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Intersections of immigration and violence against women in relationships: A case study of the lived experiences of West African immigrant women in Northern British Columbia
Get PDFThis research is for the researcher’s graduate thesis, as a requirement to obtain a Master of Social Work degree. The thesis research was conducted via distance (using telephone and password-protected audio conferencing) with four immigrant women. Using a case study approach and framed by socialist feminist intersectional theories and transformative framework, this thesis examines the intersections of immigration and violence against women in relationships (VAWIR) on multiple axis including gender, race, class, immigrant, and economic status to better understand factors that shape the experiences of visible minority immigrant women dealing with domestic violence and abuse. The findings of this thesis would contribute to different viewpoints on the experiences of VAWIR among immigrant women and bring more understanding to a variety of ways immigrant women respond to and cope with violence in their relationships as well as shape future policies and practices to more effectively service immigrant women of African descent
Persistence of glyphosate, and associated influence on available nutrients, in native plant tissues following sublethal herbicide application in northern British Columbia forests
Get PDFGlyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) are highly effective, nonselective herbicides that have been used in British Columbia’s forest industry since the early 1980s to remove deciduous vegetation competing with commercially important coniferous tree seedlings. Long term persistence of glyphosate and its metabolic byproduct aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in the forest ecosystem has not previously been monitored beyond one year, although it is known that glyphosate may be stored in tissues of plants that received a sublethal dose of GBH. The primary objective of this research thesis was to determine the duration (up to twelve years) of glyphosate and AMPA persistence in the roots, shoots, and fruits of selected perennial plant species in GBH-treated forest cutblocks. Due to the ability of glyphosate to form insoluble complexes with metal ions, it was suspected that metal nutrient concentrations in surviving plants might be affected by persistent glyphosate. The second main objective of this thesis was to determine if concentrations of calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) were significantly altered by GBH treatment. Plant tissue samples from five forest understory perennial species growing in two distinct biogeoclimatic (BEC) zones of northern BC were analyzed for glyphosate and AMPA content, and comparisons were made between species, plant tissue type, and BEC zone. Residues persisted for up to 12 years in some tissue types, and root tissues generally retained
glyphosate residues longer than shoot tissue types. Samples from the drier, colder, more northern Boreal White and Black Spruce (BWBS) BEC zone retained significantly higher levels of glyphosate for longer than samples collected from the warmer Sub-Boreal Spruce (SBS) BEC zone. Shoot samples from three species in the SBS zone were further analyzed for nutrient contents. Nutrient concentrations were more variable over time in treated samples than in control samples, and comparison of treated and control samples resulted in significant differences in 47 % of all cases, and in 61 % of year one samples. Generally, Ca, Mg and Ni decreased with treatment in all three species; Zn increased with treatment for each species; and Fe and Mn had inconsistent changes with treatment. Both the persistence of glyphosate and related changes in plant nutrient concentrations may have cumulative health effects for wildlife. More research should be conducted in this field, as many questions remain unanswered
Evaluating site index models derived from topography and predictive ecosystem models
Get PDFRemote sensing techniques have been demonstrated to be efficient tools for producing reliable and accurate information regarding forest inventory. Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) can be used to develop Predictive Ecosystem Mapping (PEM) models based on Digital Elevation Model (DEM) derived layers. These PEM models, and the variables that they are based on may be used to generate reliable information to predict forest growth potential using an age-independent approach. This study evaluated the efficacy of using ALS-derived attributes to infer Site Index (SI) in plantation areas up to 30 years old, and compares the results with the current Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) estimates. I used a machine learning approach and Random Forest techniques to develop an age-independent SI model (SI_pem) incorporating DEM-derived topographic layers. The resulting SI_pem model produces accurate SI estimates at a fine grain across different forest ecosystems. The model performed significantly better when compared to Site Index by Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification site series (SIBEC) lookup tables. Microclimate variables associated with water process, such as Topographic Positioning Index, Diurnal Anisotropic Heating, Topographic Openness Dominance and Overland Flow Horizontal Distance had significant importance to predict SI across the three areas studied in this work
Exploring factors leading to the justification of marital rape among Ghanaian-Canadian married women
Get PDFCanada implemented Bill C-127 to eliminate sexual assault against wives in 1983, while Ghana criminalized marital rape in 2007. Although Ghana was late in establishing the Domestic Violence Act, which eliminated the idea that husbands can rape wives, there has been little to no legal report of marital rape in Ghana. This study explored the experiences and perceptions on the factors that lead to the justification of marital rape among Ghanaian-Canadian women. The study adopted a qualitative research approach and a descriptive case study design. The general research question was: What factors influence the justification of marital rape as perceived and experienced by Ghanaian-Canadian married women? A purposeful sampling procedure targeted Ghanaian-Canadian women living in Canada. A total of twenty (20) highly educated women participants within the ages of 28-63 were identified. A case study was pursued using semi-structured interviews. Telephone interviews were conducted with all the participants. The methods of data analysis of the interview data involved transcription, categorization, and coding for major themes. Major themes identified as factors that influence the justification of marital rape include the following: lack of confidence in the Ghanaian judicial system, exaggerated ideas of the effectiveness and ruthlessness of the Canadian judicial system in dealing with marital rape, economic instability, and women's immigration status. Hence, one major factor that helped achieve these findings was the comparative approach the participants identified by relating the Ghanaian society to their host country, which helped to examine differing influences of the identified themes. Ethical consideration to confidentiality and anonymity are demonstrated in this thesis with pseudonyms used for the participants in the discussion of the findings. The thesis concludes with vital recommendations such as the need for further research to uncover the factors leading to the justification of rape from diverse religious and non-religious groups and tribes of diverse nationalities living in Canada, and further research to investigate the support services available within Canada’s provinces and their response to domestic violence, especially with women of colour
A pedagogy of caring leads to reciprocal relationships, engagement, and emotional well-being in education
Get PDFThis paper is set in the context of my educational experience in the Masters of Education program and as an educator. I was born into the upper middle class, am a Caucasian woman, and am part of the privileged culture, which has greatly influenced my social location and identity. My education experience comes from working as a teacher in Elementary and Middle schools. I hear comments from my colleagues like, “I am not my student’s friend” and “If they are scared of you, you are doing something right.” even though they deeply care about their students. There is a gap in knowledge on how to create a reciprocal caring relationship that needs to be filled. Teachers are burning out, and students don’t feel cared for. If education were based on caring, students would be more engaged in their learning and have better mental health (Noddings, 2005). I have found that connecting with students on a deeper level makes students enjoy coming to school and want to learn. The experience we want to create and what the students experience is vastly different. Research shows that only one-third of students feel like an adult at school
cares for them. This statistic is unacceptable and embodies the need to switch to a pedagogy of caring. If tangible steps down this path are taken, students can increase their capacity to care in all aspects of their life, their drive to learn, and their mental health. A pedagogy of caring is also a tangible way for educators to work towards reconciliation and meet some of the calls to action for Indigenous youth.Not peer reviewedpedagogy of caringNel Noddingseducationachievementwell-beingCapston
We know what you’ve done there: Writing tutors from the Douglas College Learning Centre respond to instructors’ assignment guidelines
Get PDFThe crux of supporting student writing as a peer tutor is understanding the assignment instructions; writing tutors see hundreds of different assignment guidelines. A panel of writing tutors discuss how they navigate instructor's assignments to support students in their tutoring sessions, touching on what makes more understandable assignment guidelines and where they encounter trouble.presentationBetter Together Conferenc
Protected area selection for efficient and equitable biodiversity conservation in British Columbia
Get PDFConserving biodiversity is principally achieved through the designation of protected areas, guided by the process of systematic conservation planning (SCP). SCP identifies networks of protected areas that represent regional biodiversity. Ecologists, planners, and decision makers may each use different spatial boundaries, scales, and extents for individual projects; these can be misaligned with the jurisdictional scope and scale of management decisions, impacting the effectiveness of resulting conservation actions. Using British Columbia as a study area, we explore how analysis design effects SCP outputs. Using ILP solvers, we measured concordance, efficiency, and equity between the varying extents (ecological and administrative) and scales (fine, coarse, provincial). Higher efficiency but lower equity results when constraints are lifted. Inversely, higher land requirements with higher equity result when constraints are imposed. We show how initial design decisions influence the priority assigned to conservation areas and find insights for striking a balance between landscape-scale and regional-scale analyses
Myelin gene expression across murine post-natal brain development: Validating reliable QPCR methods
Get PDFMyelination is essential for proper conduction across all neural networks. Myelination in the central nervous system is performed by glial cells called oligodendrocytes. Mature, myelinating glia develop from progenitor cells through distinct differentiation steps, and gene expression markers have been established that are unique to oligodendrocyte lineage cells. This study aims to establish a reliable RT-qPCR protocol to quantify oligodendrocyte-specific gene expression according to the MIQE guidelines. Primers specific to the progenitor, immature, and myelinating stages of oligodendrocyte differentiation were validated, showing 90-100% efficiency. Reference gene primers were also validated, and their stability was determined to make recommendations for those to use as normalization factors. The expression pattern of oligodendrocyte-specific genes across stages of postnatal development was similar to previously defined RNA-seq profiles in isolated cell types. The validated RT-qPCR assays developed build a framework for future investigation on myelination during development and remyelination in disease
Generating Conversational Data: Attempts at Invading Machine Learning Systems in a World Made of Artifices
No full textThe instrumentalization of biometric data orchestrated through surveillance technologies can press today’s users of communication tools, devices, and platforms to opt out of such systems. This graduate research thesis aims to reveal the imperceptible forces that underwrite recognition technologies, through a series of experiments and the creation of multimedia installations that address the unethical relationship between active users and structures of control. Initiated at Emily Carr University, Vancouver, from September 2020 to May 2022, this research project hopes to uncover new possibilities for machine learning systems to propose protective devices based on image datasets composed of theatrical masks. This project explores the potential to apply generative models simultaneously as a response to facial recognition technology and as a mode of resistance to the dominance of these models. Finally, this research contributes to raising awareness toward extractive systems and surveillance technologies, while questioning the impact of artificial intelligence and its potential future outcomes.Surveillance technologyResistanceArtifice
Healing Through Making
No full textMy research project is a personal journey of discovery that aims to explore how communication and design can open the doors for healing and learning far beyond conventional ways. Through this intentional, often circular thinking and specific exploratory projects that make up the research, I have attempted to understand how material practice can help mitigate the effects of grief to assist in the ideas of self-care and healing. It has provided a holistic view of healing and care that recenters culture and identity integral to self-care and well-being.
Lauren Vaughan states caring for unknown others is so challenging because the farther we move from the familiar, the less control we have and the more risk of failure is. Often, we find ourselves becoming lost, unknown of what it may feel like to be in touch with ourselves while we care for others in the community. There’s an under-appreciation for understanding ourselves and that reflective element that I believe is critical to being a designer who can help, listen or even create or formulate work with stakeholders in all fields.
The research uses an experiential (phenomenological) approach which allows contemplation on the experience of practice to create a conceptual work for mitigating grief through material practice. The material practice finds meaning and value in the cultural capital.
I use auto-ethnography because it requires the researcher or designer first to question themselves and their place in the world. Schouwengerg and Kaethler, authors of the auto-ethnographic turn in design, contrast with historical processes in ethnography and design that look outward first. This approach, however, closely tethers research with creative personal expression. They state, “forging deeply intimate objects that research and communicate personal sentiments, traumas, fears, obsessions, hopes, fascinations, passions, and more.”
As we recuperate from the pandemic, it is essential to share and have conversations about how to continue engaging with the self and others.
I write this thesis to serve as both a guide and an invitation for my fellow design researchers - an invitation to dedicate ourselves to facing the realities of life with care, explore how best to heal and commit to ourselves as a community by using creative healing centred design techniques to move forward.AutoethnographyPhenomenological approachCareBilingualismMaterial practiceEmbodied practiceSelf-inquiryPractice base