$866,000 Research Grant to University of Northern British Columbia

Five researchers working at Canada's University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) received a total of $866,000 in grants for their work in various fields such as earthquake-resistant building designs, innovative food packaging, and forestry. This financial support was provided through the Discovery Grants program of Canada's Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). The university's interim President Bill Owen emphasized that these researches are of great importance not only for local communities but also for universal issues such as global food security and climate change. The grantee academics also plan to provide practical learning opportunities for undergraduate, master's, and postdoctoral researchers within the scope of their projects. Through this, the aim is to train a new generation of scientists in the academic field and to produce innovative solutions to regional problems.

Associate Professor Hossein Kazemian, one of the grantee researchers working in the Department of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, received $235,000 in funding to develop smart and compostable food packaging. Kazemian's project aims to create a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics by using wood-derived biopolymers and advanced porous materials. This new generation of packaging is planned to extend the shelf life of food, monitor freshness in real-time, and detect harmful contaminants such as PFAS. The researcher stated that this study aims to rethink how food is preserved by bringing together sustainable materials and advanced chemistry. Kazemian believes that these eco-friendly packaging materials will increase food quality and safety while reducing plastic waste.

Erin Crockett, an assistant professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, received a $202,000 grant to study the effects of forest tree species diversity on forest growth and resilience in Britanya Kolumbiyası. Crockett noted that forests are under increasing pressure due to rising temperatures and changing precipitation regimes. Her research aims to understand the long-term effects of afforestation and wildfires on these ecosystems and to explore how they can contribute to landscape-scale management decisions. The scientist added that promoting tree diversity offers a critical opportunity for the long-term health and resilience of forests.

Sarah Gray, from the Department of Medical Sciences, won a $195,000 research grant to discover how hormones regulating adipose tissue work during metabolic stress. Gray's study aims to make significant contributions to understanding the basic biological processes of how humans respond to and cope with stress. Stating that such basic biological knowledge is extremely critical for grasping the impacts of a constantly changing world on human health and well-being, Gray believes that her study could shed light on the treatment of metabolic disorders in the long run. Additionally, the research could pave the way for new therapeutic approaches by elucidating the effects of stress on fat accumulation and energy balance at the cellular level.

Fei Tong, an assistant professor from the Department of Engineering, received a $190,000 grant to develop a new structural system for high-rise buildings in seismically active regions such as Vancouver. Tong's project aims to ensure that buildings remain safe, functional, and repairable after major earthquakes by offering an applicable approach for both traditional and mass timber structures. The researcher emphasized that earthquakes test not only whether a building remains standing but also whether it is usable and repairable afterwards. Finally, Mauricio Dziedzic received a $44,000 Discovery Development Grant over two years for his project examining the environmental impacts of dam failures. Dziedzic's work plans to provide critical data for future engineering practices by assessing the devastating consequences of infrastructure failures on ecosystems.