Faculty of Environment Discovery Day

Resource and Environmental Management

What's the catch: Challenges in fisheries management

Do you think you have what it takes to manage a salmon fishery? Learn about all the economical, ecological and sociological goals that play into decision-making as well as all the difficulties and trade-offs. Then, put your management skills to the test in an interactive activity.

Environmental Science

Wildlife by the numbers: Count, assess and protect species at risk

Ever wonder how scientists know how many of an endangered species remain in the world, when counting every single animal would be impossible? Find out in this hands-on lesson in the mark-recapture method, a core technique used by conservation scientists to estimate population size so that we can assess species at risk and guide legal protections.

Archaeology

Scan that artifact! 3D Technology in Archaeological Research

Step into the world of digital archaeology and see how archaeologists use technology to study the past. In this hands-on activity, turn real-world artifacts into interactive 3D models that allow you to zoom in on surface details, observe them from every angle and take digital measurements.  

*Participants are required to download the free version of Polycam on their phone prior to the session.

Global Environmental Systems

Workshopping the Climate Crisis: Solutions to Achieve Global Climate Goals

The climate crisis is one of the most important issues facing us today, with consequences to not only our natural world but also our societal one. Learn about its causes and its impacts, then work together in an interactive activity where you will get a chance to come up with data-based strategies to tackle it.

Environmental Science 

The C02 Effect: How can we turn the tide on the climate crisis?

Watch what happens when fossil fuels infiltrate our oceans right before your eyes through a live demonstration of ocean acidification. After the experiment, learn about three different carbon reduction strategies and see if you can reason your way to the best one and convince the rest of the group.

Resource and Environmental Management - Planning

Surviving the zombie apocalypse: planning for resilient, equitable and food secure cities

Are our communities prepared for an emergency? What would happen to our urban centres if borders were shut down? In this session, learn about challenges cities face in times of cascading disasters like climate change, economic tariffs and geopolitical tensions and how food systems planners help us prepare. Then, work together to develop a plan to strengthen urban resiliency and create sustainable cities and communities where we can not only survive, but thrive.

Geographic Information Science

From the ocean floor, to Lasers of the Lost Art and Hoverboarding on Mars: Adventures in GIScience

GIScience is evolving in exciting new ways, opening the door for us to explore Earth’s ancient civilizations, its terranean, subterranean and underwater environments — and even other planets. In this session, find out how an expert in GIScience, geovisualization and spatial interface research designs and uses this technology to capture, visualize, simulate and experience spatial data like never before.

Archaeology

Ancient DNA: Unlock the genetic secrets of the past

How do scientists recover DNA from bones that are hundreds, or even thousands, of years old? In this interactive session, enter the world of ancient DNA (aDNA): genetic material that is fragile, degraded and vulnerable to contamination—yet powerful. Discover how archaeologists use aDNA to identify unknown animal remains, reconstruct ancient environments and uncover patterns of human activity. Even the smallest fragments can unlock big insights. 

Physical Geography

Can you rebuild a forest? The science of forest recovery

A forest burns down, a hillside is cleared, a windstorm flattens the trees...and then what? Nature doesn't just sit still. In this session, follow the surprisingly dramatic story of how a forest recovers from scratch: who shows up first, who gets pushed out and who eventually takes over. You'll discover that a recovering forest isn't just a younger version of an old one, it's a completely different community playing by different rules.

Urban Worlds and Human Geography

Dynamic places and urban spaces: See how cities change through the eyes of a geographer

What do our cities reveal about us? And what exactly is gentrification? In this session, explore the dynamic urban spaces you think you know from a new, multidisciplinary perspective. Plus, learn about the social, spatial and political aspects of urban change. You might never look at a city the same way again.

Archaeology

Secrets of the Dead: Solve a Mystery Like a Forensic Anthropologist 

Think you can solve a real-life mystery? Step into the role of a forensic investigator and dive into the worlds of bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology – the science of analyzing human bones to uncover who someone was and how they died. You’ll work in teams to reconstruct a human skeleton, then examine the evidence to figure out what happened. Was it an accident, or was it something more? It’s up to you to piece together the clues and make the call.

Environmental Science

Rapid Science: The hidden patterns in whitewater

From thrill-seekers to migrating salmon, the seemingly unpredictable river rapids can pose a fierce challenge. In this session, find order in chaos as you explore the science behind them. Learn how scientists find hidden patterns in turbulent river reaches and experience what makes some more exciting—and more dangerous—for whitewater paddling.