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Now Try the How and Why
No full textExploration of innovative ways to connect with observers in contemporary curatorial practice is crucial in order to expand localization and education in galleries. The exhibition Now Try How and Why (NTHW) explores the perceptions and connections created toward and through the curation of abstract artworks. By encouraging observers to curate the placement of these artworks through the generation of narratives, this exhibition will offer an alternative to typical visitor contributions and educational activities with its inclusion of an interactive technological aspect, and its opportunity to explore the roles of a curator. This show has a variety of influences from the humanities, spanning philosophy, ethics, educational models, stories and literature theory. When NTWH is presented in April 2020 in Thompson Rivers University’s Graduating BFA exhibition it will seek to answer questions posed in the gallery community, where presently art galleries are updating their practices and possibilities of curating and improving their public spaces through interactive exhibitions that strive to develop stronger and more inclusive educational and socio-cultural space for visitors. This research intends to predict the future of these institutions; it is of interactive and educational importance to remain inclusive and open to all kinds of knowledge
Comparison of Omega 6:3 Fatty Acid Ratios in Milk from Conventional, Grass-fed, and Sprout-fed Dairy Cattle Using NMR Spectroscopy
Get PDFFeeding systems of cattle are returning to fresh forage, making use of modern technologies such as hydroponics for year-round access. In order to be labelled as Grass-Fed milk, operations must now adhere to national standards set by the Dairy Farmers of Canada. To meet quality assurance standards, the 18:2 n-6/18:3 n-3 ratio in milk is required to be less than or equal to 3.5 in the first 12 months of testing, and less then or equal to 3.0 thereafter. The analysis of omega fatty acids in milk is possible by NMR spectroscopy, and with the emergence of benchtop NMR spectrometers, in-house testing may be possible in order to meet this quality assurance guideline. In collaboration with the Nutriva Group, which feeds dairy cattle hydroponically grown grass and sprouts, the omega fatty acids of raw milk samples are currently being analyzed by 1H and 1D TOCSY NMR spectroscopy. The overall goal of this experiment is to provide findings on omega fatty acids, as well as polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and saturated fats in milk provided by the Nutriva Group and to compare them with conventional milk products
4A: The Hygge Zone: Inclusive Staff Engagement
No full textWhile Winter Holiday parties are a staple of staff engagement, TRU has accepted the challenge of trying to incorporate different schedules and traditions into a party that will actually be enjoyable to everyone.
Our answer for the last three years has been the Hygge Zone. Based on the Danish concept of hygge, our staff holiday party has focused on warmth, coziness, and of course, good food and hot chocolate. Presenters will discuss what the hygge zone is, our rationale and process for developing it, and the feedback we\u27ve received from colleagues
Using Novel Methods to Assess Instream Movement of Migrating Western Toads
No full textWestern toads are a species of conservation concern in BC; they participate in numerous ecological processes, act as an indicator species for ecosystem health and are in decline throughout much of their range. Understanding western toad movement is an important component of toad ecology and conservation; a historically overlooked element of toad migration has been instream movement. I studied the instream movements of a regionally and provincially significant population of western toads at Summit Lake, BC. I established used Fyke nets within streams to capture toads; this is a novel methodology for toad capture that has thus far only been employed in two studies, both of which occurred in Montana. I successfully captured toads in all non-larval life stages. A notable finding was the capture of a considerable number of toadlets involuntarily moving downstream during attempted migration to upland habitat. The high success rate in capturing toads and toadlets using Fyke nets suggests that there are many potential conservation applications for this methodology
Does Island Living Shift the Mechanisms of Plumage Ornamentation in Passerines?
No full textMainland birds are often much more colourful than their island counterparts. Additionally, island birds commonly have little sexual dichromatism (difference in plumage colour between sexes) when compared to mainland species. These plumage trends may be due to independent trait selection in response to environmental pressures exerted by islands, in which many colourful species underwent parallel evolution, becoming duller on islands. Alternatively, fewer dull songbirds could have successfully emigrated to islands and speciated; thus, dull birds on islands are similarly the result of evolutionary happenstance. This study aimed to determine whether island and mainland songbirds differ in plumage colour and sexual dichromatism within the context of evolutionary history. To do so, I compiled island occupation status and plumage colour scores for 5811 global passerine species. I used a Phylogenetic Generalized Least Squares analysis to control for phylogenetic influence. Male plumage scores differed between island and mainland counterparts, while female and sexual dichromatism plumage scores were not significantly different. The next step will be to examine whether island size influences plumage colouration and sexual dichromatism. This will be accomplished by analyzing the relationship between average island surface area and plumage colouration of North American island passerines
Think Outside the Barrel: An Overview of Building-integrated Photovoltaic Windows
No full textModern renewable energy technologies have been at the forefront of development and implementation for the past few decades. With the current structure of our society being heavily dependent on energy and more environmentally friendly energy solutions, research into new and innovative technologies in energy production is where we, globally, should invest. A renewable technology that has seen many advances is the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry. Solar PV’s have become more efficient at harnessing the energy of the sun and converting it into energy for many different real-world applications. With conventional solar cell technology having established itself as a reputable alternative energy source, advances in this industry within the past decade have gained interest and consideration. One of these advances is building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). This technology utilizes photovoltaics “…to replace conventional building materials in parts of the building’s envelope such as roofs, skylights, or facades” (Radut & Mihai, 2015, p.35). This project will examine one specific BIPV, solar PV windows, also known as PV glazing. Additionally, this project argues that with an ever-increasing demand for energy in buildings within the urban core of a city, applications of BIPV need to be considered in order to reduce the environmental footprint of these buildings, while also proving renewable energy for these buildings and in turn requiring less energy from the grid. Furthermore, this project will examine current technologies available within the field of BIPV’s in regards to solar PV windows, current applications of BIPV windows with real-world performance figures, as well as the benefits of this renewable energy application can provide within an urban context
Apology Dice - collaborative conversation about reconciliation
Get PDFThe Apology Dice is an interactive art performance that engages small groups in conversation—about Indian Residential Schools, colonialization, and possibilities of reconciliation— through the rolling of large, custom-made cedar dice. Each die is cast one at a time to form a sentence. The words on the first die read: “I am” / “We are” / “They are”. The second reads: “so” / “fairly” / “really” / “not” / “somewhat” / “deeply”. The third die displays “sorry” on five sides and “tired of this” on the remaining side. The participant reads the sentence aloud and interprets its meaning, in the context of First Nations reconciliation in Canada, and in light of what has happened (or not happened) since the official apology for Indian Residential Schools offered by Harper’s Conservative government in 2008. Combinations may include: “I am / so / sorry”; “We are / not / sorry.”; or “They are / really / tired of this”. Who is the dice speaking for? The government, the churches that ran the schools, First Nations peoples, or the non-indigenous public? Apology Dice is an artistic effort to stir emotional response, to help participants discover, educate, heal, and express their feelings about this history. For ambivalent participants, rolling the dice may prompt more certainty. To those feeling decided, play may reinforce their beliefs or perhaps unsettle them. *Note that this is the same project I presented at the TPC in 2017. I continue to believe in this project’s contribution to reconciliation
1- Mindful Leadership in the Classroom and Unconscious Bias
No full textIn this session, we will cover the seven practices of mindful leadership, based on lessons from Google and the teachings a Zen monastery kitchen head cook (Marc Lesser). I will propose that in a way, teachers and instructors are leaders in their classrooms as they direct the attention to the relevant information of the course as well as design the different strategies for learning. We will explore the practices of mindful leadership as a way of engaging learners and empowering them into garnering their own our personal power based on a very pragmatic approach on how to engage in learning. This helps evade the blind spots created by our own biases and past experiences that may have unconscious effects on our behaviour. Participants will learn strategies towards enhancing engagement and learning by improving their capacity to listen to others, cultivating empathy, self-awareness and resilience, as well as understanding how our brain works in an automatic mode. Participants will be introduced to all these themes as a way to show a mindful path for shared humanity, also reclaiming our personal power that allows us to be fierce or gentle as needed