Flipbook Project and other Blog Postings 2021 and 2022

Photo credit: https://www.pinterest.fr/pin/555631672775540565/

Please take a look here at my recent projects and showcases. The Flipbook was a team project, completed for the Scarfe Digital Sandbox. Other science blog postings were written for both the UBC Faculties of Applied Science and Education.

Flipbook Project Showcase – by the Project Team 2021

Click below to check out the Scarfe Sandbox Flipbook:

https://online.fliphtml5.com/xgpvc/ygvv/#p=1

Geering Up’s People-focused Workshops 2022

An overview of the UBC Faculty of Applied Science’s Geering Up program – taking a look at their people focused workshops and initiatives.

https://apsc.ubc.ca/news/2022/geering-ups-people-focused-workshops

Storytelling for STEM Subjects – by Jacqueline 2021

This post explains the concept of teaching science and tech by using storytelling methods. Some relevant examples are also discussed, including the First People’s Principles of Learning.

https://scarfedigitalsandbox.teach.educ.ubc.ca/storytelling-for-stem-subjects/

Honing Pattern Recognition Skills through Dance – by Jacqueline 2021

Another resource post that demonstrates and explains the concept of pattern recognition through learning dance steps. Pattern recognition is useful in mathematics, computer science, scientific discovery and research – and more specifically in biogeography and evolutionary biology. 

https://scarfedigitalsandbox.teach.educ.ubc.ca/honing-%e2%80%afpattern-%e2%80%afrecognition-%e2%80%afskills-through-%e2%80%afdance/

Find me on Twitter: @jacbird

Interesting and Odd Wildflowers of British Columbia

There are very many different types of wildflowers along the west coast of British Columbia (also including farther north and south). Some are just interesting to look at because they are unique and beautiful. Others have medicinal properties and/or are edible. They have long-standing uses by the native aboriginal peoples, and it is estimated that literally thousands of traditional medicines are derived from plants present along the west coast region. This is why the pristine beauty and hidden treasures of this area are definitely worth conserving, and should be left as undisturbed as possible.

Below is a sampling of some of my favourite kinds, just because they are beautiful, intriguing, interesting and/or unique.

Star-flowered False Solomon’s Seal

Smilacina racemosa

False Solomon's Seal

https://www.prairiemoon.com/images/D/Smilacina-racemosa-Solomons-Plume-flower.jpg

Perennial with star-like flowers. The fruit is a round, greenish-yellow berry with 3 or 6 blue-purple stripes, changing to dark blue or reddish-black at maturity. Berries are edible but not especially tasty.

 

 

 

 

Clasping Twistedstalk

https://www.turtlepuddle.org/pix/Flowers/watermellon-berry-flowers.jpg

Clasping Twistedstalk

Streptopus amplexifolius

Perennial with greenish-white, bell-shaped flowers that have flaring tips. The fruit is an oval-oblong berry (yellow to red, sometimes turning dark purple). According to Pojar and MacKinnon, most aboriginal people regard the plants and berries as poisonous. Continue reading

Information and Services

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Welcome to MASIT Communications (Medical and Science Information Technology), the science and arts blog by Jacqueline – a Vancouver technical writer and web content specialist. Please read my blog postings below, or check out my services and skills listed here. For further information, please contact me by email: admin @ masit.ca or find me on Twitter: @masitblog and @jacbird. Enjoy!

Arctic Animals – Surviving a Changing Climate and Habitat

Photo by Keith M. Williams/flickr

Photo by Keith M. Williams/flickr

It’s no secret that the habitat of our more Northern creatures is declining due to increases in overall temperature. It is also true that in the history of the earth, there have been closings and openings of waterways and formation and then subsequent retreat of glacial ice sheets; however, it is the rate at which Arctic ecosystems are now changing that is of concern (Root et al. 2003, Overpeck et al. 2005, Walsh 2008). Research is now being done to explore what the effects of melting ice and loss of habitat are on Arctic species populations.

One such paper was written by the Ecological Society of America (Moore and Huntington in 2008, Ecological Applications pp. S157-S165). In this paper, the authors explore how recent changes in Arctic climate may challenge the adaptive capability of more northern adapted species, such as some species of whales, walrus seals and polar bears. Continue reading