Can zoos tackle the conservation crisis?
Alannah Biega
MSc candidate, Simon Fraser University
September 25, 2016, 7:30 pm, Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, Whitehorse
What do zoos and hatcheries do for conservation? With threats to a wide diversity of species increasing daily, they are playing an expanding role in meeting ambitious global conservation targets. From Vancouver Island marmots to amphibians to fish, Trevor Pitcher and Alannah Biega will discuss how studies of wild populations and ecological/evolutionary principles can be used to inform the manner in which we manage these captive breeding efforts.
Are people the problem? Human populations transforming the world
Joel E. Cohen
Abby Rockefeller Mauzé Professor of Populations, Rockefeller & Columbia Universities, New York City
September 11, 2016, 7:30 pm, Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, Whitehorse
September 12, 2016, 7:30 pm, Kluane National Park Visitor Centre, Haines Junction
What about current world demographics is unique in history? Baby boomers and migration, for starters. And where will it lead us over the next century? Unprecedented changes in population growth, demographic differences between regions, fertility, aging, cities, and migration will transform the world over the next 100 years, creating unique challenges and opportunities for all sectors of society. Join Joel Cohen as he explores the limits of what we know about the demographic future, and the interactions of human populations with economies, environments and cultures.
La Brea Tar Pits: A sticky situation
Aisling Farrell
Collections Manager, La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
August 7, 2016, 7:30 pm, Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, Whitehorse
Located in the heart of Los Angeles California, is one of the world's richest and most diverse late Pleistocene terrestrial assemblages known as La Brea Tar Pits. Protected as a National Natural Landmark, the site also includes a museum dedicated to world class research and informal education. Join Collections Manager, Aisling Farrell, as she gives an overview of the history, the exquisite collections and the current research happening at this famous carnivore trap.
See www.tarpits.org for more information.
The North remembers: Genetic tales of camels and bison past
Dr. Peter D. Heintzman
Postdoctoral Scholar in Paleogenomics
June 17, 2016, 7:30 pm, Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, Whitehorse
June 23, 2016, 7:30 pm, Dawson City Community Library, Dawson
The permafrost of the Yukon holds a treasure trove of ice age fossils with excellent ancient DNA preservation. In this talk, Peter Heintzman will discuss what we have learnt from the fossils of two extinct species: the Western camel and the Steppe bison. We will explore how the Western camel is related to living camels and how Steppe bison helped unravel when the 'ice free corridor' - a key migration route for animals and people between Yukon and interior North America - opened at the end of the ice age.
A Glacial History of the Yukon: Mammoths, Boulders, Gold and Ash
Dr. Brent Ward
Earth Sciences Department, Simon Fraser University
June 2, 2016, 7:00 pm, Kluane National Park & Reserve Visitor Centre, Haines Junction
Yukon is exceptional in Canada in that it has a large unglaciated area and three glaciated surfaces of widely different ages, ranging from 2.6 million to 10,000 years ago. The result is four landscapes, each with distinct characteristics. For example, where you find placer gold deposits and woolly mammoth fossils is largely due to the extent and timing of glaciations. Join Brent Ward as he explores what makes each landscape unique and how radiocarbon, volcanic ash, and glacial erratics have been used to paint a picture of Yukon glaciers over time.
A Meeting of Northern Worlds: Indigenous Peoples and the Norse in Arctic Canada
Patricia D. Sutherland
Adjunct Research Professor, Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University
May 6, 2016, 7:00 pm, Westmark Whitehorse
Archaeological finds from Canada’s eastern Arctic reveal a little known chapter in North American history. Artefacts resembling those used by the Vikings and Medieval Norse have been excavated from sites occupied by the Indigenous peoples of the area. Recent evidence recovered by the Helluland Archaeological Project suggests that the Norse presence in Arctic Canada and interactions with Indigenous inhabitants were more widespread and complex than has previously been believed.
Storied Science
Sandy Marie Bonny
Writer/educator, PhD Earth & Atmospheric Science
April 24, 2016, 7:30 pm, Beringia Centre, Whitehorse
As a scientist and writer, Sandy Bonny has a natural inclination to work science into her stories - but how do stories shape our science? In 1962, Harry Hess introduced the revolutionary idea of plate tectonics in the paper, History of Ocean Basins. He described his article as "an essay in geopoetry," a hybrid structure of geological data and creativity. Big picture stories, including plate tectonics and climate change, form an evolving, often elegant, framework for scientific problem solving. Join Sandy as she explores the role of stories in science, alongside the science of storytelling.
How Houses Work: An Intro to Building Science for Homeowners
Jonathan Smegal, M.A.Sc., Associate Senior Research Engineer, RDH Building Science Laboratories, Waterloo, Ontario
April 12, 2016, 7:00 pm, Westmark Whitehorse
Homes in northern climates can be affordable, comfortable and energy efficient - if they are properly designed, built, and maintained. Join building scientist, Jonathan Smegal to learn about how buildings work and find out what you as a homeowner should know before you buy or renovate. Some of the topics we'll discuss include: ventilation and indoor air quality, avoiding mould problems, interior moisture and condensation/enclosure durability, ways to reduce your energy bill, occupancy comfort, and recommended steps for home maintenance.
This lecture is being presented in partnership with Yukon Housing Corporation.
Global and Arctic Fisheries as if People Mattered
Dr. Daniel Pauly, Professor, Institute for Oceans & Fisheries, University of British Columbia
March 20, 2016, 7:30 pm, Beringia Centre, Whitehorse
March 21, 2016, 7:30 pm, Yukon College, Haines Junction
With the globalization of marine industrial fisheries in the last half of the 20th century came unprecedented fish catches in the late 1980s. Since then, with no more room for expansion, global catches have been declining while the collateral damage to marine ecosystems and biodiversity continues to increase. Climate change will only intensify the damage through ocean acidification and increased temperatures, particularly in the Arctic. Join Daniel Pauly as he explores how we arrived at this junction and our options for the future. Do small-scale operations hold the key to a more sustainable fishery?
Recovery from the Exxon Valdez
Scott Pegau, Research Program Manager, Oil Spill Recovery Institute, Cordova, Alaska
March 2, 2016, 7:30 pm, Beringia Centre, Whitehorse
March 3, 2016, 7:30 pm, Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre, Dawson
Anyone over the age of six on March 24, 1989 is likely to remember the many images of oil-slicked seabirds and seals that were shown on newscasts for weeks following the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska. Twenty-six years later how well has the environment recovered? Join Scott Pegau as he explores this question, and also addresses the social issues surrounding the event. Have changes in spill response, both locally and internationally, addressed the issues highlighted by the Exxon Valdez spill?
The Rise of the Industrial Drone
Ian Glenn, MSEE, BEng(Mech), CEO/CTO ING Robotic Aviation Inc.
February 28, 2016, 7:30 pm, Beringia Centre, Whitehorse
February 29, 2016, 7:30 pm, Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre, Dawson
Drones have had a transformative impact on our ability to perceive, monitor and map the world around us. They make it possible to produce highly accurate and very detailed (to 1cm resolution) images and map products that are being used to aid in mineral exploration, to monitor wildlife and vegetation in areas of conservation interest and to develop 3D models of archaeological sites. Join Ian Glenn as he draws on more than 20 years of experience in the industry to explore real world examples of the possibilities. From wildlife to wind turbines, industrial drones are transforming many sectors.
Science and Scenes along the Canol Heritage Trail
Dr. Peter Kershaw
Retired Professor, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta
Linda Kershaw
Principle Investigator, Arctic and Alpine Environmental Consulting Services
January 10, 2016, 7:30 pm, Beringia Centre, Whitehorse
January 11, 2016 , 7:30 pm, Yukon College, Haines Junction
Where do you go for some of the best birding in Whitehorse? The Whitehorse sewage lagoon. And while you're there you can't help but wonder what is in the water and how it is affecting the birds. In answer to that question, Devon Yacura decided to conduct an assessment of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) – a first for Yukon wastewater treatment plants. He sampled water, sludge, aquatic invertebrates and algae to find out what chemicals were present, when they were present, and how they were absorbed into the environment. Join Devon as he explores his results, and discusses how PPCPs may be affecting local wildlife - and not just in Whitehorse.
Pharma-ecology: from our bathrooms to the Whitehorse sewage lagoon
Devon Yacura, MSc student, University of Alberta/Yukon College
January 10, 2016, 7:30 pm, Beringia Centre, Whitehorse
January 11, 2016 , 7:30 pm, Yukon College, Haines Junction
Where do you go for some of the best birding in Whitehorse? The Whitehorse sewage lagoon. And while you're there you can't help but wonder what is in the water and how it is affecting the birds. In answer to that question, Devon Yacura decided to conduct an assessment of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) – a first for Yukon wastewater treatment plants. He sampled water, sludge, aquatic invertebrates and algae to find out what chemicals were present, when they were present, and how they were absorbed into the environment. Join Devon as he explores his results, and discusses how PPCPs may be affecting local wildlife - and not just in Whitehorse.
Emerging Trends at Yukon Bird Observatories
Ted Murphy-Kelly, Station Manager, Albert Creek Bird Observatory
Ben Schonewille, Station Manager, Teslin Lake Bird Observatory
December 13, 2015, 7:30 pm, Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, Whitehorse
Did you know that the Tennessee Warbler is being seen more frequently in the southern and central Yukon? At the Albert Creek Bird Observatory there has been a threefold increase in sightings since 2007. The Albert Creek Bird Observatory is one of three bird migration monitoring stations operated by the Society of Yukon Bird Observatories, the other two being located at Teslin Lake and McIntyre Marsh. With over 10 years worth of data, trends are starting to emerge from the information collected at these sites. Join Ted and Ben as they explore what they have learned about migratory bird distribution, productivity and species trends so far.
Growth in a changing climate: boreal shrubs over time
Meagan Grabowski, MSc student, University of British Columbia
November 1, 2015, 7:30 pm, Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, Whitehorse
November 2, 2015 , 7:30 pm, St. Elias Convention Centre, Haines Junction
Over the last century, there has been a dramatic expansion of tall shrubs across the circumpolar Arctic and alpine tundra that has been linked to warming temperatures. But what's happening to shrubs, a key food source for snowshoe hare, within the northern boreal forest south of the treeline? What is the relative importance of climate, soil nutrients and snowshoe hare numbers in determining shrub growth? By studying shrub tree-rings in the Kluane Region, Meagan Grabowski found that the tree canopy may be buffering shrubs from the effects of climate change. Join Meagan as she explores these results.
Alannah Biega
MSc candidate, Simon Fraser University
September 25, 2016, 7:30 pm, Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, Whitehorse
What do zoos and hatcheries do for conservation? With threats to a wide diversity of species increasing daily, they are playing an expanding role in meeting ambitious global conservation targets. From Vancouver Island marmots to amphibians to fish, Trevor Pitcher and Alannah Biega will discuss how studies of wild populations and ecological/evolutionary principles can be used to inform the manner in which we manage these captive breeding efforts.
Are people the problem? Human populations transforming the world
Joel E. Cohen
Abby Rockefeller Mauzé Professor of Populations, Rockefeller & Columbia Universities, New York City
September 11, 2016, 7:30 pm, Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, Whitehorse
September 12, 2016, 7:30 pm, Kluane National Park Visitor Centre, Haines Junction
What about current world demographics is unique in history? Baby boomers and migration, for starters. And where will it lead us over the next century? Unprecedented changes in population growth, demographic differences between regions, fertility, aging, cities, and migration will transform the world over the next 100 years, creating unique challenges and opportunities for all sectors of society. Join Joel Cohen as he explores the limits of what we know about the demographic future, and the interactions of human populations with economies, environments and cultures.
La Brea Tar Pits: A sticky situation
Aisling Farrell
Collections Manager, La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
August 7, 2016, 7:30 pm, Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, Whitehorse
Located in the heart of Los Angeles California, is one of the world's richest and most diverse late Pleistocene terrestrial assemblages known as La Brea Tar Pits. Protected as a National Natural Landmark, the site also includes a museum dedicated to world class research and informal education. Join Collections Manager, Aisling Farrell, as she gives an overview of the history, the exquisite collections and the current research happening at this famous carnivore trap.
See www.tarpits.org for more information.
The North remembers: Genetic tales of camels and bison past
Dr. Peter D. Heintzman
Postdoctoral Scholar in Paleogenomics
June 17, 2016, 7:30 pm, Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, Whitehorse
June 23, 2016, 7:30 pm, Dawson City Community Library, Dawson
The permafrost of the Yukon holds a treasure trove of ice age fossils with excellent ancient DNA preservation. In this talk, Peter Heintzman will discuss what we have learnt from the fossils of two extinct species: the Western camel and the Steppe bison. We will explore how the Western camel is related to living camels and how Steppe bison helped unravel when the 'ice free corridor' - a key migration route for animals and people between Yukon and interior North America - opened at the end of the ice age.
A Glacial History of the Yukon: Mammoths, Boulders, Gold and Ash
Dr. Brent Ward
Earth Sciences Department, Simon Fraser University
June 2, 2016, 7:00 pm, Kluane National Park & Reserve Visitor Centre, Haines Junction
Yukon is exceptional in Canada in that it has a large unglaciated area and three glaciated surfaces of widely different ages, ranging from 2.6 million to 10,000 years ago. The result is four landscapes, each with distinct characteristics. For example, where you find placer gold deposits and woolly mammoth fossils is largely due to the extent and timing of glaciations. Join Brent Ward as he explores what makes each landscape unique and how radiocarbon, volcanic ash, and glacial erratics have been used to paint a picture of Yukon glaciers over time.
A Meeting of Northern Worlds: Indigenous Peoples and the Norse in Arctic Canada
Patricia D. Sutherland
Adjunct Research Professor, Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University
May 6, 2016, 7:00 pm, Westmark Whitehorse
Archaeological finds from Canada’s eastern Arctic reveal a little known chapter in North American history. Artefacts resembling those used by the Vikings and Medieval Norse have been excavated from sites occupied by the Indigenous peoples of the area. Recent evidence recovered by the Helluland Archaeological Project suggests that the Norse presence in Arctic Canada and interactions with Indigenous inhabitants were more widespread and complex than has previously been believed.
Storied Science
Sandy Marie Bonny
Writer/educator, PhD Earth & Atmospheric Science
April 24, 2016, 7:30 pm, Beringia Centre, Whitehorse
As a scientist and writer, Sandy Bonny has a natural inclination to work science into her stories - but how do stories shape our science? In 1962, Harry Hess introduced the revolutionary idea of plate tectonics in the paper, History of Ocean Basins. He described his article as "an essay in geopoetry," a hybrid structure of geological data and creativity. Big picture stories, including plate tectonics and climate change, form an evolving, often elegant, framework for scientific problem solving. Join Sandy as she explores the role of stories in science, alongside the science of storytelling.
How Houses Work: An Intro to Building Science for Homeowners
Jonathan Smegal, M.A.Sc., Associate Senior Research Engineer, RDH Building Science Laboratories, Waterloo, Ontario
April 12, 2016, 7:00 pm, Westmark Whitehorse
Homes in northern climates can be affordable, comfortable and energy efficient - if they are properly designed, built, and maintained. Join building scientist, Jonathan Smegal to learn about how buildings work and find out what you as a homeowner should know before you buy or renovate. Some of the topics we'll discuss include: ventilation and indoor air quality, avoiding mould problems, interior moisture and condensation/enclosure durability, ways to reduce your energy bill, occupancy comfort, and recommended steps for home maintenance.
This lecture is being presented in partnership with Yukon Housing Corporation.
Global and Arctic Fisheries as if People Mattered
Dr. Daniel Pauly, Professor, Institute for Oceans & Fisheries, University of British Columbia
March 20, 2016, 7:30 pm, Beringia Centre, Whitehorse
March 21, 2016, 7:30 pm, Yukon College, Haines Junction
With the globalization of marine industrial fisheries in the last half of the 20th century came unprecedented fish catches in the late 1980s. Since then, with no more room for expansion, global catches have been declining while the collateral damage to marine ecosystems and biodiversity continues to increase. Climate change will only intensify the damage through ocean acidification and increased temperatures, particularly in the Arctic. Join Daniel Pauly as he explores how we arrived at this junction and our options for the future. Do small-scale operations hold the key to a more sustainable fishery?
Recovery from the Exxon Valdez
Scott Pegau, Research Program Manager, Oil Spill Recovery Institute, Cordova, Alaska
March 2, 2016, 7:30 pm, Beringia Centre, Whitehorse
March 3, 2016, 7:30 pm, Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre, Dawson
Anyone over the age of six on March 24, 1989 is likely to remember the many images of oil-slicked seabirds and seals that were shown on newscasts for weeks following the Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska. Twenty-six years later how well has the environment recovered? Join Scott Pegau as he explores this question, and also addresses the social issues surrounding the event. Have changes in spill response, both locally and internationally, addressed the issues highlighted by the Exxon Valdez spill?
The Rise of the Industrial Drone
Ian Glenn, MSEE, BEng(Mech), CEO/CTO ING Robotic Aviation Inc.
February 28, 2016, 7:30 pm, Beringia Centre, Whitehorse
February 29, 2016, 7:30 pm, Dänojà Zho Cultural Centre, Dawson
Drones have had a transformative impact on our ability to perceive, monitor and map the world around us. They make it possible to produce highly accurate and very detailed (to 1cm resolution) images and map products that are being used to aid in mineral exploration, to monitor wildlife and vegetation in areas of conservation interest and to develop 3D models of archaeological sites. Join Ian Glenn as he draws on more than 20 years of experience in the industry to explore real world examples of the possibilities. From wildlife to wind turbines, industrial drones are transforming many sectors.
Science and Scenes along the Canol Heritage Trail
Dr. Peter Kershaw
Retired Professor, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta
Linda Kershaw
Principle Investigator, Arctic and Alpine Environmental Consulting Services
January 10, 2016, 7:30 pm, Beringia Centre, Whitehorse
January 11, 2016 , 7:30 pm, Yukon College, Haines Junction
Where do you go for some of the best birding in Whitehorse? The Whitehorse sewage lagoon. And while you're there you can't help but wonder what is in the water and how it is affecting the birds. In answer to that question, Devon Yacura decided to conduct an assessment of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) – a first for Yukon wastewater treatment plants. He sampled water, sludge, aquatic invertebrates and algae to find out what chemicals were present, when they were present, and how they were absorbed into the environment. Join Devon as he explores his results, and discusses how PPCPs may be affecting local wildlife - and not just in Whitehorse.
Pharma-ecology: from our bathrooms to the Whitehorse sewage lagoon
Devon Yacura, MSc student, University of Alberta/Yukon College
January 10, 2016, 7:30 pm, Beringia Centre, Whitehorse
January 11, 2016 , 7:30 pm, Yukon College, Haines Junction
Where do you go for some of the best birding in Whitehorse? The Whitehorse sewage lagoon. And while you're there you can't help but wonder what is in the water and how it is affecting the birds. In answer to that question, Devon Yacura decided to conduct an assessment of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) – a first for Yukon wastewater treatment plants. He sampled water, sludge, aquatic invertebrates and algae to find out what chemicals were present, when they were present, and how they were absorbed into the environment. Join Devon as he explores his results, and discusses how PPCPs may be affecting local wildlife - and not just in Whitehorse.
Emerging Trends at Yukon Bird Observatories
Ted Murphy-Kelly, Station Manager, Albert Creek Bird Observatory
Ben Schonewille, Station Manager, Teslin Lake Bird Observatory
December 13, 2015, 7:30 pm, Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, Whitehorse
Did you know that the Tennessee Warbler is being seen more frequently in the southern and central Yukon? At the Albert Creek Bird Observatory there has been a threefold increase in sightings since 2007. The Albert Creek Bird Observatory is one of three bird migration monitoring stations operated by the Society of Yukon Bird Observatories, the other two being located at Teslin Lake and McIntyre Marsh. With over 10 years worth of data, trends are starting to emerge from the information collected at these sites. Join Ted and Ben as they explore what they have learned about migratory bird distribution, productivity and species trends so far.
Growth in a changing climate: boreal shrubs over time
Meagan Grabowski, MSc student, University of British Columbia
November 1, 2015, 7:30 pm, Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, Whitehorse
November 2, 2015 , 7:30 pm, St. Elias Convention Centre, Haines Junction
Over the last century, there has been a dramatic expansion of tall shrubs across the circumpolar Arctic and alpine tundra that has been linked to warming temperatures. But what's happening to shrubs, a key food source for snowshoe hare, within the northern boreal forest south of the treeline? What is the relative importance of climate, soil nutrients and snowshoe hare numbers in determining shrub growth? By studying shrub tree-rings in the Kluane Region, Meagan Grabowski found that the tree canopy may be buffering shrubs from the effects of climate change. Join Meagan as she explores these results.