March Break Science Camp draws in 80 students

science camp student 2016This year’s March Break Science Camp at Science Explorations, hosted by the Faculty of Science, was a great success, drawing in 80 eager kids from across the GTA.

Participation in the camp that provides an enriched program focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) increased by 8 per cent over last year’s enrolment.

The camp, designed for kids in grades 3 to 8, supports the Ontario science curriculum where kids enjoy a break from regular school while enhancing their understanding of STEM through fun and engaging activities.

science camp 2016This year’s highlights included:

  • Grades 3 and 4 – Junior campers investigated properties of light and colour, aspects of biodomes, states of matter and more. They engineered their own biodomes, created rainbow paper and made rocket cars.
  • Grades 5 and 6 – Campers learned about and created their own sustainable houses. They explored solar energy, green living and wind power, among other topics. They were also immersed in learning about crystallization, electricity and flight.
  • Grades 7 and 8 – Campers discussed and engaged in activities connected to light, photovoltaic solar cells, water filtration and more. They also learned about hydraulic systems and worked in groups to create a hydraulic robot arm.

Both campers and parents had positive reflections on the experience, with one camper noting that during the one-week program they learned more than during six months of school this year.

science camp group 2016One of the parents commented that the camp provided an “interesting view into new topics” and enhanced their child’s knowledge with a “balanced mix of theoretical knowledge and hands-on activities”.

They also said the camp was “a parent’s wish delivered” and said their child couldn’t wait to get to camp in the morning and didn’t stop talking about the day’s activities on the way home.

Workshop for students focuses on bridging the gap between science and policy

York Science graduate students and post-doctoral fellows were invited to attend a workshop led by Maurice Bitran, CEO of the Ontario Science Centre, to learn about how to effectively bridge the gap between scientific research and policy formulation. The workshop took place April 5.

“There is often a disconnect between the languages spoken by scientists and public policy makers,” says Robert McLaren, professor and director of the Centre for Atmospheric Chemistry. “The intent of the workshop was to help students in understanding the process and factors that influence how government policy is made and importantly how the critical science is incorporated into that process. Thank you to Carol Weldon for organizing the event.”

Above: Maurice Bitran
Above: Maurice Bitran

The workshop was organized by the Centre for Atmospheric Chemistry in the Faculty of Science and funded by the NSERC CREATE Integrating Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics from Earth to Space program. It was open to all graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in Science.

Bitran delivered a compelling presentation that explored the policy development process, a framework for the development of science-based policies, and the communication of such policies. He presented from a unique perspective: he’s a scientist (with a PhD in radio astronomy), and before coming to the Ontario Science Centre he held various positions in government, the most recent being Assistant Deputy Minister of the Integrated Environmental Policy Division in the Ministry of the Environment.

One of Bitran’s take away messages was that in order to establish a science-based policy framework, it is critical to develop a common language between policymakers and scientists so that they can work together meaningfully.

The workshop closed with questions from the audience and an engaging discussion that inspired students to think about their future roles as scientists.

York faculty participate in 2016 Envirothon workshops

the earth

Throughout the month of April, more than 700 students across Ontario will participate in the 2016 Ontario Envirothon regional competitions. Since 1994, the Ontario Envirothon has supported high school students in learning about our natural ecosystems and fostering a healthier environment through their actions.

Spanning from Toronto to Elk Lake, students join interactive field trips to forests, parks, woodlots, and conservation areas in their region where they participate in workshops focused on the science and sustainable management of soils, wildlife, forests, and aquatic ecosystems. In 15 regions across Ontario, workshops are led by local professionals in fields such as forestry, the natural sciences, resource management, and conservation.

Dawn Bazely
Dawn Bazely

“On April 6, seven teams comprised of 35 high school students will participate in workshop training at York University. The high school students  will take classes in aquatics (hydrology), wildlife, forestry and soil science, and this year, learn about invasive species,” says Faculty of Science Biology Professor Dawn Bazely. Faculty from  the Lassonde School of Engineering, the Department of Geography in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies and the Department of Biology in the Faculty of Science at York University, together with staff and students, will work with staff from Forests Ontario (the organizer), the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and Ecosparks, to lead two of the training workshops.

Following workshops, students build their experience through hands-on challenges in the field designed so they apply knowledge and skills to understand challenges facing local ecosystems. Challenges are evaluated by program leaders, with the winning team from each region progressing to the Ontario Envirothon Provincial Championship.

For the third year in a row, the Provincial Championship will be held at Fleming College in Lindsay, Ontario.

Envirothon programs are also held across North America in more than 50 state and provinces. The top team from each state and provincial Envirothon, including Ontario, progresses to the North American Envirothon (NAE). This year, the NAE will be hosted at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario from July 24 to 29, bringing the program to Ontario for the first time.

For more than 20 years, Envirothon has inspired a passion for our natural environment and empowered students to translate that passion into action. By engaging students early on and creating a learning experience that is both engaging and rewarding, students are able to build the foundational skills and knowledge needed to pursue studies and careers in fields related to environmental stewardship.

PhD candidate William Atkinson delivers talk on the fiction of science fiction

All speculative fiction rests on science – be it antimatter, ray guns, bio-monsters, or robots with high self-esteem. It’s true of thoughtful, literate writing as well as pulp schlock. But exactly how do science fiction authors navigate from fact to possibility? How do they get from science to sci-fi?

William Illsey Atkinson, an award-winning author of science fiction and nonfiction, a contributor to the Globe and Mail and Physics Today, and a PhD candidate in Science and Technology Studies at York University, will explore this topic during a talk on April 7.

“A Disciplined Imagination: The Fiction of Science Fiction” takes place at the Toronto Public Library, Agincourt Branch, at 6:30pm.

In this engaging lecture, Atkinson will examine the ways in which science fiction novelists and screenwriters examine cutting-edge science, decide what to ignore or emphasize, and then weave imagination into compelling tales.

Science matters, and so does wondering how it might affect us – both activities are uniquely human. So what happens when smartphones are embedded in our skulls? When neuroscience decodes the power of Aboriginal consciousness? When technology defeats death?

Come out and hear a high-energy popularizer discuss these relevant, exciting themes.

Research at York U earns doctoral student 2015 Paper of the Year award from American Journal of Physiology

The American Journal of Physiology has given the 2015 Paper of the Year award to Anna Vainshtein, a 2014 PhD graduate of York University. The award was recently announced at the Experimental Biology meeting in San Diego, CA.

Anna Vainshtein
Anna Vainshtein

Vainshtein, who earned her BSc, MSc and PhD at York University, published “Role of PGC-1α during acute exercise-induced autophagy and mitophagy in skeletal muscle” in the May 2015 issue of the journal based on her research at York.

The paper investigates the cellular and molecular components that lead to exercise-mediated health benefits. The research considers the positive influence of exercise on health – for example, improving metabolism, glucose regulation, cardiovascular health – and documentations that it prevents diabetes, delays heart disease and improves self-image and depression.

“Dr. David Hood has been interested in understanding this phenomenon since the establishment of his lab here at York University,” said Vainshtein, who researched in Hood’s lab while pursuing her masters and PhD.

Hood, who is a professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Faculty of Health, and the Department of Biology, Faculty of Graduate Studies, as well as a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, investigates mitochondrial biogenesis in health and disease.

“What factors in the cell are working behind the scenes to bring us all of these health benefits is of particular interest since they can be potentially pharmacologically targeted,” said Vainshtein. “Understanding what these factors are and how we can modulate them has great therapeutic potential for those who are unable or unwilling to exercise.”

Anna Vainshtein
Heather Carter (left), David Hood, Sobia Iqbal and Anna Vainshtein (right) during their study of the synthesis and breakdown of mitochondria in muscle as it adapts to exercise in 2014

The study led by Vainshtein found that the genetic regulator molecule PGC-1α is not only responsible for the production of new mitochondrial components – which results in the growth and increase organelle size and number – but that it also coordinates the removal and recycling of damaged and malfunctioning organelles.

The findings are of particular importance because they highlight the importance of mitochondrial renovation following exercise and identify the involvement of PGC-1α in this process. The study, said Vainshtein, helps to shed light on some of the processes that take place behind the scenes to allow cellular renovation and remodeling following exercise thus contributing to the multitude of benefits exercise bestows.

“I feel quite honored that our work was so well received by the physiology community,” she said. “It has been pretty exciting working on this project and the results really help connect some important aspects of exercise biology. I think that this is an important discovery as it adds to our understanding of what happens in muscle cells at the molecular level following exercise and uncovers an important piece of information that helps explain how exercise may induce such a wide array of health benefits.”

York University hosts the next generation of scientists April 1 and 2

York University is hosting the next generation of inventors, scientists and thinkers at the York Region Science & Technology Fair (YRSTF) April 1 and 2 at the Keele campus. Some 160 York Region high school students from Grades 7 to 12, their teachers and families will descend on the Keele campus for a full roster of science activities, fun and adventure.

sciencetechFAIR

Frank Scarpitti
Frank Scarpitti

The fair is regional science fair that showcases student research and is a true example of partnership between the community organization YRSTF and the York Region District School Board, the York Catholic District School Board and York University.

Students display their own work and participate in a series of activities designed and guided by York University faculty, graduate and undergraduate student volunteers. Some 111 projects will be on display. Faculty from the University in partnership with representatives from the school boards will select the top 11 students who will go on to represent York Region at the Canada Wide Science Fair. Seven prizes sponsored by York University will be presented to students by Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti, the fair’s special guest of honour.

“YRSTF is thrilled to be partnered with York University to provide an opportunity for York Region’s young scientists to showcase their research and experience what York has to offer first hand,” said the Youth Science Canada Regional Coordinator – York Region, Nathalie Rudner. “Opportunities such as these are inspiring and essential for the development of our young scientists.”

The six categories of student innovation are: Biotechnology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Engineering and Computer Sciences, Health Sciences, Life Sciences, and Physical and Mathematical Science. Projects can be experiments, innovations or studies.

Highlights of the York Region Science & Technology Fair

On Friday, April 1, from 4:30 to 8:30pm, the students will arrive at the Keele campus to set up their projects in the Vari Hall Rotunda. The budding scientists will then hear from Faculty of Health psychology Professor and York Research Chair in Pain and Mental Health Rebecca Pillai Riddell (she has been instrumental in bringing the fair to York University) as she presents a talk titled, “The Neuroscience of Inside Out”. The students will then enjoy a pizza dinner and movie screening in Vari Hall A.

The fun and excitement begins in earnest on Saturday, April 2 when 100 high school science projects will be on display for formal judging by experienced science enthusiasts from York Region and York University.

Following the project presentations, the students will take part in The Science Adventure Circuit. Students will travel in groups around the Keele campus on a circuit that explores exciting and innovative approaches to scientific inquiry. They will be led on their adventure by faculty, graduate and undergraduate students from the Faculties of Health, Science, Environmental Studies and the Lassonde School of Engineering and the School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design. As part of their day, they will participate in an interactive lunch presentation about the interdisciplinary intersections between the Faculty of Science and the Schulich School of Business, Osgoode Hall Law School and the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.

The day closes with a community hour that will give students, their teachers and families an opportunity to view the myriad of projects on display. York University community members are invited to drop by Vari Hall from 3:30 to 4:45pm to see these innovative projects. An awards ceremony will cap off the event with the announcement of the 11 top students selected to represent York Region at the Canada Wide Science Fair and the presentation of the prizes.

Rebecca Pillai Riddell
Rebecca Pillai Riddell

In order to bring the YRSTF to York University, Pillai Riddell worked with the Faculties of Science, Health, Environmental Studies and the Lassonde School of Engineering and the School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design, and the Offices of the Vice-President Academic & Provost, the Vice-President Research & Innovation, and the Vice-Provost Students.

“Helping to bring YRSTF at York has been a fantastic opportunity to see partners from across the University enthusiastically come together to support an important York Region community initiative – mentoring tomorrow’s research leaders,” said Pillai Riddell. “The showcasing of all our disciplinary faculties for the fair really highlights some of York’s core values of interdisciplinarity, cooperation, and research excellence”

Co-organizers of the fair are:  Noël Sturgeon, dean, Faculty of Environmental Science; Shawn Brixey, dean, School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design; Ken Rogers, professor, School of the Arts, Media, Performance, and Design; Lewis Molot, professor, Faculty of Environmental Studies; Mazyar Fallah. associate dean research & innovation, Faculty of Health; Ravi de Costa, associate dean research, Faculty of Environmental Studies; Robert Tsushima, professor, Faculty of Science; Spiros Pagiatakis, associate dean research & graduate studies, Lassonde School of Engineering, and Jock Phippen (logistics) and director of recruitment & admissions, York University.

For more information, visit the York Region Science & Technology Fair website or Facebook page.

York U hosts its first Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest

York University hosted its first ever sitting of the Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest (CMKC) on March 20. The CMKC is a competition that engages thousands of participants across Canada every year.

The CMKC sitting at York was coordinated by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Overall, the day was a success, drawing 90 contestants from Grades 1 to 11 to the University. Parents and families were in attendance, watching on as their kids wrote the test. Some parents even enjoyed trying the parent version of the Kangaroo Contest. In total, more than 3,200 contestants across Canada participated in the CMKC that day.

The purpose of the CMKC is to introduce students from Grades 1 to 12 to math problems in a fun way, with the goal of inspiring their further interest and advancement in math. The competition is held annually, with students in numerous Canadian cities writing a multiple-choice test and having their final scores ranked nationally and regionally; awards ceremonies are held to celebrate the achievements.

Juris Stepans
Juris Steprāns

“Competition as a part of mathematical culture dates back to at least the early Renaissance, a time when mathematicians would challenge each other in public spaces with equations to be solved,” says Professor Juris Steprāns, chair of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science. “Today’s competitions, such as the Kangaroo event, allow young students to assert their mathematical abilities and gain confidence in themselves.”

The event would not have been possible without the efforts of volunteers from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics who made the CMKC at York possible, said Steprāns. The volunteers were:

  • Faculty members Ada Chan, Neal Madras, Alexander Nenashev, and Mike Zabrocki;
  • Graduate students Allysa Lumley, Robert Jordan, and Snezhana Kirusheva;
  • Undergraduate students Julia Folino and Ashley Di Placido; and
  • Staff members Ann Marie Carless and Susan Rainey.

In addition, Katrina Angel and Dimitra Markatas from the Office of the Dean, Faculty of Science, assisted with providing science outreach materials.

Science Unplugged brings Faculty of Science community together

Professor Sapna speaks about her research
Biology Professor Sapna Sharma speaks about her research

Earlier this month, the Faculty of Science hosted a novel event, titled “Science Unplugged,” bringing together faculty members, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, alumni and staff.

The event was held at The Underground in the Student Centre and featured three short, stimulating presentations from Faculty of Science community members: Mathematics and Statistics alumna Heather Krause, Biology professor Sapna Sharma, and Physics and Astronomy PhD student Alexandra Terrana each spoke about their exciting research.

Mathematics alumna
Mathematics and Statistics alumna Heather Krause

After a welcome and introduction from Ray Jayawardhana, dean of the Faculty of Science, Krause was first on the stage to present “Statistics in the Wild: The use of data and analysis in global development.” She spoke about her experiences with data collection and analysis projects for non-profits and non-governmental organizations through her global statistical consulting firm Datassist.

Next up was Sharma, who presented “On thin ice: Are lakes feeling the heat?” Sharma shared some of her groundbreaking research on the effects of climate change on lake water temperatures and ice dynamics.

Lastly, Terrana offered a captivating journey into a grand puzzle of cosmic proportions with her presentation “Beyond Einstein? The dark universe and modified gravity.” She discussed her research on the prospect of modifying the current theory of gravitation in order to solve the mystery of dark matter and dark energy.

Following the presentations, guests and speakers interacted over light refreshments.

Alexandra
Physics and Astronomy PhD student Alexandra Terrana

“We are delighted to launch Science Unplugged as an opportunity to hear about the fascinating work of our colleagues and alumni,” said Jayawardhana. “It is also a terrific way to strengthen the sense of community and boost intellectual engagement across the Faculty of Science.”

 

York University astrophysicists detect ultra-fast winds near supermassive black hole

New research led by astrophysicists at York University has revealed the fastest winds ever seen at ultraviolet wavelengths near a supermassive black hole.

“We’re talking wind speeds of 20 per cent the speed of light, which is more than 200 million kilometres an hour. That’s equivalent to a category 77 hurricane,” said Jesse Rogerson, who led the research as part of his PhD thesis in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at York U. “And we have reason to believe that there are quasar winds that are even faster.”

Above: An artist's illustration of winds around a black hole. Image: NASA
Above: An artist’s illustration of winds around a black hole. Image: NASA and M. Weiss Chandra X-ray Centre

Astronomers have known about the existence of quasar winds since the late 1960s. At least one in four quasars have them. Quasars are the discs of hot gas that form around supermassive black holes at the centre of massive galaxies – they are bigger than Earth’s orbit around the sun and hotter than the surface of the sun, generating enough light to be seen across the observable universe.

“Black holes can have a mass that is billions of times larger than the sun, mostly because they are messy eaters in a way, capturing any material that ventures too close,” said York University Associate Professor Patrick Hall, who is Rogerson’s supervisor. “But as matter spirals toward a black hole, some of it is blown away by the heat and light of the quasar. These are the winds that we are detecting.”

Rogerson and his team used data from a large survey of the sky known as the Sloan Digital Sky Survey  to identify new outflows from quasars. After spotting about 300 examples, they selected about 100 for further exploration, collecting data with the Gemini Observatory’s twin telescopes in Hawaii and Chile, in which Canada has a major share.

“We not only confirmed this fastest-ever ultraviolet wind, but also discovered a new wind in the same quasar moving more slowly, at only 140 million kilometres an hour,” said Hall.  “We plan to keep watching this quasar to see what happens next.”

Much of this research is aimed at better understanding outflows from quasars and why they happen.

“Quasar winds play an important role in galaxy formation,” said Rogerson. “When galaxies form, these winds fling material outwards and deter the creation of stars. If such winds didn’t exist or were less powerful, we would see far more stars in big galaxies than we actually do.”

The team’s findings were published March 21 in the print edition of the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

This research was done in collaboration with scientists at Humboldt State University, Pennsylvania State University, and Erciyes University (Turkey). It was supported by the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Government of Ontario, The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, and the National Science Foundation (USA).

Biologist Peter Cheung awarded $200K grant from Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute

Peter Cheung
Peter Cheung

Peter Cheung, associate professor in the Department of Biology, has been awarded an Innovation Grant from the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute.

The goal of the Innovation Grant program is to support unconventional concepts, approaches or methodologies to address problems in cancer research. Valued at $200,000, Cheung’s grant will allow him to test an innovative technology he created to further explore the role of histones – proteins that keep DNA neatly packaged and regulate gene expression − in cancer biology.

“We’re delighted to see this work being supported by the Canadian Cancer Society,” said Ray Jayawardhana, dean of the Faculty of Science. “Peter has developed an innovative tool that could potentially advance cancer research, drug discovery and treatment. Congratulations to him on his success.”

Cheung’s research program focuses on understanding how histones and histone-modifying enzymes control the expression of human genes. He is particularly interested in the histone variant H2A.Z, which is found at gene regions that control when and if a gene is expressed. One of the ways in which H2A.Z’s function is regulated is by a small protein called ubiquitin. Recent research from Cheung’s lab has found that when H2A.Z is bound to ubiquitin, it suppresses the expression of some cancer-causing genes. On the flip side, abnormal levels of H2A.Z alone (i.e., not linked with ubiquitin) can cause cancer.

“We have reason to believe that this H2A.Z ubiquitination pathway could be targeted for future cancer drug discovery,” said Cheung. “However, we still need to understand more about how H2A.Z and its ubiquitin-modified form work in normal and cancer cells.”

Part of the challenge of doing this research is that it is difficult to detect and discriminate H2A.Z from its modified form. To address this hurdle, Cheung recently created a uniquely engineered version of H2A.Z that adds a chemical tag to itself when it is modified by ubiquitin. This tag allows Cheung to capture the modified H2A.Z from cells in the lab and study how it works.

Cheung’s new grant from the Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute will allow him to further develop and optimize this method. His group will also combine it with other cutting-edge technologies to ask where the ubiquitinated form of H2A.Z is found within the human genome, and how the H2A.Z-ubiquitination pathway can potentially be targeted for cancer therapies.

“Our new method might unlock a bottleneck in my area of research and accelerate progress,” says Cheung. “It could also potentially be used to study additional pathways that involve ubiquitin and other histones. Thank you to the Canadian Cancer Society for supporting this project.”

Learn more about Cheung’s research by visiting his lab webpage.