866 Thousand Dollar Research Grant to University of Northern British Columbia

Five researchers at Canada's University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) have received a 866 thousand dollar research grant to conduct projects ranging from earthquake-resistant building designs to food packaging technologies and the sustainability of forest ecosystems. This financial support was provided under the Discovery Grants program of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Bill Owen, the university's interim President, emphasized that the questions raised by the researchers are of great importance not only for local communities, but also for British Columbia's forests, global food security, and the fight against climate change. Thanks to the grant, practical and experimental learning opportunities will also be created for undergraduate, master's, and postdoctoral researchers. With this investment, the academic world's capacity to produce innovative and scientific solutions to global problems is significantly supported.

Hossein Kazemian, an Associate Professor of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, and one of the grant recipients, will conduct a study developing smart and compostable food packaging using wood-derived biopolymers with a 235 thousand dollar fund over the next five years. Kazemian's project aims to offer a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics while also evaluating Canada's rich forest resources. Key features of these innovative packaging materials include extending the shelf life of foods, monitoring freshness in real-time, and detecting harmful contaminants like PFAS. The researcher noted that this study redesigns food packaging and preservation methods by bringing together sustainable materials and advanced chemical science. The ultimate goal of the project stands out as contributing to the reduction of plastic waste by producing solutions that are both environmentally friendly and enhance food safety.

Erin Crockett, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, will continue her work on forest growth and resilience with a 202 thousand dollar grant. Crockett's research focuses on how tree species diversity and the structural complexity of forests affect the health of forest ecosystems in British Columbia. Drawing attention to the fact that forests are facing increasing pressures due to warming temperatures and changing precipitation regimes, the researcher will examine how forestry activities and wildfires alter these relationships over time. The study aims to help understand the importance of tree diversity in making landscape-scale management decisions. Crockett added that promoting tree diversity presents a critical opportunity for the long-term health and resilience of forests.

Sarah Gray, a faculty member in the Department of Medical Sciences, won a 195 thousand dollar grant to understand how hormones regulating adipose tissue work during metabolic stress. This basic scientific research conducted by Gray aims to help us more deeply understand human responses to stress and biological adaptation processes. The researcher stated that understanding such basic biological mechanisms is extremely vital for comprehending the impact of a constantly changing world on human health and well-being. Meanwhile, Assistant Engineering Professor Fei Tong received 190 thousand dollars in support to develop a new structural system for high-rise buildings in seismically active regions like Vancouver. Tong's approach is applicable to both traditional construction and high mass timber buildings, aiming to ensure that buildings remain safe, functional, and repairable after major earthquakes.

Fei Tong stated that earthquakes not only test whether a building remains standing, but also question whether the structures are usable and repairable afterwards. The researcher's primary goal is to minimize damage by enabling buildings to move in a more controlled manner, allowing communities to recover more quickly after major earthquakes. Lastly on the list, Mauricio Dziedzic was awarded a 44 thousand dollar Discovery Development Grant for a two-year period for his project examining the environmental impacts of dam failures. These diverse projects demonstrate that the university possesses a significant research infrastructure not only in engineering and medicine, but also in environmental sciences and sustainability. Ranging from community preparedness for natural disasters to food security, these studies reveal the potential of scientific research to improve daily life.