News

What do a chicken, a cow, an octopus, a dog and a cat have in common? All were a part of this year’s American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) animal welfare assessment contest, with University of Guelph competitors walking away with multiple wins and top-five finishes.

University of Guelph undergraduate, graduate and veterinary students flew to Raleigh, North Carolina on Friday, November 18 for the weekend competition held at North Carolina State University alongside 22 other competing universities, to test their animal welfare assessment skills.

A University of Guelph study of COVID-19 in small and rural communities emphasizes that government policy needs to include the pandemic experiences of those communities. Dr. Leith Deacon, a professor in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development (SEDRD) at the Ontario Agricultural College, conducted a large-scale quantitative survey in nine Ontario counties. He and his team examined how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted those living in small and rural communities to help governments develop more informed policy.

Reporting to the Associate Dean - External Relations (ADER), Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), the OAC 150th Projects Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing and executing a number of diverse projects and events related to OAC’s 150th Anniversary. In conjunction with the Associate Dean External Relations (ADER) and other collaborators, the incumbent will conceptualize, recommend, and implement project plans to deliver events, products, and projects that engage the diverse internal and external OAC community. Specific responsibilities include: event planning, coordination and execution; project logistics; supporting the development of OAC Heritage Space materials and displays; coordinating activities of the OAC 150th Volunteer Steering committee; working with the OAC communications team in crafting engagement-focused communications; assisting with volunteer recruitment, training and supervision; development of digital and analogue materials that capture OAC’s 150th anniversary events and projects; donor engagement; supporting the ADER with other activities as required. 

Well, there you are scrolling through TikTok when you know you have a huge assignment due tomorrow. Or worse, your computer just crashed, and you have to start your essay from scratch. Or even worse, you’ve been studying since 7:00 a.m. and your to-do list is nowhere near complete.

That’s it. It’s time for the dreaded all-nighter.

It is with sympathy that we share the passing of Bruce Scandrett, OAC Class of 1957 & MSc 1959, on November 11, 2022. 

Supporting rural communities and promoting sustainable food systems are the shared concerns of two University of Guelph emerging researchers who will receive the Government of Canada’s most prestigious scholarships. Maria Margarita Fontecha, PhD candidate in rural studies and an Arrell Scholar, has received a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship worth $50,000 per year for up to three years. Dr. Khodokar Kabir, post-doctoral fellow in the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development, has received a prestigious Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship worth $70,000 a year.

The University of Guelph and Loblaw Companies Limited have partnered to challenge tomorrow’s food leaders and develop solutions for a net-zero food system in Canada, through a new 10-month graduate student experiential learning program at the university. The Loblaw Net-Zero Food Systems Challenge will bring together graduate students from across Canada to investigate strategic levers that will drive Canadian adoption and demand for net-zero agricultural products along the value chain, from farmers to consumers.

You could say Rebecca Osborne conducts her research at a snail’s pace.

And like that old adage of “slow and steady wins the race,” Osborne has indeed won. For the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Science Exposed photo contest, a snapshot of snail embryos by the U of G environmental science and toxicology doctoral candidate took home one of three jury prizes as well as the people’s choice prize.

“It’s really exciting to feel like my work is getting out there,” Osborne said.

Delicious food and a beautiful campus? What's not to love! Those two things combined with the uniqueness of the environmental management program made choosing U of G an easy decision for Annia. Hailing from Trinidad & Tobago, she came to Canada to pursue her interests in sustainability. As an avid environmentalist, Annia loves to explore the Arboretum and enjoys the hands-on experiences in her courses.

Benjamin is a student in the Environmental Economics and Policy (EEP) program, who is passionate about solving environmental issues, like climate change, in an equitable and fair manner. He enjoys the interdisplinary nature of the bachelor of science in environmental sciences program, that allows him to take courses on a varety of subjects. When he isn't exploring U of G's beautiful campus you can find him among the books in the McLaughlin Library.