Lecture Series

The Science and Technology Community Lecture Series for Spring 2022

The VIU Science and Technology (S&T) Community Lecture Series is an opportunity for scientists to engage with the broader VIU faculty, students and community in ongoing research and science initiatives that are occurring in our regional and local coastal communities.

In the Spring Term 2022 the VIU Science and Tech (S&T) Community Lecture Series will have eleven weekly lectures offered every Wednesday evening 7 – 8 pm, from January 19 to April 8, 2022.  These lectures are in-person (unless otherwise announced) and will take place in the lecture room (Room 203) of Building 355 at the Nanaimo Campus, Vancouver Island University.  The lectures will also be broadcasted live via Zoom and recorded (with permission of the speakers).  This year's lecture series will a have particular focus on climate change research.  The schedule and list of speakers are outlined below.

To attend the lectures in person click on the appropriate link below and register.  Participants will be required to have proof of Covid vaccination and have ID available for checking at the door.  As of March 11, 2022 wearing masks will be optional.

To attend a lecture remotely via Zoom you will also have to register.  Click on the appropriate link below and you will receive details by email. (Registration for Lectures in March and April will be available soon).

VIU Science and Tech Community Lecture Schedule for Spring 2022

Lecture #1 - January 19, 2022: Natural and-Anthropogenic Climate Changes by Steve Earle, PhD. (Thompson Rivers University)

  • Recording unavailable

Lecture #2 - January 26, 2022: Stories from the Boreal Forest: Conservation in a Changing Climate by Stan Boutin PhD (University of Alberta)

  • Recording unavailable

Lecture #3 - February 2, 2022: Water Balance Model for Vancouver Island: Insights Regarding Water Management in a Changing Climate by Dr Alan Gilchrist (Vancouver Island University)

Lecture #4 -  February 9, 2022: Planes, Drones and Snowmobiles:  Measuring Snowpack in Coastal British Columbia in the 21st Century by Dr Bill Floyd (BC Ministry of Lands and Natural Resource Operations)

Lecture #5 - February 16, 2022: HarmCheck: High impact, Quantitative Reduction Drug Checking by Dr Chris Gill (Vancouver Island University)

No Lecture on February 23, 2022 - Spring Study Break at VIU

Lecture #6 -  March 2, 2022: Ocean Acidification in British Columbia's Coastal Waters by Dr Wiley Evans (Hakai Institute)

Lecture #7 -  March 9, 2022: Humans and the Holocene:  Navigating Climate Change and Shifting Sea Levels in the Ancient Pacific Northwest by Dr Rhy McMillan (UBC)

Lecture #8 - March 16, 2022: Computational Simulations of Ice Sheet Flow and Sea Surface Temperatures by Dr Sam Pimentel (Trinity Western University) 

Lecture #9 - March 23, 2022: Advances in Environmental Psychology in Relation to Climate Change by Dr Lindsay McCunn (Vancouver Island University)

Lecture #10 - March 30, 2022: Tropical Forest Transformation, Regrowth and Loss: Implications for Carbon Sequestration and Emissions by Dr Sean Sloan (Vancouver Island University) 

Lecture #11 - April 6, 2022:  Can Owls Sink Carbon?  Relating Climate Change to a Flag Ship Species in in Vancouver Island's Last Native Forests by Jeremiah Kennedy (Hemmera) 

For more on Climate Change Science Register here for a half day symposium on Climate Change & Extreme Events put on by the Awareness of Climate change through Education and Research group.  The  keynote speaker is Dr Elizaveta Malinina, Research Scientist, Canadian Centre for Climate Modelling and Analysis (Environment and Climate Change Canada) who will provide an update on IPCC 6th Assessment Report for which she served as a co-author. Additional presentations on recent flooding, heat domes, and air quality impacts will round out this year’s program.    ACER 2022 Symposium Flyer  

Past Schedules for Science & Technology Lecture Series