Research
Scientists have made a breakthrough – we can now pull environmental DNA out of the air! This is a revolutionary step for the field of biomonitoring. Here’s my take on it. https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/environmental-dna-can-be-pulled-from-the-air-68645
The Smithsonian Magazine has written a comprehensive article about how environmental DNA (eDNA) is being used to describe and discover (previously) elusive species. There’s some good coverage of my lab’s work with the Finless Porpoise! http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-teeny-bits-leftover-dna-help-scientists-track-elusive-species-180963011/
Research utilizing eDNA is making “waves” globally. Yours truly was interviewed for this editorial, check it out: http://www.the-scientist.com/?articles.view/articleNo/49553/title/No-Place-to-Hide/
Here’s a little article from the Toronto Star way back when I completed my M.Sc. (although I seem to have been promoted by the editor of this piece): https://www.thestar.com/business/tech_news/2008/03/16/a_weeks_worth_of_science_news.html
Tongji-Queen’s Sino-Canada Exchanges
Tongji and Queen’s Universities have been working arduously for over a decade now to firm up this partnership. It all started as a comprehensive field-course but has now flourished into a full-blown 2+2 undergraduate degree program. I’m humbled to be a part of this network of amazing scientists and educators:
http://www.queensu.ca/research/environment/canada-china-field-course
http://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2014-11-27/news/queens-strengthens-relationship-china/
http://www.queensu.ca/gazette/stories/queen-s-hosts-joint-sustainability-workshop-tongji-university
Blog Posts
A little summary of some work my colleagues and I did looking at genetic-by-environment interactions (or GEIs) in bulb mites and how it relates to the age-old philosophical debate on nature vs. nurture. https://isabelsmallegange.com/2019/04/12/peering-behind-the-curtain-how-genetic-context-and-fluctuating-environments-help-to-maintain-alternative-mating-tactics/