Retiring Faculty Member: Tony Farrell

November 28, 2022

Retiring Faculty Member: Tony Farrell

Professor Anthony (Tony) Farrell, a former Canada Research Chair in Fish Physiology, Culture and
Conservation (Tier 1) retired this year. We asked him some questions about his distinguished career.

Can you name some achievements that made you proud?

Near the top of my list was being awarded a prestigious Canada Research Chair Tier I position, being elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and becoming President of the Society of Experiment Biologists (UK-based). My many editorial roles with various scientific journals, especially the prestigious Fish Physiology book series, which recently had its 50th anniversary, and the award-winning Encyclopedia of Fish Physiology, certainly gave me great pride and enjoyment. However, publishing two separate papers in one year in the prestigious journal Science while at UBC is perhaps my proudest achievement.

Were you able to influence people or create the changes you wanted to in your field?

This is really for others to say. I certainly feel that I advanced the field of cardiovascular physiology with my research, which amounted to around 500 refereed publications and many book chapters and reports. I did help the Canadian government with fish management issues on many occasions and policy may have changed as a result. But most of all, I hope that the many undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who passed through my research lab became better people, especially as researchers.

Perhaps such recognition came when I was awarded an Honorary PhD from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Seeing the Canadian flag flying in the centre of the plaza (a recognition of the country of origin for a recipient of an Honorary degree inside) made me feel especially proud.

How did you balance teaching and research?

I didn’t! I simply worked hard and for long hours, hoping my family would understand. I was never a good role model for work-life balance. Back then I had too much energy and too many ideas for my own good.

What advice would you give someone who wants to work in academia?

Decide on your work-life balance before setting career goals. Family is all that is left after retirement so treat them as a priority before retirement. Nonetheless, once you have made your career goals, give’er all you can while having fun in the process.

Retiring Faculty Member: David McArthur

November 28, 2022

Retiring Faculty Member: David McArthur

David McArthur retires this year and reflects on his research and career at UBC. In 1995, he started as a Research Associate in Plant Science with berry industry and government grants. Gradually, McArthur transitioned to a Lecturer position teaching Agroecology 1 & 2, Horticulture, Horticultural Techniques, and Wine Science 1 & 2.

What was your area of research?

My master’s thesis at UBC (MSc Horticulture 1987) researched the interactive effects of nutrition and gibberellins on cranberry and strawberry growth and fruiting. At University of Alberta (PhD Plant Physiology 1992), I researched the morphology, growth and physiology of arbuscular mycorrhizae potato. I continued researching mycorrhizae with confocal laser scanning microscopy as a postdoctoral fellow until 1995. As a postdoctoral fellow at UBC starting in 1995, I continued my cranberry research, focussing on hormone/floral physiology.

What achievements make you proud?

My later cranberry research showed decreasing daylength was the environmental stimulus for floral induction and this was inhibited by gibberellins. Floral induction was prevented by the presence of gibberellins (applied or endogenous) in apices. I presented a model for the mechanism of biennial-bearing of cranberry shoots. Shoots with seeded fruit had relatively high gibberellin and amylase levels in their apical zone (GA3 promotes amylase activity and growth). Gibberellins from seeds could cause inhibition of floral induction in fruiting shoots – hence, the biennial bearing pattern.

Also, I brought many experiential learning opportunities to students. Students learned tree physiology, grafted and pruned their own apple trees. They studied methods at berry and organic vegetable farms, ranches, greenhouses, and then designed sustainable agroecosystems.

Were you able to influence people or create positive change in your field?

My research on floral induction helped target the focus of genetic studies/breeding programs of cranberry to enhance factors promoting floral bud set.

I consulted with the BC Vintners Quality Alliance program, set up a modified “wine judge” training program and trained new judges for many years, helping to maintain B.C.’s reputation for “fine wine.”

In Wine Science, learning about both the perils of alcohol and pleasures of wine appreciation perhaps provided many enthusiastic students a useful perspective.

Milestones and News & Notes

November 28, 2022

Milestones

UBC Supports Regenerative Agriculture and Agritech

Sean Smukler, Chair of Agriculture and Environment, joins a 17-person Advisory Group on Regenerative Agriculture and Agritech. The BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food created this advisory group to find ways of building resilient food systems and to support farmers in strengthening B.C. food production. Smukler will share his expertise in soil science and climate change adaptation.

Student Services Team Wins President’s Award

The LFS Student Services team, led by Christine Klaray, Director, Student Academic Services, won a UBC President’s Staff Award for Wellbeing for the creation of ROOTSS (Reach Out, Orientation, Transition & Study Skills). ROOTSS guides new-to-LFS students in academic transition, building social connections and improving wellbeing. Notably they launched ROOTSS a year earlier than planned to support incoming students during the pandemic.

New Research Program at BC Children’s Hospital

To help establish his research program at BC Children’s Hospital, new faculty member David Wright received a BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR) Investigator Establishment Award of $250,000. Wright joined UBC as a Professor in Exercise, Metabolism, Nutrition & Health, and is appointed in FNH in LFS and the School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Education (home department).

Canada Research Chair in Micronutrients and Human Health

Crystal Karakochuk is a new CIHR Canada Research Chair in Micronutrients and Human Health (Tier 2). Crystal is an Assistant Professor in the Food, Nutrition and Health (FNH) program with strong collaborations in the province, working as an Investigator at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute and Women’s Health Research Institute.

Professional Dietetics Program Launches

The Master of Nutrition and Dietetics welcomed its first class of students in September. This 28-month graduate professional program is based on national competencies and accreditation standards for entry into the dietetics profession. Curriculum will cover advanced clinical nutrition, food provision management, leadership, business and entrepreneurship, counselling, Indigenous Peoples’ health, social justice and professional dietetic practice.

UBC Killam Research Prize

Marina von Keyserlingk in the Animal Welfare Program received a 2021 UBC Killam Research Prize in the Science category. The UBC Faculty Research Awards Committee selects recipients for Faculty Research Awards to recognize research excellence and scholarly achievements.

Students Contribute Ideas to Community Learning

Gail Hammond received a Students as Partners (SaP) in Course Design grant for the project, Amplifying learning in a fourth-year community experiential learning course: Implementation of innovative practical and theoretical activities. SaP in Course Design supports UBC Vancouver undergraduate students working in partnership with faculty to redesign courses, and positions students as collaborators in the university’s academic mission.

News & Notes

Christine Scaman Retires

Associate Professor Christine Scaman retires after 27 years with UBC. She served in many leadership roles with LFS, as Program Director of the Food, Nutrition and Health Program and Associate
Dean, Academic. Her research area of focus was primarily food chemistry, specifically investigating carbohydrates and enzymology.

Investing in New Research Technology

The following projects recently received investment from BC Knowledge Development Fund to support the development of leading-edge technology used in research.

UBC Nutritional Epidemiology and Big Data Analytics Laboratory led by Mahsa Jessri
Environment Economics Research Unit led by Frederik Noack
Controlled-Environment Facility for Crop Pathology and Genetics Research (CEF-CPG) led by Gurcharn Singh Brar
Integrated SOILRES platform for advanced study of soil processes driving agroecosystem resilience under climate change led by Jean-Thomas Cornelis
Automated growth and screening platform for elucidating crop water requirements led by Thorsten Knipfer

New Faculty Profile: David Wright

November 28, 2022

New Faculty Profile: David Wright

David Wright joined UBC as a Professor in Exercise, Metabolism, Nutrition and Health, with a joint appointment in LFS and the School of Kinesiology. Previously, he was a professor at the University of Guelph where he recently held a Canada Research Chair in Lipids, Metabolism and Health (Tier 2).

Wright also holds a concurrent appointment as an investigator at the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR), where his lab is currently located with multiple ongoing projects.

Wright’s research interest has always been in the entanglement of nutrition and exercise: “I’ve always believed that exercise and nutrition go hand in glove. I don’t think you can really understand one without understanding the other.”

One of his current projects focuses on identifying ways to counteract the side effects of antipsychotic drugs: “We’ve been using exercise as a model to try to identify pathways that we can target that might ‘mimic’ some of the beneficial effects of exercise.”

Wright noticed a doubling of the prescription of antipsychotic drugs in North America over the last decade. Some of these drugs, including those prescribed for schizophrenia, anxiety, and bipolar disorders, have significant metabolic side effects such as weight gain and rapid increases in blood sugar with each dose.

“Once individuals take these drugs, they are pretty much on them for their entire life. I think it’s really important that we come up with some ways to mitigate these metabolic side effects,” says Wright.

On a personal level, Wright, who enjoys the outdoors, is excited to be back in Vancouver where he grew up. Professionally, he wishes to bridge LFS and the School of Kinesiology.

“I am really looking forward to being able to facilitate some further collaborative research between those academic units.”

New Faculty Profile: Bruna Donatti Castro Falci

November 28, 2022

New Faculty Profile: Bruna Donatti Castro Falci

Bruna Donatti Castro Falci joined the Food, Nutrition and Health Program as a Lecturer in June 2022, teaching in the Dietetics and the new Master of Nutrition and Dietetics programs. Before coming to Canada, she worked in clinical nutrition and as a Lecturer for 11 years in Brazil after earning her BSc in Nutrition Science at Centro Universitário Newton Paiva.

Donatti’s interest in nutrition sparked when she discovered how food choices can impact health in regards to prevention and treatment of many conditions. Yet not only is nutrition a human matter, but also a deep ecological concern from her perspective. To Donatti, ecology and human health are deeply integrated, as one inevitably affects the other.

“I’ve also been studying a lot about how our food choices impact the environment, how very small changes can make such a big impact on the environment.”

After receiving her MSc in Human Nutrition at McGill, Donatti worked as a clinical dietitian at McGill University Health Centre, where she supported patients’ recovery from upper GI and thoracic surgery. Donatti made sure that optimal nutrition was provided to her patients to maintain or re-establish their nutritional status, considering its significant influence on morbidity and mortality.

Having left McGill, Donatti has found her passion for teaching rekindled. She is excited to mold a new program at UBC, share her experience, and also see each of her students evolve into a mature professional.

“When we are sharing knowledge, we learn so much. I love to learn from the students and grow from their feedback. As a Lecturer, I love to see how the students evolve.”

New Faculty Profile: Amelia MacRae

November 28, 2022

New Faculty Profile: Amelia MacRae

Amelia MacRae bought her first horse at age 12, using her savings from babysitting jobs. Since that time, she’s had horses most of her life.

“My parents say my first word was ‘horse.’ Horses are incredible animals, and I’ve always been fascinated and drawn to them.”

As a new Animal Welfare Program Lecturer, MacRae is able to share with students her passion and deep respect for animals. She is no stranger to LFS, however, having been a Sessional Lecturer since 2019. She teaches third- and fourth-year applied biology courses on such topics as animals in society, animals and global issues and equine biology, health and welfare. She also teaches first-year science writing.

Originally, MacRae obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Victoria, but after working for a short time, she decided to return to school to obtain the prerequisites for veterinary medicine. She enrolled in UBC’s Land and Food Systems, graduating from the Global Resource Systems program. It was during this period that she met Professor David Fraser, who introduced her to the field of animal welfare.

“It was like a whole other world of animal work opened up for me. I decided then to pivot away from veterinary medicine and instead pursue an MSc in Applied Animal Biology under David’s supervision.”

Her master’s research focused on trying to improve the health outcomes of orphaned seal pups by adjusting their diet and feeding protocols. Her study more than doubled the survival rate of pups undergoing rehabilitation. Subsequently, MacRae was hired by the Vancouver Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue Centre as a Rehabilitation Specialist, working over the next decade with a wide variety of marine mammals.

To further her goals of better understanding animals and improving their welfare, MacRae then completed her doctoral degree, focusing on the identification of non-invasive indicators of pain in seals and social buffering in horses.

Amelia MacRae

November 28, 2022

Amelia MacRae

Lecturer, Applied Biology

amelia.macrae@ubc.ca

Education

PhD Applied Animal Biology, University of British Columbia

MSc Animal Science, University of British Columbia

BSc Global Resource Systems, University of British Columbia

BA English, University of Victoria

Teaching

APBI 414: Animals and Global Issues

APBI 316: Equine Biology, Health and Welfare

APBI 314: Animals and Society

LFS 150: Scholarly Writing and Argumentation in Land and Food Systems

Selected Publications

MacRae, AM., McGreevy, P., Daros, R.R., and Fraser, D. 2021. Can surface eye temperature be used to indicate a stress response in seals (Phoca vitulina). Animal Welfare 30: 91-100.

Dai, F., Leach, M., MacRae, A.M., Minero, M., and Dalla Costa, E. 2020. Does Thirty-Minute Standardised Training Improve the Inter-Observer Reliability of the Horse Grimace Scale (HGS)? A Case Study. Animals 10:781.

MacRae, A.M., Makowska, I.J., and Fraser, D. 2018. Initial evaluation of facial expressions and behaviours of harbour seal pups (Phoca vitulina) in response to tagging and microchipping. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 205: 167-274

MacRae, A.M., Fraser, D., and Haulena, M. 2012. The provision of supplementary heat for hand-raised harbour seal pups (Phoca vitulina). Journal of Wildlife Rehabilitation 32: 7-11.

MacRae, A.M., Fraser, D., and Haulena, M. 2011. The effect of diet and feeding level on survival and weight gain of hand-raised harbour seal pups (Phoca vitulina). Zoo Biology 30: 532-541

Fraser, D. and MacRae, A.M. 2011. Four types of activities that affect animals: implications for animal welfare science and animal ethics philosophy. Animal Welfare 20: 581-590.

Tagged with: Applied Animal Biology, Applied Biology, Faculty

Tagged with Applied Animal Biology, Applied Biology, Faculty
Categories: Profile Faculty, Profiles

New Faculty Profile: Jay Martiniuk

November 28, 2022

New Faculty Profile: Jay Martiniuk

Growing up on his family’s vineyard in the Okanagan, and working as a cellar master and winemaker at B.C. wineries, Jay Martiniuk brings wine-making insights from industry to the classroom. He is excited to share this knowledge with his students as a Lecturer in wine science and fermentation.

To Martiniuk, the subdued wonders of wine science lie in its interdisciplinary nature. “Wine is amazingly complex, and wine science is wonderful in that it includes so many of the sciences. There’s chemistry, microbiology, engineering, plant science. You get a really good cross section in wine science and for me that’s very appealing.”

“Also, I would like to build on the success that the previous instructor David McArthur had — he’s built a very successful course — and I plan to continue that, bringing in some of my experience in yeast research and winemaking.”

Martiniuk earned his BSc in Food Science in Land and Food Systems. He also completed an MSc in Food Science at the UBC Wine Research Centre in 2021 under the supervision of Associate Professor Vivien Measday, where he looked at yeast populations in the vineyards and wineries of B.C.’s Okanagan Valley.

In his research, Martiniuk looked at different vineyard sites, profiling the fungal organisms in populations in the Okanagan Valley.

“We found that there is quite a difference between the strains of yeast that you find, for example, in Kelowna versus in the South Okanagan.”

He further explains that discovering a greater variety of yeast species is significant as it may help contribute to the sensory qualities of wine. “If we can explore the diversity of those yeasts in wine growing regions, we can maybe take advantage of those and use them to create wines that are more expressive of terroir.”

Towards the end of Martiniuk’s masters degree, he taught as both a Sessional Lecturer and guest Lecturer in the Faculty. In between his academic endeavors, he also worked as an Associate Director at Willow Biosciences, assessing yeast growth conditions and production of small molecules in fermentation, and implementing systems for ensuring product quality.

Drought Resistance in Wine Grapes and Hazelnuts

November 28, 2022

Drought Resistance in Wine Grapes and Hazelnuts

This year, B.C. experienced an unusually warm and dry autumn. Vancouver recorded seven millimetres of rain this past September, a far cry from the city’s monthly average of nearly 60 millimetres. More than simply an extra long summer, this unseasonal weather has massive impacts on the agricultural sector.

LFS researchers Thorsten Knipfer and Simone Castellarin are working to understand the specifics of growing woody perennial crops during conditions of water stress by drought, and how we can sustainably manage one of the most important natural resources on our planet, water.

Knipfer’s research observes how plants react to varying levels of water availability in soil. His team studies hazelnut trees, an emerging woody perennial crop in the B.C. agricultural sphere. As with other woody and perennial plants, farmers have grown hazelnut trees for decades. Sustainable water management allows them to ensure their orchards maintain yield during dry summers without wasting water resources.

To gain a holistic understanding of the plant, Knipfer’s team observes how water interacts with the internals of the plant, using a pressure chamber to measure water tensions, a porometer to monitor water loss from leaves by transpiration, and x-ray computed microtomography to observe the fillings status of cells. In order, Knipfer describes these as the “heartbeat”, “breath”, and “hydration level” of the plant.

Irrigation management can be informed by water availability in the soil. Advanced strategies shift the focus to the plant itself, allowing growers to implement precision irrigation approaches that consider crop specific water requirements. Knipfer’s research attempts to identify thresholds of physiological performance to inform irrigation and create an optimum curve with drought stress conditions on one end and waterlogging conditions on the other.

Similar to Knipfer’s research on the conservation of irrigation water in times of drought, Castellarin’s research adds another element unique to wine grapes, taste.

Historically, grapes of all kinds are produced mostly in dry environments. Yet despite experiencing drought stress, the overall quality of wines made from these grapes could be excellent. Castellarin studies the impact of irrigation management in wine production, where moderate water deficits induced by drought periods can increase the quality of fruit as it decreases the quantity of yield.

Castellarin emphasizes the physiological responses of vines under regulated deficit irrigation, which forces the plant into a controlled state of moderate drought stress. His team monitors canopy growth, sugar production in fruits, and the compounds that create a wine grape’s distinct aroma.

These techniques are still new and developing, but are a promising step towards more sustainable irrigation that preserves water and maintains yield and quality of selected woody perennial crops. Together, their research will be applicable to other berry crops, such as blueberries and raspberries, in the coming years.

With more emphasis on the performance and physiological behavior of the plant, this research is applicable to natural systems. Heatwaves and drought conditions have caused tree mortality in forests, where the continuous water column between root and canopy ‘breaks’ and blocks transport of water and nutrients to leaves. Understanding plant physiological responses in natural and agricultural environments provides the foundation for making accurate predictions on how future climate conditions will impact our ecosystems.

Animal Welfare Program Expands Research on Canine Companions

November 25, 2022

Animal Welfare Program Expands Research on Canine Companions

Alexandra (Sasha) Protopopova at the Human Animal Interaction Lab

A new lab in UBC’s Animal Welfare Program welcomes furry, four-legged participants who can provide researchers with greater insights into their cognitive abilities.

Led by Assistant Professor and Certified Applied Animal Behaviourist, Alexandra (Sasha) Protopopova, the Human-Animal Interaction Lab will use behavioural studies to understand differences in dog personality and learning. Additionally, the lab will study the welfare and behaviour of therapy and assistance dogs that help people.

“The opening of the brand new Human-Animal Interaction Lab space will finally allow us to work collaboratively with the local dog-loving community. We are excited to bring in our dog guests and their owners to learn more about our best friends,” says Protopopova. “It will also allow for teaching opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students who are interested in companion animal behaviour.”

Protopopova holds the NSERC/BC SPCA Industrial Research Chair in Animal Welfare, so her research findings are expected to impact many areas: animal shelter practices, including supporting positive behaviour of dogs living in shelters; therapy dog training practices to improve the wellbeing of dogs and the people they assist; and, general companion animal welfare knowledge.

In 2020, Humane Canada reported 20,000 dogs were taken into shelters with approximately 50% of them being adopted. Unfortunately, dog adoptions have slowed down in 2022.

“With COVID-19 restrictions ending and many going back to the office, some dog owners are discovering behavioural challenges, such as separation anxiety, in their new companions. Furthermore, the difficult economic situation and lack of access to pet-friendly affordable housing means that many are forced to rehome their beloved pets. This is now an urgent time to help dogs and owners in need.”

The lab will undertake a variety of studies, including ways to assist dog owners with their dogs’ behavioural concerns. It will also be a place for learning about animal behaviour and animal sheltering, in general.

The new lab is outfitted with 360-degree cameras and twoway mirrors, and expands the Animal Welfare Program’s ability to contribute research and applied knowledge on companion animals and the role of animals in society.

UBC’s veterinarians have reviewed the lab to ensure it’s safe for humans and dogs. Protopopova also points out researchers will ensure consent comes from dog owners and the dogs themselves using behavioural cues. For example, dogs who shy away from interacting with researchers or show signs of being tired or distracted will not be asked to continue and instead either be rescheduled or find an alternative study that would be more suitable for the dog’s comfort.

Funding for the lab came from the Canada Foundation for Innovation JELF and the BC Knowledge Development Fund. Research at the lab space is primary funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Discovery Grant and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute.

Those interested in having their pets participate in future studies can email hai.lab@ubc.ca.

Comparing Breed and Individual Behaviour

Amin Azadian is a PhD student in Applied Animal Biology and earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Tabriz in Iran. His past research focused on domestic cats, in particular the impact of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus infection on developing age-associated cognitive impairments (Feline Dementia).

Today, he is turning his attention to the study of domestic dogs. “I was always interested in exploring how animals interact with their environment and to what extent the interaction between the genetic makeup and previous life experiences can shape the behaviour and personality of animals,” said Azadian. “I chose to study domestic dogs because the long history of artificial selection in dogs to accentuate desirable traits according to their utility to humans provides a unique opportunity to study between-breed differences in various aspects of behaviour.”

Azadian will also study dogs within a single breed with the aim of understanding the impact of previous experiences, such as the training, on learning and behaviour. By better understanding fundamental behavioural differences and their genetic underpinnings, he hopes to better classify and understand individual differences in animals, which hasn’t received a lot of attention in research studies.

Retiring Faculty Member: Tony Farrell