Evelyn Pielou Discussion Group
Welcome to the Evelyn Pielou Discussion Group hosted by the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph!
The Evelyn Pielou Discussion Group is a weekly discussion group that covers topics relating to biology, ecology, evolution, and the environment. Topics that are explored include (but are not restricted to) ecological and eco-evolutionary dynamics, bioinformatics, recent methodological advancements, and eco-physiological responses to climate change.
The main goal for the Evelyn Pielou Discussion Group is to foster an inclusive and creative space where members of the integrative biology department can engage with each other and learn together through multidisciplinary discussions. This allows developing scientists to be exposed to topics outside of their specialization and to identify commonalities between disciplines so they may broaden their perspective and improve their own and each other’s research.
The format for any discussion is flexible, as it is you who will suggest and drive the content that is discussed at each weekly gathering. Although more general biological, ecological, and evolutionary topics are encouraged, we welcome any relevant topics you think will contribute to a stimulating discussion. Each week, one person is responsible for suggesting a topic of discussion and opening up the discussion in whichever way they see fit.
Ideas for potential discussions can range from an exciting new paper or giving a talk on current or previous research (e.g., a graduate student gives a ‘lab talk’ on their research), to a crash course on new methods (e.g., lab techniques, coding in R) or anything that you would like to present and/or discuss with other members of the department!
Any interested undergraduates, graduates, postdocs, and faculty are encouraged to lead and participate in the discussions. Please reach out to Reilly O’Connor (roconn03@uoguelph.ca) with any suggestions you have for weekly discussions.
The Evelyn Pielou Discussion Group meets every Wednesday at 12:00 PM for an hour in the second floor lounge (SSC 2463).
Why Evelyn Pielou?
Evelyn Pielou espouses the aims of our discussion group; her interests and biological contributions spanned many fields. She started out with a certificate in radio-physics. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Botany, she taught herself mathematical ecology, published articles, and then turned these articles into a PhD, all without an advisor or committee. She worked for the Canadian government in various capacities and then entered academia formally as a professor at several Canadian Universities. She pioneered the use of multivariate statistics in ecology. During retirement, she wrote several popular science books on topics ranging from biogeography to physics.
September 25th, 2024 - "Food Web Complexity and Species Diversity" - a discussion led by Sarah Mueller
October 2nd, 2024 - "Food Web Patterns and their Consequences" - a discussion led by Reilly O'Connor
October 9th, 2024 - "Population Ecology of Some Warblers of Northeastern Coniferous Forests" - a discussion by Jonathan Chu
October 16th, 2024 - Break
October 23rd, 2024 - "Integrating data types to estimate spatial patterns of avian migration across the Western Hemisphere" - a discussion led by Jelany Duali
October 30th, 2024 - "Mixotrophic microbes create carbon tipping points under warming" - a discussion led by Kaleigh Davis
November 6th, 2024 - "Writing statistical methods for ecologists" - a discussion led by Sarah Mueller
** Note this week's discussion is at 12:30 **
November 13th, 2024 - "Why Conservationists Should Heed Pokémon" - a discussion led by Jonathan Chu
** Note this week's discussion is at 12:30 **
Pielou Mailing List Instructions
Do you want to be completely informed about what is happening in the Evelyn Pielou Discussion Group community? Do you want to continue the conversations outside of the weekly meetings? If so, then follow these instructions to join the Pielou mailing list.
If you have any questions about the discussion group, or if you want to facilitate a discussion, please email Reilly O'Connor (roconn03@uoguelph.ca).
To subscribe:
to the list pielou@LISTSERV.UOGUELPH.CA, send an email from your account to pielou-request@LISTSERV.UOGUELPH.CA with the word subscribe on the Subject line.
To unsubscribe:
from the list pielou@LISTSERV.UOGUELPH.CA, send an email, from the account which is subscribed, to pielou-request@LISTSERV.UOGUELPH.CA with the word unsubscribe on the Subject line.
To send a message:
if you subscribed to the listserv, simply send an email to pielou@LISTSERV.UOGUELPH.CA. We have a substantially smaller mailing list than the departmental list.
About
The College of Biological Science is a globally recognized academic faculty with a mission to expand the understanding of life, from DNA to cells to complex ecosystems. It produces intrepid and interdisciplinary research in a student-centred learning environment that encourages and promotes comprehensive understanding of the systems that govern life.