News release: Canada-U.S. team looks to genomics to guide North Atlantic right whale conservation

Philip Hamilton and his team of scientists from the New England Aquarium photograph a social group of North Atlantic right whales. (Photo: New England Aquarium, Brian Skerry)

For immediate release

July 22, 2021- Halifax, N.S.

The number of critically endangered North Atlantic right whales continues to be buffeted by high mortality rates from vessel strikes, fishing gear entanglements, and by a low rate of reproduction. There is now estimated to be fewer than 400 individuals left, including less than 100 breeding females. With inbreeding suspected as a major factor in the species’ low birth rate, a Canadian-U.S. team of scientists is launching a research project to assess how genetic factors are hampering the right whale’s recovery.

Dr. Tim Frasier (centre), a specialist in genetic analyses and marine mammal behaviour from Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, N.S. is shown on the trail of North Atlantic right whales. At Saint Mary’s University he is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology. (Photo: Brenna Frasier)

Conservation Genomics of the Endangered North Atlantic Right Whale is a $6 million, four-year international collaboration with Genome Atlantic and Saint Mary’s University, in Halifax, N.S., and with the New England Aquarium in Boston, Mass. Other collaborators include Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Whale Institute in Canada, along with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Duke University, and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, all in the United States.

This landmark project was one of eight announced today by the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. The projects are the latest to attain funding through Genome Canada’s Large-Scale Applied Research Project (LSARP) Competition.

Managed by Genome Atlantic, the project is co-led by Dr. Timothy Frasier, Saint Mary’s University, who has been doing genetic analysis of the right whale for more than 20 years; and by Philip Hamilton, a leading expert on right whale biology and Senior Scientist at the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium in Boston.

The Genome Atlantic project will look at genetic factors that could explain why the reproductive rate of North Atlantic right whales is three times lower than their known potential. The team also plans to assess if, and to what degree, non-lethal encounters with vessels and fishing gear change the expression of genes in a manner that lowers the long-term health and reproduction of individuals, and to evaluate the ramifications for conservation of the species. The team will combine genomics– the study of genes and their functions–with long-term field data on North Atlantic right whales and their reproductive histories.

Recommendations, based on the project findings, will be made to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in Canada and to the National Marine Fisheries Service (also known as NOAA Fisheries, an office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) in the U.S. on right whale-related recovery expectations, goals and conservation priorities. The results could have implications for marine management policies, practices and conservation plans. The two government entities are charged with managing and conserving the North Atlantic right whale population within their respective jurisdictions. Seasonal migrations, which send a portion of the right whale population through Canadian and American waters, have made recovery of the species a joint concern.

Apart from the multi-million-dollar whale watching industry that has grown around them, whales play a vital role in stabilizing marine ecosystems by helping to regulate a wide spectrum of marine organisms with their presence. The nitrogen-laden fecal matter they release when they rise to the ocean’s surface to defecate, for instance, is known to stimulate plankton growth and other microorganisms that form the foundation of the oceanic food chain, critical to the existence of marine life and for the maintenance of the fishing industry.

Besides Genome Canada funding, the international research project will receive support from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Research Nova Scotia in Canada, and from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the US National Marine Fisheries Service, and the New England Aquarium in the United States.

The project is expected to start between July and September this year.

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QUOTES:

The endangered North Atlantic right whale plays an important role in our marine ecosystem, and conserving this species is of vital importance and urgency. By identifying to what degree genetic factors are influencing the whales’ recovery, this project will aid conservation efforts and help us monitor their population. Conserving endangered marine wildlife benefits our environment, our economy and our communities.”

—Dr. Steve Armstrong, president, Genome Atlantic, the Canadian non-profit corporation managing the project.

“Although inbreeding has been an important topic in population biology for over a century, our understanding of its impact in the wild, and in endangered species in particular, is still in its infancy due to a lack of good case studies. This study, where we have the ability to combine 40 years of field data with genomic data for such a high percentage of individuals, will allow us to not only quantify the impacts of inbreeding on the recovery potential of this species, but will also greatly improve our understanding of the impacts of inbreeding on wildlife populations and the subsequent implications for conservation.”

—Dr. Timothy Frasier, project co-lead and Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, N.S.

“Since 2015, this species has experienced a precipitous decline that is unprecedented in 40 years of study. We know many are dying from vessel strikes and entanglements; We don’t know the impacts of non-lethal wounds caused by humans, or the impacts of their reduced breeding pool. We need to make bold changes to how we use the oceans and to do so, we need as much understanding of the problem and cultural support for those changes.”

—Philip Hamilton, project co-lead and Senior Scientist, Kraus Marine Mammal Conservation Program, Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, Mass.

“We now have individual genetic profiles for over 80 per cent of the whale population that has enabled researchers to identify paternity and construct family trees. We can now address the burning question: what, if any, is the impact of inbreeding on reproduction and how does that affect species recovery? In my dealings with representatives of the shipping and fishing industries, I often get asked that very question. The results of the DNA analyses will be shared with mariners to help them understand the importance of measures to reduce entanglements and ship strikes, in order to avoid further narrowing the genetic diversity of the species. Additionally, this will enable researchers to identify paternity, and therefore help reveal the family tree of these incredible creatures.”

—Dr. Moira Brown, Senior Scientist, Canadian Whale Institute, Welshpool, N.B.

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Genome Atlantic is a not-for-profit corporation with a mission to help Atlantic Canada reap the economic and social benefits of genomics technologies. Since its inception in 2000, the corporation has worked with a range of private and public-sector partners to enable more than $125 million in new genomics R&D.

Saint Mary’s University is one of Canada’s top primary undergraduate universities–known for its international collaborations, leadership in entrepreneurship, and research that benefits local and global communities. Our programs in Arts, Science, Graduate Studies and the Sobey School of Business are among Canada’s best and feature professors who are committed to the success of their students. Saint Mary’s provides our 7,000 students with a place that fosters possibility, excellent research opportunities, and distinguished graduate and professional programs combined with a caring community. Nestled in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Canada’s east coast, Saint Mary’s University is marked by iconic buildings, green spaces and fresh ocean air. The Saint Mary’s University community is committed to a prosperous future for the world—a world without limits.

The New England Aquarium is a global leader in marine science and conservation, working to safeguard ocean animals and habitats. With more than 1.3 million visitors a year, the Aquarium is one of the premier visitor attractions in Boston and a major public education resource for the region. The Aquarium’s research and rescue efforts build on the institution’s 50-year legacy of protecting the blue planet and advocating for vital and vibrant oceans. In the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, scientists conduct applied marine research that informs ocean management, policy, and industry practices, and contributes to the innovation of new technologies. Through its Sea Turtle Rescue Program, the Aquarium helps protect critically endangered and threatened sea turtle populations through rescue, rehabilitation, and release efforts.

Undergraduate Students Earn Paid Summer Research Positions

 With hard work and dedication to their studies, top undergraduate students at Saint Mary’s have won the opportunity to do paid research with their professors this summer. Some will be in labs, others in the field or working remotely.  

Research at Saint Mary’s University has an impact on our community and globally. These students are placed across the campus in Science, Arts and Business faculties. Research topics include applying human resource concepts to sports teams, analyzing data and images from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, the shift in approach to feminist policy in Canada, and analysing case studies on the collapse of fish stocks and fisheries worldwide.  

Canadian and International students are eligible for four award programs:

• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s Undergraduate Student
  Research Awards (NSERC USRA);

• Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Explore Summer Research Awards; and,

• Dean of Science Undergraduate Summer Research Awards

• First Year Undergraduate Awards

Working with professors whose research is making positive changes in the world guides students on their educational path to become the next generation of researchers.  

“Saint Mary’s University faculty members excel at engaging undergraduate students in their research efforts, and these experiences are a transformational positive experience for every student that has the opportunity,” said Dr. Adam Sarty, Associate Vice-President, Research and Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.  

“The one-on-one attention from our faculty members and teamwork with peers is a perfect complement to an undergraduate degree, and provides an exceptionally strong foundation for career entry, or future professional/graduate studies,” said Dr. Sarty.  

The Awards

USRA awards, open to Canadian students who have completed at least a year of a bachelor’s degree, are meant to help students develop their potential for a research career in the natural sciences and engineering.

SSHRC Explore awards are open to students studying social sciences and humanities. With these two award programs that are supported by our federal funding councils, combined with the Dean of Science and First Year awards, all Saint Mary’s University students, Canadian and international, have an opportunity to apply for summer research award positions, even after their first year of study. 

This year are students are working on these exciting and inspiring research projects:

Humaid Muhammad Agowun (Mathematics & Computing Science; Supervisor: Paul Muir) 

Tanisha Ballard (Chemistry; Supervisor: Clarissa Sit)

Continuing certain projects already initiated, my lab partners and I will be looking at improving plant growth, and potentially, pest control in crop production. This summer, hopefully we will be able to conduct field trials on various crops, as well as additional greenhouse and green roof trials this summer to investigate this.

Abigail Battson (Astrophysics; Supervisor: Vincent Hénault-Brunet)

I will be working on high-velocity stars in globular clusters. These stars are far too fast to have been produced by the typical cluster dynamics, and are likely produced by interactions between a binary star system and a black hole. My work involves finding these stars using the GAIA proper motion data and confirming that they are likely members of the cluster, with plans to apply this process to all the globular clusters I can. Eventually, I hope to analyze the three-body interactions that cause the star's high speed to discover what kind of black holes would produce the results observed.

Samantha Bennett (Environmental Science; Supervisor: Erin Cameron)

This summer I am going to be studying soil biodiversity and the effects of global change, climate change and invasive species on species distribution. I will spend part of the summer researching earthworms, looking into their distribution and dispersal. I am hoping to get the opportunity to go to Western Canada later in the summer to study the distribution of earthworms in Saskatchewan.

Hannah Birru (Economics; Supervisor: Joniada Milla)

Labour economics in Chile.

Abby Brouwer (Biology; Supervisor: Anne Dalziel)

Testing how freshwater tolerance evolves in stickleback or study the factors influencing hybridization rate and direction in killifishes. This work will involve collecting fish from the field, caring for fish brought back to the aquarium facilities, and conducting molecular and biochemical analyses in the lab.

Chloe Champion (Biology; Supervisor: Anne Dalziel)

Continuing field and molecular work in the Dalziel Lab on “Mechanisms affecting rates and directions of hybridization in killifish species producing asexual hybrids.”

Jakob Conrad (Mathematics; Supervisor: Mitja Mastnak)

The study and classfication of hopf algebras, using computational methods and tools, and studying the simultaneous triangularization of linear transformations and their corresponding chains of invariant subspaces.

Katrina Cruickshanks (Biology; Supervisor: Sean Haughian)

Analyzing lichen species of old growth forests of Nova Scotia to assist land managers with prioritizing conservation decisions. 

Myles Davidson (Psychology; Supervisor: Skye Stephens)

I am working with Dr. Skye Stephens on a prevention project for adults at risk of sexually offending against children. We are working on identifying what is considered best practice for preventing offending amongst this demographic.

Bryn de Chastelain (Political Science; Supervisor: Alexandra Dobrowolsky)

My research is supporting the development of an article by Dr. Dobrowolsky on the topic of feminist policy and gender equality in Canada. Specifically, I will be analyzing speeches and policy approaches under Pierre Elliott Trudeau and his son Justin Trudeau, demonstrating the shift (or lack thereof) in approach to feminist policy in Canada. This will inform a comparative analysis of the different political eras to showcase the realities of feminism and gender equality in Canada. 

Matthew Fancy (Marketing; Supervisor Tiffany Vu)

Helping to develop and test various theories in marketing pertaining to charitable giving and sustainability.

Mark Funnell (Geography & Environmental Studies; Supervisors: Matthew Novak & Khan Rahaman)

I am a first-year Geography undergrad working with the Wicked Problems Lab to assess the pandemic’s effect on local governance. This looks to answer how municipal government has been affected in Halifax and elsewhere in Canada through using qualitative data analysis software and other research methods.

Justin Gray (Mathematics and Computing Science; Supervisor: Stavros Konstantinidis)

A regular expression is a pattern that is used to match desirable word(s) in a text. Given a regular expression and a word, there are algorithms to determine if the regular expression matches the word; this is called the membership problem. This is often solved by converting the regular expression into an automaton, but can also be solved using other direct algorithms. My research will focus on algorithms and implementation of the membership problem for multi-dimensional word/regular expression tuples, which are studied in the area of what is formally known as rational word relations. This type of regular expressions is of current interest both in the theory of rational relations and their applications in areas like databases and computer security.

Samantha Henneberry (Chemistry; Supervisor: Rob Singer)

This summer I will be working with Dr. Singer and his team on a green chemistry project involving ionic organocatalysis. These ionic organocatalysts can potentially provide more green alternatives to traditional organic liquids. Another project involves the N-demethylation of opioids, using sonochemical / ultrasound methods. This project falls under the medicinal side of organic chemistry, and may even be published by the end of the summer.”

Jacob Hoare (Chemistry; Supervisor: Rob Singer)

Sam Julien (Chemistry; Supervisor: Christa Brosseau)

I am a 4th year chemistry honours student. I will be developing a novel biosensor for rapid detection of cardiac biomarkers. This technology may be useful for the early evaluation of heart attacks before the onset of physical symptoms.

Amy Kehoe (Engineering; Supervisor: Adel Merabet)

Maggie Kelly (Biology; Supervisor: Laura Weir)

I will be working with Dr. Weir and her study of the mating behaviour of Japanese Medaka fish.

Madison Kieffer (Modern Languages and Classics; Supervisor: Sveva Svavelli)

Processing artifacts and organizing documentation from the archaeological excavation at the Oenotrian-Greek site of Incoronata “greca” (Pisticci-Basilicata-Italy) (8th- 6th c. BCE). Current investigation of the site focuses on the relationships formed between Indigenous populations in southern Italy and incoming Greeks in the wider context of Greek colonialism and imperialism in the ancient Mediterranean.

Mayara Mejri (Biology; Supervisor: David Chiasson)

Nam Nguyen (Accounting; Supervisor: Vasiliki Athanasakou)

I am super passionate about working in the accounting and taxation field. I am currently participating in the research project of Professor Athanasakou to perform analysis on corporate reporting, and I am working full-time as an Excise Tax Examiner at the Canada Revenue Agency.  I am interested in this topic as I have the opportunity to review and evaluate annual reports and information forms from many different companies. Working with Professor Athanasakou and learning from her stories and experience will allow me to learn and gain more handy skills and knowledge, and this would help in pursuing my CPA designation.

Narmeen Oozer (Mathematics & Computing Science; Supervisor Mitja Mastnak)

Bibek Parajuli (Psychology; Supervisor: Arla Day)

Gwen Pearson (Women & Gender Studies/Criminology; Supervisors: Byers/Collins)

Collecting existing data and research on the subject in the media, including television shows and documentaries. I will examine the content relating to many different aspects like story arc, genre, and how characters are portrayed. I also expect to learn skills relating to criminology, media studies, and research, that will likely benefit me as I complete my degree. 

Bernice Perry (History; Supervisor: Heather Green)

Working alongside Professor Green and her collaborators on the Northern Borders Project, researching first and secondary sources for developing an open access online teaching module, surrounding aspects of borders and boundaries in the North. This project entails looking at physical borders and cultural and racial boundaries using scholarly and local perspectives. There is also an opportunity for independent research surrounding the project themes, which may be featured in the teaching module.

Grace Robertson (Environmental Science; Supervisor: Tony Charles)

I will be compiling and analysing case studies and other information from around the world on the collapse of fish stocks and fisheries, leading to a published report. I will also be working with simulation modelling of the impacts of marine protected areas on fisheries and marine biodiversity. Lastly, I will be engaging in the work of the Community Conservation Research Network through research and outreach activities.

Jacqueline Shaw (Psychology; Supervisor: Kevin Kelloway)

Working with Dr. Kelloway and his research group to study organizational response to the Covid-19 outbreak, as well as psychological injuries at work, stress interventions, and the relationship between personality and organizational outcomes.

Jaylynn Skeete (Psychology; Supervisor: Nicole Conrad)

I will be assisting Dr. Conrad with her research on the relationship between spelling and reading comprehension, and with statistical input and analysis as well as creating my own research study and design. 

Ashley Ta (Management; Supervisor: Terry Wagar)

Applying human resource concepts to sports teams, coaches, and athletes. I will also be assisting in writing literary reviews, assembling data, and conducting interviews. 

Devin Williams (Astrophysics; Supervisor: Marcin Sawicki)

Analyzing data and images from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and other giant ground-based telescopes to study galaxy morphology, and learn how galaxies form, grow, and evolve in the early Universe.

Saint Mary’s Looks to Future with New Brand Story

Saint Mary’s University is looking to the future with the launch of a new brand.      

“It is time for Saint Mary’s University to assert our place boldly among the top Canadian universities and proclaim our advantages at home and around the globe,” says Saint Mary’s University President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “This is the brand for our university and for our times. Saint Mary’s University offers a bright, ambitious vision for the future.”  

The new brand platform results from months of qualitative and quantitative research and extensive consultation with a diverse group of more than 3,000 faculty, staff, students, alumni and other stakeholders.   

The new treatment includes a logo, wordmark and tagline, ‘World Without Limits.’    

“‘World Without Limits’ is a wonderful distillation of who we are and what Saint Mary’s strives for every day. It is about investment in people, about economies, international relations and social prosperity, changes in science, technology, environment and business. It is also about acknowledging and tackling the very real limitations placed on diverse and marginalized cultures and peoples, and addressing the mental health issues that many grapple with every day. It is about Saint Mary’s bold vision and our commitment to our university community, for Halifax and for Nova Scotia,” says President Summerby-Murray.    

“More than an updated look and feel, our new brand platform is a powerful way of telling the Saint Mary’s story,” says Erin Sargeant Greenwood, Vice-President, Advancement. “Saint Mary’s offers a unique experience. We are a caring community, more typically associated with smaller universities, combined with the research and student engagement opportunities of the largest institutions. We are moving the university forward in a way that reflects our traditions and values and embraces our bright future.”   

Related links

• Learn more about our new brand platform

• Learn about the Sobey School brand

• Learn about the Husky logo

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Study shows long-lasting impacts to lake health from old gold mines

Water on the tailing fields of the historical Montague Gold District transports contaminated materials towards Mitchell Brook, which flows into Barry's Run, and then into Lake Charles. Wind is also a mechanism of tailings transport. Credit: Linda Campbell

New findings of a multi-university team of researchers show that pollution from historical gold mining in Nova Scotia, Canada, persists at levels that impact the health of aquatic ecosystems, despite mine operations closing nearly a century ago.

“Mining activities from 100 years ago can still impact freshwater ecosystems today. Our work reveals that lakes may show signs of recovery from those impacts,” notes Saint Mary’s University Professor and co-author Dr. Linda Campbell. “Even so, we must remain vigilant about understanding and monitoring the legacy of those contaminated tailings in our modern ecosystems to support recovery processes.”

Over 350 gold mines operated throughout Nova Scotia between the mid-1800s and 1950. Urbanization and land development has taken place nearby some historical mining areas and people sometimes use these areas for recreational activities. Waste tailing materials with elevated and potentially toxic levels of arsenic and mercury often are associated with historical gold mining sites in Nova Scotia. The tailings can contaminate soil and aquatic sediments through water and wind movement.

This study used dated sediments from the bottom of two urban lakes located near one of the region’s largest historical mining operations. Lake sediments are a well-recognized and information-rich natural archive of past environments which allow the assessment of geochemical and biological conditions of lakes and their watersheds before, during, and after pollution has occurred.  

The study was recently published in the peer-reviewed international journal Science of the Total Environment and highlights how pollution from past gold mining combined with contemporary stressors such as climate change and urbanization may contribute to prevent complete lake recovery from century-old mining pollution.

“Past mining activities that occurred throughout Nova Scotia introduced considerable amounts of arsenic and mercury into the environment,” says lead author Allison Clark, from Mount Allison University. “Although the Montague Gold District closed to mining 80 years ago, lakes nearby still remain severely impacted.”

Currently, arsenic levels are still very high in the lake sediments—300 times above levels that are known to harm aquatic organisms. Mercury has returned to levels observed before gold mining began. This suggests that arsenic is behaving differently than mercury within the sediments at the bottom of tailing-impacted lakes.

“Mining is both a blessing and a curse,” notes Mount Allison University Associate Professor and co-author Dr. Joshua Kurek. “Society benefits but past mining activities practiced throughout Nova Scotia continue to harm ecosystems and citizens are now left with the clean-up costs.”

Additionally, invertebrates that live on and interact with the lake’s sediment have become less diverse compared with a similar reference lake, likely due to the mining pollution as well as other recent watershed stressors. Loss of key organisms may affect lake food webs, leading to issues with water quality.

Funding for this research was provided by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Genome Atlantic.

SMU receives federal funding for major new chemistry centre collaboration

This week a major $518-million funding initiative from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) was announced by the federal government, giving support to 102 projects at 35 post-secondary institutions across Canada.

Saint Mary’s is proud to be a collaborating partner on a project at Memorial University in Newfoundland. The new ACESCentre: Atlantic Canada Environmental and Sustainable Chemistry Centre was granted $6.7 million in federal CFI funding; Saint Mary’s will see approximately $485,000 of the total. The total value of the project with funding from other organizations will be $16.9 million.

This new world-class research centre will address challenges related to the environment. Many faculty members across campus, including those in Chemistry, Geology, Biology and Environmental Science will benefit from this investment.

At Saint Mary’s the funding will provide the installation of three new instruments for the Centre for Environmental Analysis and Remediation (CEAR) lab, which will serve the university and the greater community for the next two decades.

These significant investments in science and technology will provide our team with the ability to build on a history of collaborative research excellence, with a focus on sustainable chemistry and materials,” says Dr. Christa Brosseau, Chemistry researcher at Saint Mary’s and co-applicant on the project.

“We are grateful to be able to share this knowledge with the next generation of scientists, and with this strengthening of our Centre for Environmental Analysis and Remediation, we look forward to highlighting Atlantic Canada's abilities and goals on an international stage,” says Dr. Brosseau.

“Researchers at Memorial University and Saint Mary’s will collaborate to “address, study and solve problems related to several key, interrelated areas of environmental and economic importance pertaining to sustainable resource development and environmental knowledge in Atlantic Canada,” reads the project proposal.

“The tools requested will provide chemists, ocean scientists, biochemists, and engineers access to world-class instrumentation for characterization of molecules and materials for both sustainable resource processing and product development, and environmental understanding and monitoring.” 

About the Canada Foundation for Innovation

For more than 20 years, the CFI has been giving researchers the tools they need to think big and innovate. Fostering a robust innovation system in Canada translates into jobs and new enterprises, better health, cleaner environments and, ultimately, vibrant communities. By investing in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment in Canada’s universities, colleges, research hospitals and non-profit research institutions, the CFI also helps to attract and retain the world’s top talent, to train the next generation of researchers and to support world-class research that strengthens the economy and improves the quality of life for all Canadians.

Saint Mary’s scientists enter into five-year partnership with Atlantic Gold to research remediation of historic gold mine tailings in wetlands

Dr. Linda Campbell and Dr. Emily Chapman in their research lab at Saint Mary’s University.

Saint Mary’s University’s research into environmentally sustainable and cost-effective remediation of historic gold mine sites across Nova Scotia is receiving a boost in the form of a five-year partnership with Atlantic Gold, a wholly owned subsidiary of St Barbara Ltd, based in Australia.

 “St Barbara is a global gold company and is proud to own and operate the Atlantic Gold Operations in Nova Scotia,” says St Barbara Managing Director and CEO, Craig Jetson. “As we operate our business and care for our people, we are guided by our company commitments – including respecting the environment and stronger communities.

“At St Barbara doing the right thing is important to all of us. Saint Mary’s University’s research into environmentally sustainable and cost-effective remediation of historic gold mines across Nova Scotia is aligned with our commitments, including growing sustainably,” says Jetson.  “We believe in learning from the past to secure our future and look forward to seeing this philosophy applied in the important work being done by Saint Mary’s University.”

“This is a significant investment by St Barbara, reflecting the importance we place on finding solutions to actively manage and neutralise the impact of our mining operations, because we care about the environment and the planet,” says Jetson. “We have recently committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and are pleased to see our Atlantic Gold operations leading to deliver on this promise by 2025.We look forward to updates on the important work being done by the Saint Mary’s University team and thank them for their commitment to this project.”

The funding is part of a new five-year partnership between Saint Mary’s University and Atlantic Gold with the first payment of $200,000 being delivered late in 2020.

Tailings runoff in Montague.

There is a long history of gold mining in Nova Scotia, and methods used 100 years ago are now known to be damaging to the environment. The goal of the Saint Mary’s University research team, led by Dr. Linda Campbell, is to use its proven expertise from previous studies of former mine sites to develop a low-cost remediation strategy. This new strategy is designed to support the natural recovery of wetlands and shallow water environments impacted by 100-year-old contaminated tailings.

“I want to thank Atlantic Gold for their strategic partnership and financial investment in advancing world-leading research that benefits both our local and global communities,” says Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “This partnership is an exemplar of innovation with a community-centred approach. It addresses a challenge with an immediate local connection but with far-reaching national and international implications.”

The scope of the damage to the environment from abandoned gold mines is wide, encompassing 300 abandoned mines across the province in both remote areas and backyards. Contamination from the arsenic and mercury used in historic gold mining can adversely affect human health and present severe environmental contamination risks.

Dr. Linda Campbell

“Saint Mary’s University is proud to be a part of the solution when it comes to remediating the damage done by historic gold mining practices across the province,” says Saint Mary’s University Vice-President, Academic and Research, Dr. Malcolm Butler. “Dr. Linda Campbell and her team are employing innovative research to create remediation techniques that minimize the impact on the environment, wildlife and humans. This research has the potential for significant applications in Nova Scotia, the rest of Canada and the world.”

Mining in Nova Scotia began well before most environmental legislation, and untreated tailings were placed in wetlands and shallow-water areas. Over the subsequent decades, abandoned tailings were left in place, with limited natural recovery taking place. Research at Saint Mary’s completed in 2015-2019 shows that sediment samples from legacy gold-mine tailings in N.S. wetlands remain contaminated and are still severely toxic to aquatic invertebrates.

“We are currently wrangling with the consequences of decisions and actions made a long time ago,” says Dr. Linda Campbell. “Our goal is to ensure legacy arsenic and mercury contaminants will not continue to be a problem for Nova Scotians for another hundred years. We are looking forward to working with Atlantic Gold and our other collaborators to undertake the necessary research and development to help restore ecological vitality of impacted wetlands.”

Dr. Campbell is joined by Senior Project Research Manager Dr. Emily Chapman and a team of researchers that will look at new ways to remediate sites using more effective and less invasive techniques than traditional remediation methods. Those traditional methods can be destructive to the areas that need to be protected. A proof-of-concept study of a new method, which will use a thin layer of a reactive material, is promising in its ability to limit risks of legacy gold mine tailings without compromising wetland function. It is this approach that is being investigated by the research team.

Dr. Emily Chapman

“Wetlands are incredibly important ecosystems, and these sites need help to recover. It is about finding the right blend of ingredients that will reduce the mobility and toxicity of contaminants in the sediment, without adding so much material that wetlands are infilled and destroyed,” says Dr. Chapman. “Having worked on the development of innovative approaches for dealing with these risks for several years, I am pleased to see that this issue is getting some recognition.”

Remediation is a very expensive undertaking, with a 2019 estimate of $48 million to clean up the Crown land portion of two Nova Scotia legacy tailing sites. If proven effective, the new method proposed by Dr. Campbell and her team will have an immediate economic benefit as a more cost-effective, non-intrusive ecological and human health option for impacted wetlands across Nova Scotia and similar sites around the world.

Dr. Campbell is a professor in the School of the Environment at Saint Mary’s. In her research, she uses multi-disciplinary approaches to improve our understanding of anthropogenic and natural impacts in the environment, with a focus on aquatic ecosystems.

Atlantic Gold, a wholly owned subsidiary of St Barbara Ltd, operates the Moose River Gold Mine near Middle Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia, and is permitting three more mines along Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore. The Company is investing in a research partnership with Saint Mary’s University to explore the remediation of historic gold mine tailings in freshwater ecosystems.

Saint Mary's Engineering Team Victorious at Atlantic Engineering Competition

Saint Mary’s students Amy Kehoe and Andrew Ollerhead

Congratulations to Amy Kehoe and Andrew Ollerhead for winning the Junior Design competition at the Atlantic Engineering Competition, hosted virtually by the University of Prince Edward Island last month. The pair were competing in a field of 11 Atlantic university teams.  

Only knowing in advance that their topic would focus on either Prince Edward Island aquaculture or agriculture in some way, the Atlantic competitors received their instructions and a box of supplies that included cardboard, coat hangers, Styrofoam balls, straws and duct tape. Then, teams had just six hours to build a prototype to solve this agricultural problem facing Island farmers and present it to the judges:

Problem

Due to the lack of natural pollinators, many personal gardens and greenhouses suffer from poor plant health and low crop yield. To fix this, humans have developed artificial pollination methods. A device that can mechanically pollinate a tray of plants is required.

Challenge

Design a device or system that is capable of pollinating the provided tray of plants. The priority is to pollinate the highest number of plants with a sufficient amount of pollen under the designated time limit. 

The pair quickly got to work brainstorming ideas on a white-board, narrowing their ideas down to three before coming up with their strategy.

“Within the first hour, we chose a design and started working out the mechanics of building it,” Kehoe says.

Their project design consisted of a cardboard frame with two poles to allow a set of three hoppers that would slide open or closed depending on the position of a sliding plate with holes that would align.

“Our goal was to cover the bottom of nine Styrofoam cups with salt; the cups were on a three-by-three grid, which is why we chose the shape we did,” Kehoe adds. “We used an elastic to make sure each position was the one we wanted; we had to use string to make anything move on the machine.” 

Contest rules specified that the device had to remain on the table, and only one person could operate the device. The teams could not physically touch the tray of cups, and the pollen had to be dispensed in a controlled manner. 

“Our pollinator can pollinate nine plants, but since a greenhouse doesn’t normally have nine plants, we have to be able to scale it up easily,” the team explains. “We had to think of those things in the design process. That’s why we chose this design. We made ours out of cardboard, but we discussed that we would use plastic in real life, and we looked up costs of materials.”

“The prototype is part of it, but a big part is the presentation,” Kehoe adds. “Talking in front of an audience, and more importantly, coming up with the design and thinking of how to translate this to a real-world application.”  

In preparation for this event, Engineering instructor Luke MacDonald coached the Saint Mary’s teams on creating professional presentations. He ran a practice competition to help the students prepare to work under pressure. 

“These competitions give students the opportunity to use the skills they have learned in various courses on real-world problems,” MacDonald says. “Students work on a design problem in teams to come up with solutions—it’s a good experience for them, and helps build useful skills which they can use in their future careers.”

Both Kehoe and Ollerhead are in their second year of Engineering. Ollerhead plans to finish a Bachelor of Science in Engineering before continuing onto studies in Mechanical Engineering.

As for Kehoe, she plans to take Electrical Engineering after finishing her BSc but first hopes to travel next year to volunteer in her role as a Council Youth Commissioner for Nova Scotia at an international scouting centre if Covid-related travel restrictions are lifted by that time.

The pair will virtually compete at the Canadian Engineering Competition 2021 later this month, which will be hosted by the University of New Brunswick.

Saint Mary's science researcher part of global soil biodiversity network

Dr. Erin Cameron

Dr. Erin Cameron, Saint Mary’s researcher and professor in the Department of Environmental Science, is a co-author of a just-published paper in Science Magazine titled “Tracking, Targeting, and Conserving Soil Biodiversity.”  

This international project follows a paper Cameron authored in Conservation Biology last year, which determined that there are mismatches between aboveground and soil biodiversity globally, and thus protecting aboveground diversity may not sufficiently reduce threats to soil biodiversity.

“We are working on building a global biodiversity network focusing specifically on soil,” says Cameron. “Tracking the biodiversity of soil is an important part of global environmental conservation work, and this is a long-term project that’s just beginning.” 

“There is still a lot to discover about soil biodiversity and how human activities are impacting it. Organisms that live in the soil are a vital part of a functioning ecosystem.”  

Cameron also had a paper published as the cover story in Science Magazine last year, in which she explained her work studying the global diversity and biogeography of earthworms. 

Saint Mary’s University professor goes above and beyond with astronomy research and teaching

Dr. Luigi Gallo is a professor in the Department of Astronomy and Physics at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.

Black holes are voracious eaters that gulp up everything they can, from stars and dust clouds to other space debris. Supermassive black holes are hundreds of thousands of times the mass of the sun. Understanding the behaviour of these astronomical objects can be complicated.

Dr. Luigi Gallo’s research can attest to that. Through his research on black holes and supermassive black holes, Dr. Gallo, a professor and researcher in the Department of Astronomy and Physics at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, has helped gain new understanding of the topic.  

“Certain kinds of black holes eject material, and this is more widespread than initially thought,” said Gallo. “We have found that black holes and their host galaxies have an interesting relationship that grows and evolves together,” he says.

Gallo is part of an esteemed international team working with NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and is also part of XRISM, the international X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission. His work has led to groundbreaking discoveries that altered scientists’ understanding of black holes.

Sophia Waddell – Faculty of Science from Saint Mary's University.

“We are studying high-energy X-rays emitted from the region around the black hole. Fundamentally, these X-rays are just light you cannot see with your eyes,” explained Gallo.

Since the X-rays do not penetrate Earth’s atmosphere, NASA and JAXA, are building the XRISM satellite, which is set to launch into space in February 2022, to study X-ray sources in the universe.  The primary instrument on XRISM is a calorimeter called Resolve.

It’s like a supersensitive prism that breaks white light into colours,” he explained. “But we are looking at X-ray colours as opposed to visible colours. How a prism will separate the white light into 6-7 distinctly coloured band, the calorimeter is so sensitive it will show separations within each of the bands.”

Gallo says the XRISM will perform high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy in the medium around black holes and in clusters of galaxies, and can reveal the composition of the material, temperature and how it moves — smooth, spiralling, or turbulent.

These missions can take decades to launch, but a revolutionary observation from the previous 2016 Hitomi (ASTRO-H) satellite mission pushed the timeline of XRISM into production.

“We learned through Hitomi while observing the Perseus cluster [a cluster of galaxies] that the environment was not as turbulent as we might have expected,” said Gallo. “The composition of the material was different, so all these kinds of things showed us that our models needed to be improved.

Passing it on 

Dr. Gallo completed his PhD at the prestigious Max Planck Institute in Garching, Germany, followed by postdoctoral research in Japan. He later joined the Saint Mary’s faculty and works with the Canadian Space Agency on these missions.

His passion for astronomy was born at an early age, and he shares his love for space with his students. “I was one of the kids that always looked up instead of looking down,” he said.

“One of my favourite parts of being a teacher is working with students on research projects. You measure your success through the success of your students, seeing them figure things out and even find better solutions.”

Dr. Luigi Gallo is a professor in the Department of Astronomy and Physics at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. - Photo Contributed.

A professor at Saint Mary’s University since 2007, Dr. Gallo has invited students to work with him on his current projects as a way to learn more about current research methods, and has helped many students get their own original papers successfully published, an exciting milestone.

But one of the greatest aspects of teaching at Saint Mary’s University is the smaller classroom environments, says Gallo, where students appreciate the opportunity to stand out from the crowd in a warm, welcoming setting.

“As a smaller university with around 7000 students, Saint Mary’s is unique because it has a level of excellence in research that stands up to any large institution in the country,” he said. “Our astronomy department has as many researchers as much larger schools.”

“It often shocks the undergraduate students when I know their names, even if they haven’t taken a class with me,” said Gallo. “We have a strong sense of community, where students feel they can immediately begin making vital contributions.”

This story first appeared on the Chronicle Herald website.

CFI funded CANREB project for rare isotopes rolls to success

The EBIS in the TRIUMF clean room. From left to right: Rituparna Kanungo; Christopher Charles; Paige Harford; Saint Mary’s Vice President Academic and Research, Malcolm Butler; Brad Schultz, and Mathieu Cavenaile.

A partnership between Saint Mary's University, TRIUMF, and the University of Manitoba for the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) project CANREB, has borne significant fruit when it comes to radioactive isotope research.

Saint Mary's University leads this national CFI project for rare isotope research at Canada's particle accelerator centre, TRIUMF in Vancouver, British Columbia. On December 6, 2020, the CANREB (CANadian Rare isotope facility with Electron Beam ion source) team of scientists and engineers achieved a major milestone accelerating for the first time a radioactive isotope beam through the CANREB facility and delivered to the IRIS experiment in the ISAC-II experimental hall. The IRIS facility is also a SMU-led CFI project that unveils the secrets of the rare isotopes with nuclear reactions.

"CANREB opens an exciting new era for exploring the rare isotopes in nature. It enables the capacity to accelerate, with high-purity, high-mass isotopes," says Rituparna Kanungo, Principal Investigator for the CANREB project, Professor of Physics at Saint Mary's University and a TRIUMF Affiliate Scientist. "CANREB unlocks new opportunities for research and the training of students and postdocs from across Canada and around the world. The project has been a strong team effort from its conception to its realization. I am thankful to everyone in the team for making CANREB a success story."

The first beam – copper-59, at a charge state of +19 – was manoeuvred through a multifaceted sequence of several complex state-of-the-art, custom built components that were all designed by the CANREB team.

The Radio Frequency Quadrupole at the CANREB beamline.
From left to right: Rituparna Kanungo, Paige Harford, Brad Schultz, Friendhelm Ames, and Mathieu Cavenaile.

A key element of the successful beam delivery and the final piece to be commissioned in the CANREB puzzle was the electron beam ion source (EBIS) – a special device for enhancing the electrical charge ("charge-breeding") of isotopes.  It was developed in collaboration with researchers at the Max Planck Institute für Kernphysik in Heidelberg, Germany.

“I am proud to be a part of this exciting project,” says Saint Mary’s University Ph.D. student Mathieu Cavenaile who is working at TRIUMF on studying charge breeding of rare isotopes with the EBIS. “It is a tremendous opportunity to be working at TRIUMF with the highly skilled team.”

"We were particularly happy to record the successful function of the EBIS in terms of charge-breeding a high-purity radioactive isotope beam," said Friedhelm Ames, CANREB project coordinator, TRIUMF Scientist and Adjunct Faculty of Saint Mary’s University. "This was the first real test of the full system using a radioactive beam similar to those that we expect to be soon delivering to ISAC science experiments: a charge-bred, intense beam with very low levels of impurities. CANREB's beam delivery system functioned as expected, which is a tremendous achievement for the many hard-working teams that have contributed to its deployment."

“The CANREB project recognizes that the universities are integral partners to TRIUMF,” says Malcolm Butler, Vice President Academic and Research, Saint Mary’s University. “It has showcased TRIUMF’s role as a national laboratory in supporting opportunities for researchers from universities with good ideas to lead and bring exciting discoveries out from the lab.”

The High Resolution Separator (HRS) and part of the CANREB team.
Photo Credit : Stuart Shepherd, TRIUMF

“This success is a testament to the people in the team and the broader TRIUMF community,” says Jonathan Bagger, Director of TRIUMF. “Completion of the CANREB facility represents an essential step towards building the TRIUMF of the future.”

“It is a fantastic to see the CANREB infrastructure come together, a great achievement of the whole team,” says Reiner Kruecken, Deputy Director of Research at TRIUMF. “We can now really start exploiting this innovative infrastructure for exciting science and I am happy to be a part of that myself.”

The inaugural beam of copper-59, originated in TRIUMF's ISAC target station and was the first radioactive beam to undergo charge breeding with CANREB and be post accelerated through to ISAC-II. At the IRIS experiment a snapshot of the beam was seen through the lens of energy deposited in a gas-filled detector.  In nature, copper-59 is among the many radioactive isotopes whose reactions power astrophysical phenomena like X-ray bursts and could potentially contribute to the creation of some heavy elements. Using such beams at TRIUMF, researchers directly or indirectly such processes in the laboratory to gain insight on nature’s working.

This has been a remarkable achievement, especially during this globally challenging year with the pandemic, further showcasing the well-coordinated capacity of the CANREB team. As a tough year ended with a happy note of success, the team is looking forward to gearing up on further advancement of the project.

The CANREB project is thankful for research funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Nova Scotia Research and Innovation Trust, the Manitoba Research and Innovation Fund. It was also supported by TRIUMF's commercialization arm, TRIUMF Innovations and TRIUMF.  

A screenshot of the CANREB virtual celebration on December 11. Credit: Stu Shepherd/Rituparna Kanungo

SMU researchers look at impact of COVID-19 on communities in Nova Scotia

A glimpse at the report’s title page.

A new study from a Saint Mary’s University-based research team into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nova Scotia’s communities was released today, Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. 

“What this research shows is communities coming together to help each other during a time of need,” says Dr. Tony Charles, a professor at Saint Mary’s University and the director of the Community Conservation Research Network. “The study reinforces what we already know about our communities, that they are resilient and can find community-based solutions to many problems. And for larger problems, they know the solutions needed but may need outside assistance to enact them.” 

When the pandemic came to Nova Scotia, Dr. Charles and his team were already looking at Nova Scotian communities, the issues they are facing, and their plans for the future. For each of 50 communities, they spoke to individuals in the community as well as elected municipal officials. When the pandemic appeared in 2020, the team decided to try to learn more about COVID-19 impacts and responses in communities.  

“We heard from people how very fortunate they felt to live in places that nourished them in so many ways – communities that rallied by reaching out and checking on one another, and supporting those who were more vulnerable,” adds Libby Dean, one of the researchers on the team.  

The study showed that all communities felt at least some impacts of the pandemic on their economic activities and social well-being. Sixty-seven percent of communities said they faced at least some moderate economic implications. Seventy-seven percent said there were social impacts, with 42 percent of communities feeling extremely affected by social and economic impacts. Environmental impacts of the pandemic ranged widely, with about a third of communities seeing little or no impact, a third noticing a low or modest impact, and one-third feeling environmental impacts were moderate to extreme.  

Of social impacts, the top ones identified were employment (listed by 58 percent of respondents), social and recreational activities (54 percent) and schools/schooling (50 percent). Of the top three impacts of the pandemic on economic sectors, most affected was the tourism industry (61 percent of respondents), followed by education/research (48 percent) and retail activities (39 percent). 

“The work of Dr. Charles and his team exemplifies one of the key pillars of research at Saint Mary’s University—working with our local communities to provide expert advice to address regional and global challenges,” says Dr. Adam J. Sarty, associate vice-president, Research and dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. 

“One thing that was clear from the survey was the importance of community-based groups to facilitate community solutions and responses,” says Dr. Charles. “Some of the themes noted in responses include access to services, financial aid, social connections, food security and volunteerism. In many cases, these responses were recognized as already an inherent part of the way of life in their community.”  

The community-based responses included supporting various services no longer as easily accessible, such as groceries and water, and dealing with concerns around food security and access, specifically for children and seniors. Communities also took action to address the need for social connections, such as through virtual religious services, take-out community dinners, and support for regional food banks and local community halls.  

Among the highlighted needs that communities require support to address was access to technology and, specifically, the internet. Much of what is being done now regarding education, recreation, arts, and even food services require robust and consistent internet access, which is a challenge in many -communities across the province.  

“Despite the uncertainty and the challenges, that sense of community is a strength for Nova Scotia,” says Dr. Charles. “While the forecast is not clear, strong communities help to weather all storms.”  

The research survey summary, Nova Scotian Communities & COVID-19: Challenges and resilience, was prepared by Dr. Tony Charles, Larissa Sweeney, Libby Dean, and Rebecca Zimmerman. For more information about the survey or to read the summary report, click here.

Dr. Skye Stephens receives New Health Investigator Grant from Research Nova Scotia

Dr. Skye Stephens

Saint Mary’s University researcher Dr. Skye Stephens is receiving a New Health Investigator Grant from Research Nova Scotia. Dr. Stephens is one of 21 recipients across Nova Scotia receiving funding for new health research.

The New Health Investigator Grant supports new health researchers engaged in work that aligns with Nova Scotia’s health research priorities. The grant aims to provide two years of support of up to $100,000 for researchers who are within the first five years of their academic appointment in Nova Scotia or who are new to the field of health research. For the 2020-21 academic year, funding for this grant comes from the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness.

“There has never been a greater need to support new health researchers in Nova Scotia to help inform practice, policy and decision making,” says Stefan Leslie, CEO of Research Nova Scotia. “Today, we’re pleased to announce funding for these researchers and are confident their work will positively impact the health of Nova Scotians.”

Funding provided will support the establishment of independent research programs, support and expand the research productivity necessary for obtaining long-term funding from national and external agencies and expand the potential for early-career investigators to make significant contributions in their field.

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Project title: The Feasibility of a Program for the Prevention of Childhood Sexual Abuse.

Project description: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a universal public health problem impacting 18% of girls and 8% of boys worldwide. Children are overrepresented as victims of sexual abuse, as 56% of police-reported sexual assaults in Nova Scotia involved victims under 18. Rates of sexual abuse in Nova Scotia are above the national Canadian average. CSA contributes to a significant disease burden, as it connects to a wide range of adverse mental and physical health outcomes. Effective prevention programs could stop CSA from occurring in the first place and prevent adverse health outcomes. In Nova Scotia, a significant gap in prevention programming is delivering comprehensive mental health services to individuals who may be at risk of CSA perpetration. Previous research has suggested that there are individuals who have not offended but struggle to stay offence free and experience mental health challenges. Through her research, Dr. Skye Stephens and the team aim to enhance capacity to provide CSA prevention programming in Nova Scotia by exploring development barriers. Knowledge gained during this study will lay the groundwork for developing and evaluating a prevention program that could reduce the occurrence of CSA and associated adverse health outcomes. Overall, the project could increase the health and safety of Nova Scotians by proactively addressing risk factors for CSA perpetration.

Team members: Etta Brodersen, Loren Klein, Angela Connors, Christina Shaffer, Amy Ornstein, Ray MacNeil, Ian McPhail, Jamie Livingston & Ainslie Heasman

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Research projects span a broad range of topics, including diabetes, cancer and dementia care, pre-term infant gut health, and food security during the COVID-19 pandemic. For a complete list of recipients and projects, visit https://researchns.ca/new-health-investigator-grant-recipients/.