Spotlight on science research

Research that makes an impact

Whether it's working on a more potent treatment to fight cancer, developing more accurate climate prediction models or uncovering the nature of subatomic particles, UVic Science researchers are taking us to the limits of knowledge and understanding.

Research themes for the Faculty include:

Learn about our research:

Small but mighty - studying marine phytoplankton
Diana Varela, a professor in the Department of Biology and School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, has studied phytoplankton for the past 20 years. Varela discusses how these lifeforms are the crux of ecosystems both aquatic and terrestrial, producing about half of Earth’s oxygen, cycling elements such as carbon, silicon and nitrogen throughout the ocean, all while providing a primary food source for marine animals. She also talks about how student researchers at the undergraduate and graduate level are at the heart of her research. http://youtube.com/uvic http://uvic.ca
Innovate BC Ignite Award Winner: UVIC, Hemmera Envirochem, and Maxxam Analytics
Innovate BC's Ignite program provides funding to accelerate the commercialization of new technologies and innovations in the natural resources and applied sciences sectors in British Columbia. The program provides awards of up to $300,000 to consortia that are conducting research projects that address a significant demonstrated problem faced by industry and will commercialize a proposed innovation within a 3-year timeframe. To learn more about the Innovate BC Ignite program, visit https://innovatebc.ca/what-we-offer/get-funding/ignite/.
Ocean research in Saanich Inlet
How does an ocean dead zone form? What are the physical, biological and chemical processes that take place? This video describes how a UVic research team is using Saanich Inlet near Victoria to help oceanographers around the world learn more about the dead zone phenomenon, which is worsening globally as ocean temperatures rise. UVic is a national and international leader in the study of the oceans. Research samples are taken using the Faculty of Science’s Marine Science Vessel, the John Strickland. The Saanich Inlet Redox Experiment is funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council. UVic YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/uvic University of Victoria: http://uvic.ca
Faces of UVic Research: Alisdair Boraston
Dr. Alisdair Boraston is a professor with the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at the University of Victoria. He is one of six Canadian scientists to be awarded a prestigious 2012 E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship, he is currently a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar and he is a Canada Research Chair in Molecular Interactions. He is one of the world's leading experts on how carbohydrates and proteins interact in such processes as bacterial infection and the generation of bioethanol for fuels. In this video, he discusses these applications of his research and explains the basics of structural biology. Learn more at http://www.uvic.ca/research/learnabout/home/researchers/experts/details.php?go=1&id=14 University of Victoria: http://www.uvic.ca/ University of Victoria's Channel on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/UVic
Faces of UVic Research: Diana Varela
Dr. Diana Varela is a Professor with the Department of Biology and the School for Earth and Ocean Sciences at the University of Victoria Faculty of Science. In this video, Diana discusses her research as a biology oceanographer looking at the variations in primary productivity in the ocean. To learn more: Faces of UVic research: https://www.youtube.com/facesofuvicresearch UVic's YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/Uvic UVic research: http://www.uvic.ca/research UVic: http://www.uvic.ca

See more videos from the UVic Science Research playlist on YouTube.