Author Archives: Nevada Alde

The new normal

March 14, 2021|Times Colonist via UVic News

We’re now a year into the pandemic, however, with vaccinations becoming more frequent, there is hope for a return to normal living. But what might “normal” look like? Numerous experts warn it will not be the same as before, and some of the changes may remain in place long-term. Including hybrid workplace programs (from both home and office).

Whatever the post-pandemic world looks like, [Saul] Klein said it’s not likely to be starkly different from what is happening now.

“We won’t see a big-bang solution,” he said. “There is likely to be a gradual resumption, and even once the rules start to diminish, the behavioural patterns we have established over the last year will not disappear.”

Saul Klein, Dean of the Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria, is one of the many experts weighing in on what our post-pandemic world may look like and what will be needed for businesses to succeed and people to feel financially stable. The Copyright and Scholarly Communications Office encourages you to visit Dr. Klein’s publications through UVic’s institutional repository, UVicSpace, and browse his other works both in the repository and his ORCID profile.

Endangered or a language in hiding?

Feb. 16, 2021|Toronto Star via UVic News

After two decades of hiding his ancestral tongue, Levi Martin was reintroduced to Tla-o-qui-aht and is one of the estimated 10 percent to speak it fluently. And as one of the many children sent to Residential Schools, he isn’t the only one that struggled after losing a crucial part of his identity. Thankfully, a platform called FirstVoices (launched in 2003) has a growing database of Indigenous languages and can be used as a reference guide for those hoping to learn or relearn. Those involved in the website’s efforts are always encouraging others to contribute their knowledge of different dialects, pronunciation, and more to safeguard against language extinction.

“Many of the languages are spoken as first languages by a very small handful of elders and those elders are passing on,” [Sonya Bird] said. “If language revitalization efforts don’t happen now, within the next decade or two, we’ll have lost a lot of those elders and knowledge keepers.”

Sonya Bird, an associate linguistics professor at the University of Victoria, is one of the many members a part of the Indigenous languages revitalization projects. Her area of focus has been pronunciation, particularly with long sequences of consonants, and providing the tools to achieve oral proficiency. If you wish to explore more of her work, The Copyright and Scholarly Communications Office encourages you to visit Dr. Bird’s publications through UVic’s institutional repository, UVicSpace and browse her list of her publications.

On the Verge – Writing Content

February 2, 2021| via UVic Libraries

Attention all typewriters, scribblers, and other creators alike! There’s a contest deadline approaching and they’re calling for submissions. It’s called “On the Verge” – a student writing contest with $1600 in prizes! The deadline is February 22, 2021, and the theme is RESILIENCE.

The genres include:

  • Poetry (150 lines maximum)
  • Fiction (1500 words maximum)
  • Non-fiction (1500 words maximum)
  • Spoken Word (3-minute maximum – video or audio file formats accepted)

This contest is generously co-sponsored by the Office of Equity and Human Rights (EQHR) and UVic Libraries and will be judged by award-winning and best-selling author, Monique Gray Smith.

Monique Gray Smith is a proud Mom of teenage twins and an award-winning, best-selling author. Her first published novel, Tilly: A Story of Hope and Resilience won the 2014 Canadian Burt Award for First Nation, Métis and Inuit Literature. Since then, Monique has had 7 books come out, including Speaking our Truth: A Journey of Reconciliation which as a finalist for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award.

Click the link for the full contest and submission details. Happy writing!

Rapid testing in Canada lagging behind

January 14, 2021|CTV News via UVic News

Although there are a number of researchers that are concerned about the effectiveness of self-administered rapid tests, there is still a push to distribute them to ensure Canada is staying on top of frequent testing.

“Health Canada has authorized the sale and importation of COVID-19 tests only for use by health care professionals or trained operators,” Health Canada wrote on its website. “However, we are open to reviewing all testing solutions. This includes approaches that use self-testing kits, to enable individuals with or without symptoms to assess and monitor their own infection status.”

Alexandre Brolo, a chemistry professor at the University of Victoria and acting chair of the department, told CTV News that he’s currently working with a team on the development of two rapid testing products. He reports that one will be an “at-home” test and should be commercialized in April if all goes well. The Copyright and Scholarly Communications Office encourages you to explore more of Dr. Brolo’s important work by visiting UVic’s institutional repository, UVicSpace.

Trudeau’s plan for Indigenous rights

January 11, 2021|Toronto Star via UVic News

Those who have spoken within this article emphasize the need for collaborative work amongst the Canadian government and Indigenous peoples. They claim that no matter how difficult the restructuring of certain policies may be, it is an important step in moving forward.

John Borrows, the chair in Indigenous law at the University of Victoria, said the ultimate result will be “to make our country more democratic” by broadening decision-making so that Indigenous peoples are directly involved. This could make things like development projects more complicated, but not impossible or even necessarily more difficult, he said.

As seen above, one of the many interviewed for this article was John Borrows, he holds the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Law at the University of Victoria Law School – where he is also a professor within the Faculty of Law. The Copyright and Scholarly Communications Office encourages you to explore more of his important work by visiting UVic’s institutional repository, UVicSpace.

Some Corals Can Survive Through Relentless Heat Waves, Surprising Scientists

December 11, 2020|Smithsonian Magazine via UVic News

A team of researchers had the chance to collaborate on a study of brain and star corals in the middle of a heat wave that lasted from 2015 to 2016. The team narrowed their focus on Christmas Island (also known as Kiritimati) for in-depth observations on the recovery of bleached coral during a heat wave rather than after sea temperatures had cooled down.

In a sea of grim news, researchers have found a glimmer of hope: Some corals have the capacity to recover from bleaching, even in the middle of a heat wave, reports Erik Stokstad for Science. The team published their findings this week in Nature Communications.

This paper features co-authors, Danielle C. Claar, Samuel Starko, Kristina L. Tietjen, Hannah E. Epstein & Julia K. Baum. Collaborators include UVic Biology faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, and students. They are also a part of Baum’s lab team at UVic whose research is dedicated to the impact of climate change on the ocean and the marine life that thrives there. The Copyright and Scholarly Communications Office encourages you to explore this article and to read more of their important work by visiting UVic’s institutional repository, UVicSpace.