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Issues & Experts Archive > Sea lice, coral reefs, Bali, blood, SamCity
Sea lice, coral reefs, Bali, blood, SamCity
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December 17, 2007
Study spells doom for wild salmon
Coral reefs face serious threat
Climate talks: post Bali
Blood - lost in language barriers
Playing games with politics
Study spells doom for wild salmon
A new study puts into perspective what many studies, including several done by SFU fish biologists and statisticians, have found about salmon farms killing wild salmon through sea lice transfer. “Previous research has provided small pieces of the puzzle,” explains John Reynolds, an SFU professor who holds the Tom Buell BC Leadership Chair in Salmon Conservation. “This is the first study to put it all together and ask what the bottom line is for the continued existence of populations of wild salmon. It indicates that the problem is a lot worse than most people had thought. We should be worried.” The latest study, by a team of researchers led by a University of Alberta graduate student, appears in the Dec. 14 issue of the journal Science.
John Reynolds, 778.782.5636 (w), 604.761.1960 (cell), reynolds@sfu.ca
Coral reefs face serious threat
Another new study in the journal Science shows that the survival of the Earth’s coral reefs is in serious doubt because of the rise in the oceans' acidity due to greenhouse gas emissions. The acid dissolves minerals in the water that speed up calcification of corals, leading to their premature death. Unless CO2 emissions are stabilized, 98 per cent of coral reef habitats could become immersed in excessively acidic water. SFU biologist Isabelle Côte studies the world’s coral reefs and can provide comment. Her study of coral reef fisheries, published in the journal Current Biology in April, found that more than half of the fisheries were being exploited unsustainably.
See: http://www.sfu.ca/pamr/news_releases/archives/news04030701.htm
Isabelle Côte, 604.377.5323; imcote@sfu.ca
Climate talks: post Bali
The Bali talks on climate change concluded with what many experts have dubbed a weak plan for tackling the issue and the U.S. voicing serious concerns for lack of a harder line on targeting China and India’s emissions. What did the negotiations achieve – and where do countries go from here? Cara Camcastle of SFU’s Centre for Canadian Studies has expertise in the environment and Canadian politics and has been following Canada’s role in the talks.
Cara Camcastle, 778.782.6624; ccamcast@sfu.ca
Blood - lost in language barriers
The loss of blood, bone marrow and stem cell donations due to a Health Canada policy is fueling debate. The policy necessitates donors speak one of Canada's two national languages fluently - English or French. Hal Weinberg, director of research ethics at SFU, says, "An easy solution would be something that everyone could read in any language and sign - a consent form similar to that used in research ethics." Weinberg is involved in a special experts committee charged with helping government, professional and academic agencies develop a national oversight system for research ethics. It would streamline a patchwork of research ethic policies, make international research collaboration easier and better protect individual privacy regarding health and lifestyle issues.
Hal Weinberg, 604.469.9877, 778.782.6593, 778.999.7251 (cell), hal_weinberg@sfu.ca
Playing games with politics
Is SamCity, the board game created by the opposition Vision Vancouver party, a legitimate attempt to change public perceptions of Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan and his Non-Partisan Association council? Or is it just a publicity stunt? Interactive Arts and Technology graduate student Terry Lavender, creator of the award-winning videogame, Homeless: It's No Game, is an expert on serious games and can comment on the effectiveness of SamCity and the growing trend towards using games to comment on current events and influence public opinion.
Terry Lavender, 778.782.7408 (office), 604.961.6350 (cell), terry_lavender@sfu.ca
Coral reefs face serious threat
Climate talks: post Bali
Blood - lost in language barriers
Playing games with politics
Study spells doom for wild salmon
A new study puts into perspective what many studies, including several done by SFU fish biologists and statisticians, have found about salmon farms killing wild salmon through sea lice transfer. “Previous research has provided small pieces of the puzzle,” explains John Reynolds, an SFU professor who holds the Tom Buell BC Leadership Chair in Salmon Conservation. “This is the first study to put it all together and ask what the bottom line is for the continued existence of populations of wild salmon. It indicates that the problem is a lot worse than most people had thought. We should be worried.” The latest study, by a team of researchers led by a University of Alberta graduate student, appears in the Dec. 14 issue of the journal Science.
John Reynolds, 778.782.5636 (w), 604.761.1960 (cell), reynolds@sfu.ca
Coral reefs face serious threat
Another new study in the journal Science shows that the survival of the Earth’s coral reefs is in serious doubt because of the rise in the oceans' acidity due to greenhouse gas emissions. The acid dissolves minerals in the water that speed up calcification of corals, leading to their premature death. Unless CO2 emissions are stabilized, 98 per cent of coral reef habitats could become immersed in excessively acidic water. SFU biologist Isabelle Côte studies the world’s coral reefs and can provide comment. Her study of coral reef fisheries, published in the journal Current Biology in April, found that more than half of the fisheries were being exploited unsustainably.
See: http://www.sfu.ca/pamr/news_releases/archives/news04030701.htm
Isabelle Côte, 604.377.5323; imcote@sfu.ca
Climate talks: post Bali
The Bali talks on climate change concluded with what many experts have dubbed a weak plan for tackling the issue and the U.S. voicing serious concerns for lack of a harder line on targeting China and India’s emissions. What did the negotiations achieve – and where do countries go from here? Cara Camcastle of SFU’s Centre for Canadian Studies has expertise in the environment and Canadian politics and has been following Canada’s role in the talks.
Cara Camcastle, 778.782.6624; ccamcast@sfu.ca
Blood - lost in language barriers
The loss of blood, bone marrow and stem cell donations due to a Health Canada policy is fueling debate. The policy necessitates donors speak one of Canada's two national languages fluently - English or French. Hal Weinberg, director of research ethics at SFU, says, "An easy solution would be something that everyone could read in any language and sign - a consent form similar to that used in research ethics." Weinberg is involved in a special experts committee charged with helping government, professional and academic agencies develop a national oversight system for research ethics. It would streamline a patchwork of research ethic policies, make international research collaboration easier and better protect individual privacy regarding health and lifestyle issues.
Hal Weinberg, 604.469.9877, 778.782.6593, 778.999.7251 (cell), hal_weinberg@sfu.ca
Playing games with politics
Is SamCity, the board game created by the opposition Vision Vancouver party, a legitimate attempt to change public perceptions of Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan and his Non-Partisan Association council? Or is it just a publicity stunt? Interactive Arts and Technology graduate student Terry Lavender, creator of the award-winning videogame, Homeless: It's No Game, is an expert on serious games and can comment on the effectiveness of SamCity and the growing trend towards using games to comment on current events and influence public opinion.
Terry Lavender, 778.782.7408 (office), 604.961.6350 (cell), terry_lavender@sfu.ca