Cybercrime’s hidden toll: How online scams impact mental health
March 10, 2025
VIU student seeking participants for a study on the effect of cybercrime on emotional well-being. Watching a friend fall victim to a cybercrime scam motivated Vancouver Island University (VIU) Psychology student Cala Annala to research how this can impact mental health. “I realized the social... Read more
Using children’s picture books to teach about climate change
February 24, 2025
Expert commentary: Education Professor Dr. Wendy Simms shares her research In 2022, the United Nations said that climate change is the defining crisis of our time. It also stated that if governments, businesses, civil society, youth and academia work together, we can create a more sustainable... Read more
Algae bloom toxins are an emerging threat to human and animal health
February 24, 2025
VIU researchers Dr. Chris Gill and Lucas Abruzzi are developing revolutionary measurement techniques using paper spray mass spectrometry to detect algae toxins. In many freshwater bodies across Canada, climate change is causing more frequent blooms of cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae,... Read more
VIU News & Experts: February 14, 2025
February 15, 2025
Canada-US relations experts 🇨🇦🇺🇸 We know what is happening with our neighbour to the south is top of mind for everyone right now, and will be for quite some time. We have quite a few experts eager to chat about this topic. Read on to learn more. Canada-US relations in the Trump 2.0 era From... Read more
VIU News & Experts: February 5, 2025
February 5, 2025
The Black History Month edition In this issue of VIU news & experts: Black History Month events and experts Weighing marmots in the wild Truck donation helps VIU heavy duty mechanic students Featured experts Black History Month experts Dr. Paul db Watkins, a VIU English Professor, has... Read more
Technicians devise remote weigh scale to assess health of Vancouver Island marmots
February 4, 2025
The smart device will help researchers determine if supplemental feeding improves the reproductive health of marmots. Two Vancouver Island University (VIU) Technicians, working in collaboration with the Wilder Institute, have spent almost two years building an electronic weigh scale to provide... Read more
VIU joins Canada-wide agri-food innovation project
January 20, 2025
Vancouver Island University (VIU) is honoured to be a partner institution in the Sustainable Food Systems for Canada Innovation Platform (SF4C), which aims to make Canada a global leader in developing agri-food innovation. The platform project, led by the University of Guelph, aims to create a... Read more
Scholar explores mountain biking’s social impacts on Indigenous communities
January 15, 2025
Dr. Kimberly Coleman joins VIU as the 2025 Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Studies. As an avid mountain biker, Dr. Kimberly Coleman is well aware of the many benefits outdoor recreation can provide. She’s delving into how communities can work together to manage outdoor recreation –... Read more
The Re-VIU: Top 20 stories of 2024
December 17, 2024
From shellfish biotoxins, to 3,000-year-old beer, to conspicuous consumption research, Vancouver Island University experts had a busy year in the media. Here are the top stories of 2024! #1: When teasing goes too far What should you do when a joke hurts your feelings? VIU Psychology Professor Dr.... Read more
Re-examining the toxic drug crisis through stories
December 10, 2024
Dr. Sharen Karsten and her team are taking a community-engaged approach to the research. We are excited to share that Dr. Sharen Karsten, a VIU Recreation and Tourism Management Professor, has just received a 2024 Reach award from Michael Smith Health Research BC. The Reach Program funds teams of... Read more