UVic Centre for Forest Biology
3800 Finnerty Road, Cunningham Building, room 153 V8P 5C2 Victoria, BC, Canada

Congrats to Malcolm Cowen on achieving his MSc this term! His thesis title was, "Exploring the Mechanisms of Pacific Oyster Summer Mortality in Baynes Sound Aquaculture. #uvicgrad Congratulations, Malcolm!

Congrats to Carmen Lea on achieving her MSc this term! Her thesis title was, "Purification and biological activity of oregonin, a novel bioactive diarylheptanoid found in the leaves and bark of (red alder). #uvicgrad Congratulations, Carmen!

Congrats to Andrea Coulter on achieving her PhD this term! Her dissertation title was, "Functional Analysis of Proteins in the Conifer Ovular Secretion. #uvicgrad Congratulations, Andrea!

The UVic Centre for Forest Biology office has now re-opened (with safety measures in place). Maximum occupancy of 1, except under specific conditions. #uvicforb Take care and stay safe!

Work to express the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in Nicotiana benthamiana is picking up speed - so far we've shown that we can get DNA into the plants. Testing for expression is next.

The Great BC Shakeout is happening on October 15, 2020 - this year participate remotely, but together! Here are some options to participate: https://www.uvic.ca/ser/emergency/events/shakeout/index.php

UVic Forest Biology is honouring families impacted by the Canadian residential school system #OrangeShirtDayUVic

On the GenomeBC podcast, the Code of Life, host Randene Neill interviews UBC's Dr. Richard Hamelin to learn how genomics is helping combat invasive pests and pathogens. Check it out! https://www.genomebc.ca//how-genomics-is-helping-combat-in

Welcome to all new #UVic Biology students!

Today is National Tree Day! Mark the day by checking out one of FORB’s self-guided tree walks on the UVic campus: 1. UVic Campus Tree Walk: (https://www.uvic.ca//forestbiology/assets/docs/treewalk.pdf) 2. Mystic Vale Tree Walk: (https://www.uvic.ca//forestbiology/assets/docs/mystic-vale)

FORB faculty member, Dr. Barbara Hawkins, speaks about the risks and potential ecological threats of unsolicited plant material shipments. https://www.cheknews.ca/unsolicited-seeds-mailed-from-ital/

"Biologists at the University of Victoria are using a close relative of the tobacco plant to help develop potential antibody tests." FORB PhD student, Harley Gordon, provides details on current COVID research. https://www.cbc.ca//tobacco-plant-serology-covid-19-univer

Are you a podcast listener? UVic has a new one for you! Meet Me in the Quad is the new UVic student life podcast, and Season 1 is now live! They chat with a number of first-year professors about what their online courses will look like this fall, and with several current students about their previous experience with online learning, living in residence, and getting involved on campus. We’re pretty sure this is a must listen! Search Meet Me in the Quad to find it!

A quick message from UVic about how things may look on campus this fall.

On August 17th, Andrea Coulter successfully defended her PhD thesis entitled "Functional Analysis of Proteins in the Conifer Ovular Secretion" (Supervisor, Dr. Patrick von Aderkas) Congratulations, Andrea!

"To meet the global demand for COVID-19 spike protein needed for antibody test kits, University of Victoria plant biologist (and FORB Centre director), Dr. Peter Constabel has turned to an unexpected source: a relative of the tobacco plant." - https://www.uvic.ca//scien/2020+fighting-covid-plants+news - https://www.saanichnews.com//university-of-victoria-scie/

On August 10th, Carmen Lea successfully defended her Masters thesis entitled "Purification and Biological Activity of Oregonin, a Novel Bioactive Diarylheptanoid found in the Leaves and Bark of Alnus rubra (Red Alder)" (Supervisor, Dr. C. Peter Constabel) Congratulations, Carmen!

Drs. Constabel and Lacourse are happy to have received new NSERC / CRSNG Discovery Grants. Dr. Lacourse's grant is on the impacts of climate change and disturbance on forests and peatlands while Dr. Constabel's is on the biochemical and functional analysis of phenolic secondary metabolites in populus". #UVic #STEM #poplar #forests #peat

On August 7th, Malcolm Cowan successfully defended his Masters thesis entitled "Exploring the Mechanisms of Pacific Oyster Summer Mortality in Baynes Sound Aquaculture" (co-supervisors Patrick von Aderkas and Chris Pearce) Congratulations, Malcolm!