Trent Beat
Leading headlines this week with conversations about flying squirrels, youth and social media, mosquitoes, browning in waterways, Canadian literature, and local healthcare
Trent University Researcher Discovers Hybrid Squirrels in Northern Forests as Species Expand Due to Climate Change | Great Lakes Now
Dr. Jeff Bowman, a population ecologist at Trent University, led a study revealing hybrid squirrels in northern forests as southern flying squirrels expand their range due to warming temperatures. The research documents the first case of crossbreeding resulting from climate change-driven range expansion and expands on the large body of research on flying squirrels happening at Trent University.
Trent University PhD Student Explores the Influence of Social Media on Mental Health of Young Canadians | Toronto Star
Ph.D. student at Trent University, Madison Moore has uncovered important insights about social media's impact on young Canadians' mental health. Interviews with 34 Canadian youths aged 16 to 21 reveal that the prevalent display of happiness and success on social media can distort their perception of reality, negatively affecting their well-being. Madison advocates for normalizing a wider range of emotions both online and offline, emphasizing the need for societal changes and the importance of open conversations about emotions to support young people's mental health in the digital age.
Summer Forecast: Ideal Breeding Grounds for Mosquitoes Predicted in Ottawa, According to Trent University Expert | CBC
Trent University's Dr. David Beresford, a biology professor specializing in biting insects, expects a mosquito-heavy summer due to wet weather creating standing water for breeding. Last year's dry weather may have reduced mosquito predators, exacerbating the population. Professor Beresford and Mark Ardis from GDG Environment predict a peak season now, tapering in July and August, then intensifying again in the fall.
Rising Levels of Dissolved Organic Carbon in Waterways: The Browning Phenomenon Threatens Aquatic Ecosystems and Water Treatment Costs | Great Lakes Now
Trent University's Canada Research Chair in Global Change of Freshwater Ecosystems, Dr. Marguerite Xenopoulos, studies the "browning" phenomenon in waterways, where dissolved organic carbon (DOC) levels are increasing. Brown water is becoming more common in the Great Lakes region and beyond, impacting aquatic ecosystems and water treatment costs. Preserving the health of lakes and rivers hinges on understanding and addressing browning.
Renowned Nationalist Academic Robin Mathews Champions Canadian Literature and Fights for Cultural Recognition | The Globe & Mail
A recent Globe & Mail article recognizes the work of Thomas Symons, the first president of Trent University, in advocating for the recognition of Canadian literature and promoting its inclusion in university curricula, research funding, and scholarly publications. As chair of a commission on the future of higher education, Symons played a key role in endorsing the “Canadianization of universities” and supporting the study of Canadian literature.
Group Urges Provincial Government to Fund Community Health Centre for Peterborough | The Peterborough Examiner
Dr. Dawn Lavell Harvard, director of the First Peoples House of Learning (FPHL), joins the push for a community health centre in Peterborough. A local group is urging the government to fund a proposed centre, which would serve around 6,000 marginalized individuals and those without family doctors. With no existing community health centre in Peterborough, the initiative aims to address the pressing healthcare needs of the growing marginalized population.