Blog and Opportunities

Hello!

The MHSc in Medical Genomics, a professional master’s program at the University of Toronto, is hosting an information session on April 3rd on zoom. We would appreciate you spreading the word to interested students about this upcoming session.

Genomics, the reading and interpreting of information contained within DNA, is a rapidly growing area with far-reaching implications from the laboratory bench to the patient’s bedside. We’re looking for enthusiastic students with a clinical or B.Sc. background who are interested in pursuing a career in medical genomics. If you are looking to strengthen your professional profile with solid knowledge and skills in modern genetics, please join us on April 3rd, 2025 from 4PM-5:30PM to learn more about this Master’s program. In this info session we will present the professional Master’s program in Medical Genomics, answer your questions, and you can meet students and faculty from the program.

4-4:30PM – Medical Genomics program director Dr. Johanna Carroll
4:30-5PM – Hear from current Medical Genomics students during a panel discussion
5-5:30PM – Meet with program faculty and current students

Date: April 3rd, 2025

Time: 4PM-5:30PM (EDT)

Location: zoom

Register for the session: https://moleculargenetics.utoronto.ca/event/info-session-mhsc-medical-genomics-0

 

Find out more about the Medical Genomics program: https://moleculargenetics.utoronto.ca/medicalgenomics

We hope to see you there!

Volunteer Call-out:

Are you passionate about:

-having fun outdoors?

-showing nature some love?

-bonding with your community over meaningful volunteer work?

If so, then volunteering for the upcoming Make a Difference Week 2025 might be up your alley! Make a Difference Week is a series of global events that are organized by the Society for Ecological Restoration, and takes place each year during the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2020-2030).

The UVic SER Student Association is very excited to be organizing this year’s Make A Difference Week 2024. From May 31st  – June 8th, local environmental organizations across Victoria will be hosting a range of restoration events to help support our local ecosystems. We are looking for student and faculty volunteers to join us at the events. Activities will include removing invasive species, planting native seedlings and cleaning up litter, and typically run for 1.5-2 hours.

The local Make a Difference Week website can be found here, with details for registering restoration events, or signing up as a volunteer

Click here to learn more about Make a Difference Week and the events happening across the world!

Free workshop through the UVic Biology Undergraduate Society on using R to visualize and analyze spatial data.

Tuesday 18 March 4-7 pm. We have set aside seats for grad students/research technicians.

You will learn about R and its data visualization capabilities with the ggplot2 package, then move into how we can use R’s spatial data packages to create beautiful maps of our study areas (as well as interactive and animated maps).

Even if you don’t need to make maps for your research, the workshop includes some handy ggplot tricks and tips.

New content and a fun opportunity to build R skills.

For a sneak peak, you can check out a past workshop for the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution here: https://github.com/wesleygreentree/CSEE2024-R-maps

 

Calling All Water and Environmental Researchers,

We are excited to invite you to the Water and Environment Student Talks (WEST) 2025 conference “Shaping Water Futures: Innovation and Collaboration”, happening June 12th (online) and June 13th (in-person) at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver campus.

The WEST Conference is organized by a committee of graduate students from the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria. We aim to create a platform that brings together water and environmental researchers from diverse disciplines, providing a space for learning and fostering collaboration. This annual event is known for its inclusive atmosphere, encouraging innovation, and the exchange of ideas between students across the Pacific Northwest and internationally.

We are inviting both attendees and student presenters to join us for this exciting event! This is an incredible opportunity to be part of an interdisciplinary and international forum. Secure your spot today and contribute to shaping the future of water research! Students can benefit from presentation sessions, keynote speakers, industry night networking, and panelist conversations. Registration is FREE for all.

Register today via THIS LINK 

Additionally, the call for abstracts is now open! Student presenters have the opportunity to win cash prizes in each presentation category. Submit your abstract via the registration link. We are accepting abstract submissions in the following session categories: (detailed descriptions are available within the registration form):

• Hydrology and Environmental Systems
• Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene
• Social Sciences in the World of Water
• Innovation and Technology for Future Water
• Predicting and Mitigating Human Impact on Water

Conference Format & Venue:

• June 12, 2025 – Virtual via Zoom
• June 13, 2025 – In-person at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

Important Dates & Registration:

• Abstract Submission Deadline: March 24, 2025
• Registration Deadline: May 31, 2025

Further details about conference events including  keynote speakers and panel discussions will be released soon on our official conference website.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to info@west-conference.ubc.ca. We look forward to hearing from you and learning about your research!

The Outreach Instructors will be responsible for delivering Learn to Fish programs, and other FFSBC outreach programs to the public including youth and their families, schools, and community groups, as well as engaging with anglers and the public.

The Instructors will also be responsible for the maintenance of Learn to Fish equipment and ponds including cleaning exclusion screens, feeding fish, general pond upkeep, maintenance of Visitor Centre aquaria, as well as field work activities including angler effort monitoring, angler surveys, water sample collection, and water quality testing.

The opportunities are available between April 28^th and August 23^rd, and are at various locations throughout the province as detailed in the posting.

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC seasonal Outreach Instructor opportunities are now posted on our careers site.

 

Registration link and event details can be found on the event page.

Session details

• • Date: Friday, March 28^th, 2025
  • Time: 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm (PST)
  • Delivery: Online using Zoom

CRA Tax Information Session for International Students

Wednesday, March 5 | 9 am PT | Online

Are you an international student wondering whether, or how, you should file a Canadian income tax return? Join us for an income tax information session, where a representative from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) will provide an overview on the Canadian income tax system. They will go over tips for filing income taxes, review applicable benefits and credits, and share other important tax information for international students.

We strongly encourage students to review information on the CRA website and the ICS website prior to attending the event.

Please register here.

 

Attention International Student:

BC MSP Application Drop-in

Mondays | 1:30-2:30 pm

Have you applied for BC MSP? International students planning to stay in BC for 2 terms or more must apply for primary health insurance through the BC Medical Services Plan. If you haven’t yet applied, or have any questions about your coverage, drop in any Monday from 1:30 – 2:30 pm at the International Centre for Students (Jamie Cassels Centre office B202D).

Registration is not required.

What to expect during the BC MSP Drop-in? ICS Settlement Advisers will share information on the BC Medical Service Plan, guide students in completing the BC MSP application, and answer any student questions.

If you plan to apply, please bring a laptop or tablet, a scanned copy of your study permit, and your address in Victoria.