Basin and the Great Basin of the Western United States to help predict potential post-wildfire river movement, floodplain damage, flood threat and even how spawning channels are changing.

“By comparing pre- and post-fire estimates of sedimentation in the Bonaparte River’s watershed, our model ultimately provides evidence of a megafire inducing watershed-wide alterations in stream mobility and geometry,” he adds. “This is an exploratory paper, but I hope it’s one that makes people think about the complex and multifaceted repercussions of wildfires, even years down the road.”

The post UBCO researcher examines how wildfires can transform rivers appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

Creative Writing Assoc. Prof. Nancy Holmes (left) will host UBCO’s Sharon Thesen Lecture virtually on September 27.

What: Annual Sharon Thesen Lecture: When We Both Were Clothed Alike: Conversation Poetics
Who: UBCO Creative Writing Program, Associate Professor Nancy Holmes
When: Wednesday, September 27 at 7 pm.
Where: Online via Zoom

UBC Okanagan’s Creative Writing Program is hosting its fourth annual Sharon Thesen Lecture with Creative Writing professor and author Nancy Holmes.

Holmes will give a virtual lecture titled “When We Both Were Clothed Alike: Conversation Poetics.” The audience will watch the live broadcast of Holmes’ address from the Corbishley Family Reading Room at UBC Okanagan Special Collections and Archives, located in the Commons building.

Holmes will explore the quality of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poetry and remind us that poems do complex work around division, balance and incorporating difference—a kind of thinking and communication that is key to contemporary problems.

“The Sharon Thesen lecture is a unique opportunity to explore important ideas through poetics, in the spirit of Thesen herself,” says Holmes. “She has been a champion of the cultural value of poetry and the necessity of the artistic imagination.”

An Associate Professor of Creative Writing, Holmes has published six collections of poetry, most recently Arborophobia. Her last publication, The Flicker Tree: Okanagan Poems, is a collection of poems about the place, people, plants and animals of the Okanagan Valley.

Thesen, a renowned Canadian poet and editor, was the first full Professor in UBCO’s Department of Creative Studies and is now a UBC professor emerita. Both Holmes and Thesen can be considered artists and scholars who are essential to the story of UBC’s Okanagan campus. Many of their works can be found within the Okanagan Special Collections (OSC), including their joint editorial venture in Lake: A journal of arts and environment, published by the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies from 2007 to 2012.

Some 60 items relating to Thesen, Holmes and past lecture hosts have been selected from OSC’s holdings for display as a backdrop to this year’s lecture in the Corbishley Family Reading Room. The public is invited to view the exhibition starting October 3. The OSC is open for walk-ins Monday to Thursday, from 11 am to 3 pm, or by appointment. Please contact osc-contact@lists.ubc.ca for more information about access to the exhibition.

For more information about the Sharon Thesen Lecture series or to register for the event, visit fccs.ok.ubc.ca/authors.

The post UBCO to host fourth annual Thesen lecture appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

Mothers with depression who reported higher levels of support felt less stressed and more competent in their parenting, says Dr. Sarah Dow-Fleisner at UBCO’s School of Social Work.

The proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” takes on new significance when a mother of a child is experiencing depression.

“Being a mother with depression carries increased risks for a child’s physical and psychological health,” says Dr. Sarah Dow-Fleisner, Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work and Director of the Centre for the Study of Services to Children and Families at UBC Okanagan. “But it’s not fated to be, especially if mothers have external supports.”

Dr. Dow-Fleisner’s findings, recently published in the Journal of Family Issues, have important implications for how social workers and clinical practitioners—as well as families and communities—can help.

While a lot of research focuses on the postpartum period during which the rate of depression among mothers is highest, Dr. Dow-Fleisner wanted to focus on depression occurring later in childhood. Her team used data from a large longitudinal US study to compare depressed and non-depressed mothers of nine-year-old children.

Her analyses revealed that mothers with depression were more likely to report parenting stress and less likely to view themselves as competent parents as compared to non-depressed mothers. They also reported engaging in more disciplinary tactics, including nonviolent tactics like taking away privileges as well as aggressive tactics like cursing or threatening the child. In terms of involvement, they were less likely to be involved at the child’s school, such as attending an open house. However, they were equally likely to be involved in home activities, such as helping with homework.

“Furthermore, mothers with depression reported fewer interpersonal supports and community resources than mothers without depression,” says Dr. Dow-Fleisner. “This is consistent with previous research.”

Interpersonal supports refer to both emotional and material help from others, such as a relative providing advice or emergency childcare. Community resources refer to safety and neighbourhood cohesion. Neighbourhood cohesion measures the willingness of neighbours to help and the shared values of the neighbourhood, among other social and trust factors.

“Notably, those mothers with depression who reported higher levels of support and cohesion felt less stressed and more competent in their parenting,” says Dr. Dow-Fleisner. “These positive perceptions translated to less psychological aggression-based discipline and more home and school involvement with their children.”

These findings fit with a resilience perspective, whereby mothers facing adversity like depression can still thrive as parents—especially when these protective factors are present.

“We want to help moms both address their depression and improve the child’s health and wellbeing—this is known as a two-generation approach,” says Dr. Dow-Fleisner. “As mothers may not seek out help for their depression alone, a child health check-up in a primary care setting is a good opportunity to screen for maternal depression and provide support in identifying interpersonal supports and community resources.”

Dr. Dow-Fleisner adds that supportive programs should go beyond addressing immediate parenting problems and instead build capacity. For example, a community-based parenting support group could help a mother to build a network of people who could provide material and emotional support as needed. Dr. Dow-Fleisner cites Mamas for Mamas as one such community-based group. Mamas for Mamas, with branches in Kelowna and Vancouver, builds community and provides material as well as other supports for mothers and other caregivers.

“Further funding of programs that empower mothers—including those experiencing mental health concerns—would go a long way in improving the health and wellbeing of children, mothers and families,” says Dr. Dow-Fleisner.

The post Mothers experiencing depression can still thrive as parents appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

Researchers from Michigan State University and the University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus are developing technology to collect, purify and detect viruses in air using magnetic levitation.. Photo by Fusion Medical Animation on Unsplash

Researchers from the University of British Columbia and Michigan State University (MSU) have invented a system that can quickly and inexpensively detect airborne viruses using the same technology that enables high-speed trains.

The team showed that a technique known as magnetic levitation can be used to easily collect and concentrate viruses from air to help prevent future outbreaks of respiratory disease. The researchers published their work in the journal ACS Nano.

“This could help identify that an environment is contaminated before a pandemic happens,” says Sepideh Pakpour, an Assistant Professor of Engineering who led the research team at UBC’s Okanagan Campus.

In addition to serving as an early-warning system, the team’s new technique also could help health officials and epidemiologists better track and trace exposure to viruses in public settings.

“It’s very important to have real-time management and real-time predictions in place for viruses,” says Morteza Mahmoudi, an Associate Professor in the Department of Radiology and the Precision Health Program at MSU. “What we’ve developed is a system that could help us and other stakeholders get more information about the different types of viruses in the air we breathe.”

Pakpour and Mahmoudi started this project by applying magnetic levitation, or maglev, to respiratory viruses in 2018 with support from the Walsh Foundation and the New Frontiers in Research Fund.

As they learned the pandemic was caused by an airborne virus, they knew they had to redouble their efforts. The team used a deactivated version of the coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 in their proof-of-concept report, along with H1N1 influenza and a virus that infects bacteria known as bacteriophage MS2.

The system first collects air samples, then injects the sample into a fluid where maglev separates viruses from other particles. The isolated and purified viral contents are then passed along to other standard analytical techniques for identification in a matter of minutes. The approach is so straightforward that it could be used by nonexperts in a variety of settings such as clinics and airports, the researchers say.

The team is now taking the first steps toward commercializing its technology while working to improve it at the same time.

Although downstream techniques can identify which viruses are in a sample, one of the team’s future goals is refining the maglev step to distinguish between different viruses on its own. The researchers also are working to heighten their technique’s sensitivity and detect viruses in air at lower concentrations.

Still, the team is excited by what it was able to accomplish in its initial work and by what it may enable other researchers to do.

“Using maglev for disease detection and purifying viruses is brand new, and it could open up applications in many different fields,” Mahmoudi says. “This opens up a fundamentally new direction in analytical biochemistry.”

The post UBCO researcher lifts virus detection to next level appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.