USask Signature Series

It’s one thing to call the University of Saskatchewan (USask) a leader in research, scholarly and artistic work (RSAW) — but what does that actually look like?  USask has established itself as a world-renowned leader in multiple disciplines of RSAW including disciplines like agrifood and social sciences to vaccine development to water security.   And USask is continuing to expand its RSAW profile...

Researchers across the University of Saskatchewan (USask) are exploring the science and policies behind nuclear energy — all the things that make it work, and the best and most responsible ways for society to use it as low carbon energy source alternative to fossil fuels.   Dr. Andrew Grosvenor (PhD), the department head of Chemistry in USask’s College of Arts and Science and one of the co-leads f...

What did you have for lunch today?   A growing body of research shows that what children are eating for breakfast and lunch – and the environment in which they’re eating – is critically important for their growth and development.   Dr. Rachel Engler-Stringer (PhD), a professor in the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Department of Community Health and Epidemiology in the College of Medicine, is a...

Feb. 11 marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a day that was was adopted by the United Nations to help promote the role and participation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). But even in the decade-plus since the UN established the day of recognition, men still outnumber women in professional STEM fields — though the number of women entering the...

Why does a curling rock curl?  If you’re unfamiliar with the sport of curling, it’s fairly straightforward: two teams slide granite rocks from one end of a sheet of ice to the other, trying to get as many of their rocks closest to the centre of the rings on each end as possible. And true to its name, the rocks are rotated so they “curl” across the sheet and around other rocks.  Curling is also one...

Virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) have evolved from technological curiosity to cutting edge tools.   Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) are finding more avenues to use these transformative technologies in new and innovative ways – including using them into the classroom to help instruct the next generation.  New research points to these new technological tech...

Why does holiday marketing do such a good job?  When the calendar turns its page to December, it signals one of the busiest buying and selling seasons of the year. This year especially, it’s never been harder to be a consumer during the holidays.   Dr. Adam Slobodzian, an assistant professor at the University of Saskatchewan’s Edwards School of Business who specializes in marketing and consumer re...

The weather outside is getting frightful – but for Dr. Phil Chilibeck (PhD), the frigid temperatures just provide more opportunities to stay active.   A professor at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Kinesiology, Chilibeck is no stranger to being active in the cold. Running, biking, cross-country skiing, shoveling your driveway – there are plenty of ways to get exercise in the wint...

Canada is a cold place, but that doesn't stop us from growing plants in our homes and gardens. And every year, many of those plants pop back up in the spring or shake off the snow and ice to thrive again.   Dr. Karen Tanino (PhD), a professor in USask’s Department of Plant Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, is an expert on plant physiology and how they deal with stresses...

While avian flu and cattle flu aren’t quite the same as the flu we’re used to as humans, they can have deadly consequences for wild and farmed birds and long-term effects on our cows that we’re only just beginning to explore.   Dr. Bryce Warner (PhD) and Dr. Antonio Facciuolo (PhD) are flu experts and research scientists at at USask’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO). Warner is a...

When is the last time you thought about where your water ends up?  The water that flows down the drain in the tub, that runs through the grates on the side of the road, that gets flushed down the toilet—all of it makes its way to treatment plants where it gets processed and cleaned before returning to our waterways.   The plant treats incoming water for all types of waste and pollutants, but it’s...

Dr. Colin Laroque (PhD) listens to what the trees tell him.   Laroque, a professor in USask’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources and the head of the Department of Soil Sciences, is an expert dendrochronologist. Or, in other words, he is an expert in “tree-ring analysis,” which allows him to read the rings of trees to get a better understanding of the environment over years, decades and centur...

Public health is something that has an impact on all of us - but over recent years, public health has been thrust into a bigger spotlight.  Trust in science, academia and public health is critical to maintain strong public health for the future. We explore how trust in public health has changed, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what can be done to address those changes, on this...

How often do you think about the environment you live in? Our houses, our towns, our cities, our communities - we have surrounded ourselves with our "built environment." But as populations grow and move, the we have to ask ourselves: how do we make sure our built environment is healthy, safe and sustainable for us and for future generations? We explore a few of the facets of a sustainabl...

The University of Saskatchewan (USask) is home to Canada's only synchrotron.  The Canadian Light Source at USask gives researchers at the university and around the world an opportunity to explore scientific questions down to the molecular and atomic level with the help of the synchrotron's beamlines.  But what exactly does a synchrotron do, and how does it advance scientific curiosity an...

Water is a vital part of life. Water is constantly flowing all around us - in our streams and rivers, into our lakes, through our deltas and in pipes in our cities. Our waterways are interconnected, often in ways we never think of. But how are those waterscapes changing, and what role do we play in those changes? We explore all the things you didn't know about our changing waterscapes on this...

Farming and Saskatchewan are practically synonymous, and agriculture research from the University of Saskatchewan is second to none. USask research has supported Saskatchewan producers and the agriculture industry for decades and has helped make Saskatchewan - and Canada - a bastion of agricultural efficiency and sustainability.  But what makes an efficient farmer, and what helps Saskatchewan stan...

Quantum technology isn't science fiction - it's science fact.  We're surrounded by more quantum technology than you'd expect, and with the quantum computers growing in size and power we are looking at new and exciting developments on the horizon for how our daily lives are impacted by quantum-influenced technology.  How fast are quantum computers? What are quantum materials? Th...

Do you ever think about where your power comes from when you turn on your lights? The world is looking for new sources of energy - but the global energy transition won't happen with the flick of a switch. The research and the resources has to come from somewhere, and Saskatchewan is home to both.  On this episode we explore how the energy transition will take shape, the future of critical min...

We all love our pets, but are they good for us? And are we good for them? On the first episode of the USask Signature Series Podcast, we dive into the ways animals in our homes influence our health - the risks they may pose, and the benefits they provide - along with a trio of accomplished University of Saskatchewan researchers.  Guests: Dr. Emily Jenkins (PhD)  Dr. Joseph Blondeau (PhD)  Dr. Coll...

World-leading research and innovation - right in the heart of Canada.  The USask Signature Series explores the cutting edge research taking place at the University of Saskatchewan. From quantum technology to agricultural innovation, sustainable communities to synchrotron sciences, the USask Signature Series will answer questions about the world using USask expertise.  Are your pets good for your h...