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  • Careers In Biology

    Careers In Biology

    Biology is the study of life and living organisms. An organism is a living thing that has one cell or more than one cell. Bacteria is an example of an organism with one cell. Examples of organisms that have more than one cell include humans, animals, plants, and fungi.

    There are several categories that different careers in biology fall under. These categories include:

    • Research
    • Healthcare
    • Environmental conservation
    • Education
    • Biotechnology
    • Forensic science
    • Government and policy
    • Business and industry
    • Economics
    • Science publishing and communication

    The following are a few careers in biology, along with a brief description of each career:

    Biochemist

    Biochemists play an important role in finding new medication to fight diseases. They work in laboratories and use their research skills and knowledge to develop and carry out their new findings. The study of biology helps them understand the impact of mediation on the body.

    Botanist

    Botanists study plant life, including the interaction between plants and their environments. They conduct their research in laboratories and outdoors. Botanists could work in agricultural/food industries, research and development environmental companies, and other companies that work with environmental ecosystems. They could also work for governments and universities.

    Forensic Science Technician

    Forensic science technicians work with criminal investigators. Their role is to analyze any evidence collected at crime scenes and later analyze the collected evidence in forensic labs. They often have to travel to crime scenes, along with the investigators, to collect and analyze the evidence.

    Health Educator

    Health educators teach people many practices and behaviours that lead to wellness. They must have a great understanding of human biology in order to educate others about public health concerns. When needed, health educators write about scientific topics like nutrition, substance abuse, and ways to reduce stress. Health educators can work in many places like hospitals, nonprofit organizations, government companies, doctors’ offices, private businesses, and colleges.

    Marine Biologist

    Marine biologists study and research the ecosystems and biology, along with the interactions of plants and animals in saltwater environments. These environments include oceans, coastal lands, wetlands and marshes. Understanding the impact humans have on these environments is also studied. Marine biologists often work with universities, aquariums, governments, private organizations, and more.

    Microbiologist

    Microbiologists study microorganisms to understand the impact they have on humans and how they could be used. By studying and understanding microorganisms (microbes), microbiologists work on ways to solve any issues involving human health, the environment, diagnosis of infections and disease, climate change, as well as keeping food safe. Microbiologists can work in hospitals, universities, medical schools, government laboratories, and several different industries.

    Nurse

    Nurses help out in communicating between patients and doctors, caring for patients, giving medication, and supervising nurses’ aides. There are many types of nursing positions. Nurses can be Licensed Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and more. The longer a nurse studies in university, the more responsibilities they have. Nurses can work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, home healthcare services, schools, nursing homes, as well as in the military.

    Pharmacologist

    Pharmacologists work to understand how medication and other drugs work in order for them to be used safely and efficiently. They can also research to try to discover and develop new medications. There is more than one type of pharmacologist. They can specialize in cardiovascular pharmacology, neuropharmacology, psychopharmacology, and veterinary pharmacology. Pharmacologists can choose to work in different areas such as business development, medical writing, medical sales and marketing, and government and medical charities.

    Physician

    Physicians are trained healthcare professionals work with patients under the supervision of a doctor. They perform similar tasks as doctors such as patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Physicians can work in hospitals, healthcare organizations, and for the government.

    Soil Scientist

    Soil scientists analyze soil and its relationship to plants. They use their findings to solve problems including agricultural production, biodiversity, climate change, and human health. Working in soil science gives you the opportunity to be part of the research and development of sustaining food production, supporting plant and animal life, and having a positive impact on the environment.

    Resources:

    https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-jobs-for-biology-majors-2059884

    https://jobs.lovetoknow.com/career-fields/list-biology-careers

    https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/careers-advice/what-can-you-do-biology-degree

    https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/what-can-i-do-with-my-degree/biology#job-options

    https://www.ntnu.edu/biology/about-us/what-is-biology

  • Chores – How They prepare You for the World, Jobs or Careers

    Chores – How They prepare You for the World, Jobs or Careers

    Ah, your parents/guardians are at it again? Why haven’t you taken out the garbage? Cleaned the dishes? Fed your pets? Done the laundry?  Cleaned the cat’s litter box? Taken the dog for a walk?

    Chores sound like an evil word, but they aren’t. They are a necessary part of life, even for adults. They contribute to a cleaner environment and a healthier you, but also prepare you for the job market. It’s just a matter of perspective.

    When it comes to household duties like taking out the garbage, raking the leaves or shovelling snow: you are assessing risk. You have carefully examined the yard and see that it needs to be cleaned before it becomes a risk to someone else. Things can be hidden in leaves, or someone could slip on the patch of ice near your car. You are being proactive regarding your safety and the safety of others, which is very important in the workforce, especially when knowing the best equipment or strategy for the job.  In addition to that, you are helping promote a clean and safe work environment, also made that way by cleaning the dishes. The more the “mess” is added or not treated to, the more dangerous it becomes – hiding dangers, expanding fall risks, or creating possible health issues.

    Feeding the pets is a little different as you are learning to be caregiver. This applies to looking after yourself, as you need to ensure you are getting the calories and vitamins you need in order to promote a healthy lifestyle. Even if your pet is placed on a diet or has special conditions from the vet, you are learning to adapt to the conditions of your work environment, and therefore are learning time management skills and the importance of how a chore isn’t seen as a chore to your pet, they need to be fed.  You also learn how not to overdo things; you can feed an animal (and yourself) too much.

    Chores are repetitive. They are nearly identical tasks, performed day after day, week after week, month after month. And they’re important. This helps immensely in workplaces dealing with respective tasks, particularly if you choose a job that involves scanning documents, answering phone calls or managing spreadsheets. They may seem boring and unimportant, but they matter a lot to managers who need  documents, people inquiring about  business, or the numbers on the spreadsheets for the folks in Accounting.

    To work effectively, chores should be simple, such as opening the doors to the business if you’re the key holder to ensure that it’s safe and nothing has been damaged overnight. You are ensuring the daily task of filling the coffee pot is completed for your co-workers, and that everything is kept up-to-date such as timesheets or spreadsheets, and it is little patterns like these that help contribute to a optimal working environment.

    Doing chores can be a bother, but everyone has to do them. You may not realize that they are doing you any good now, but understanding that they contribute to a greater, more organized life, can benefit you for years to come! So, don’t be afraid to pick up that broom next time- just get it done!

  • Emerging Green Trades in BC: The Career of the Future

    Emerging Green Trades in BC: The Career of the Future

    If you listen to people talking about the state of the world, you know that the environment is often an important concern for them. In British Columbia, as in many other parts of Canada, jobs that are “green,” or not harmful to the environment, are careers of the future.

    For many years, people used resources like water and minerals without much thought about what they were doing to the environment. Now, however, becoming involved in green jobs can help preserve the environment for the future.

    British Columbia has various options for working in a green trade. The first involves locally grown food. Although this work involves farmers more than tradespeople, every farmer needs machines such as tractors, as well as electricity to light barns and greenhouses. Water pipes and hoses are also necessary. Working in many different trades can help support agricultural work for locally grown food.

    Green building and design is a second area where the green trades are growing. Sustainable materials and better construction methods are key parts of this work. For example, some builders might look for ways to use sunlight or wind power instead of traditional electricity and heating fuels.

    Green transportation is one of British Columbia’s major projects. Electric vehicles have been in the province for at least ten years, and the first electric airplane in BC flew in 2019. Tradespeople who can work with electric vehicles are likely to have good job prospects for many years.

    Sustainability services and education are also important. Although tradespeople might not be directly involved in this work, they can provide the information that educators and others need. They need to be organized and clear about what people need to know so that others can give the public the right information. Tradespeople might even have a chance to help directly with some of the services and facts that people need.

    Land and water management and environmental consulting can also be part of a tradesperson’s job. Other people are likely to do most of the work, but tradespeople can help support the initiatives with suggestions to help preserve the environment. Finding better ways of digging wells, for example, could help preserve the environment.

    People in the trades can get involved in materials management and recycling. Repairing and upgrading old machines so that they run efficiently can help keep usable machines from being thrown out and help to make people aware of the possibilities of reusing even the most worn-out objects.

    The area where tradespeople can have perhaps the biggest impact is in clean technology, alternative energy, and green building products. Working together with scientists and engineers, tradespeople can identify areas that require better resources and make suggestions for areas to develop, such as environmentally friendly building materials or glues. They can set up wind turbines or other forms of clean energy production where possible and help to support clean technology in whatever they do.

    In the future, green trades are likely to become increasingly important. For anyone getting into one of these fields, being aware of the options is very important. If you want to work in British Columbia, you can already start to consider how you can get involved.

     

    Bibliography

    Natural Resources Canada. “Green Jobs in Natural Resources.” https://natural-resources.canada.ca/climate-change/canadas-green-future/green-jobs/87.

    Province of British Columbia. “BC’s Green Transportation Innovations.” https://www.britishcolumbia.ca/news-stories/bcs-green-transportation-innovations/.

    Skilled Immigrant Info Centre. “Fastest Growing Industries: Green Economy.” https://www.vpl.ca/sites/default/files/Fastest_Growing_Industries_Green_Economy.pdf.

    Work BC. “Green Economy.” https://www.workbc.ca/research-labour-market/bcs-economy/green-economy.

  • Teaching Empathy and Kindness Through Children’s Literature

    Teaching Empathy and Kindness Through Children’s Literature

    In school, students learn mathematics, science, and all kinds of other subjects through their classes. Learning qualities like empathy and kindness is more difficult, but reading children’s literature can help.

    Empathy and kindness can help people live among others without fighting or harming each other. Kindness is a quality of helping people and treating them well. People who are kind tend to be friendly and gentle, and they try not to hurt others if they can avoid it.

    Like kindness, empathy helps people to treat others well. Empathy is the ability to imagine what others feel and to understand their point of view. For example, suppose that a dog ran away. A kind person might help to look for it or help in another way. Someone with empathy would understand the dog owner’s feelings and know the reason for those emotions.

    Learning through stories takes thought and work. Some types of writing are straightforward with an obvious meaning. A user manual for a machine, for example, needs to be clear and easy to understand. It can also be very easy to forget. However, literature is different. Some stories are just for entertainment, but many of them have a deeper meaning. Finding that meaning helps readers to learn something that they can remember for years or even their whole lives.

    That principle is true of stories that teach qualities like kindness and empathy. Some people naturally have more of these qualities than others have. However, people can learn these qualities if they try. One of the best ways is through literature. Good stories can be powerful tools to teach the kinds of qualities that help people learn the important lessons that they need to know.

    Some books teach empathy and kindness quite directly. Stand in My Shoes: Kids Learning About Empathy by Bob Sornson teaches the importance of these qualities. I Am Human: A Book of Empathy by Susan Verde is another book on that topic.

    Other stories teach important qualities less directly. We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins features a dinosaur that must learn not to eat people. It Will Be OK by Liza Katzenberger tells the story of a zebra and a giraffe that learn the importance of empathy. The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf tells of a gentle bull who likes to smell flowers instead of fighting. When people need to learn through example, stories like these ones can help to make the benefits of empathy and kindness real to readers.

    Longer books for older readers can also teach principles like empathy and kindness. Websites such as Book Riot and Imagination Soup give suggestions of chapter books that help students understand more about life. For example, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson helps readers to understand friendship and loss. Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhhà Lai is about a refugee from the Vietnam War who struggles with loneliness and bullying as she tries to settle into life in the United States.

    Almost any well-written novel or picture book can help teach empathy and kindness. In the Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis created a vast array of deep characters who are either good or bad examples of kindness and empathy. Other novels can help students understand these qualities better.

    Stories can be memorable an instructive for people who look beyond the surface to see the meaning in the characters’ actions. For teaching qualities like empathy and kindness, children’s literature is ideal.

     

    Bibliography

    Bologna, Caroline. “35 Children’s Books That Teach Empathy and Kindness.” https://www.huffpost.com/entry/childrens-books-empathy-kindness_l_5d52e7b1e4b0c63bcbee2699.

    Harvard Graduate School of Education. “How to Use Stories to Help Kids Develop Empathy.” https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/resources-for-families/develop-empathy.

    Reynolds, Emily. “Why Teach Empathy?” https://www.britishcouncil.org/voices-magazine/why-teach-empathy.

    Teaching Expertise. “40 Impactful Children’s Books about Empathy.” https://www.teachingexpertise.com/classroom-ideas/childrens-books-about-empathy/.

  • A Prime Minister’s Problematic Legacy: Sir John A. MacDonald and a Long History of Racism

    A Prime Minister’s Problematic Legacy: Sir John A. MacDonald and a Long History of Racism

    You probably learnt all about Sir John A. MacDonald as Canada’s first Prime Minister, as well as his many achievements in your history classes: how he built Canada’s government, aided in the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and successfully expanded the new Dominion of Canada, building it into the country we know today (Britannica). That said, underlying each of these achievements is a very dark history of violent genocide and racism.

    With the rising knowledge of cultural genocide and the legacy of colonialism in Canada; many people have become aware of the large part in which Prime Minister MacDonald played in all this. Sure, he did a lot for Canada, but this was often at the expense of others. Especially the Indigenous people. According to Robert Alexander Innes, an Indigenous Studies Professor, when the Canadian Pacific Railway was built, MacDonald withheld food and resources from an estimated 5,000 First Nations people until they agreed to move from the construction site and onto designated reservations, even if this was their land (2021). As one of the leading legislators of the Indian Act, he oversaw the creation of the residential school system, stating it was necessary to “kill the Indian in the child” (McCarten 2021). According to the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, about 4,118 children died in the residential schools, some of which may never be recovered (Deer 2021). With this knowledge becoming more prominent within the wider public sphere, monuments and statues dedicated to MacDonald have since been defaced, some even being beheaded, and he is no longer on the ten dollar bill like he used to be.

    This has raised the question: If MacDonald has such a problematic legacy, does he deserve to be studied and acknowledged as part of Canadian history? Even if his legacy is indeed very violent and difficult to come to terms with, Sir MacDonald still has his defenders. For instance, in his article, “Why should Sir John A. take all the blame for Canada’s injustices to Indigenous peoples?” Canadian journalist John Ibbitson argues that many politicians throughout history have been found guilty of genocide and racism, and he did not act alone. However, MacDonald has likely been held to higher standards because as Prime Minister, he was the one who had the most power to change things. Many have also argued that, in some ways, Sir MacDonald was actually a bit more progressive than many of his counterparts. In a letter to Peter Jones, an Ojibwe chief, Sir MacDonald wrote, “I hope to see some day the Indian race represented by one of themselves on the floor of the House of Commons.” (Hopper 2018).

    There is also the argument that many other prime ministers failed to do anything about the residential school system, even if they were fully operational around the 1830s all the way to 1996. Yet, none of them did anything. Everyone needs to be held accountable for their actions, but especially Sir MacDonald because he is largely responsible for beginning all of this in Canada. It should not be a secret that he was a white supremacist and a racist; this is something that must also be fundamentally acknowledged as part of Canada’s history.

    When it comes to history, it is easy to pick and choose which parts we want to acknowledge and actively include. But if you do not learn from the actions of those who came before you, then you are doomed to repeat the same actions. This is not a question of whether John A. MacDonald can be erased from Canadian history; he’s part of it no matter the type of man that he was. The question, and where we should start to act is learning about all sides of Canadian history: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Perhaps we can utilize history to create a different kind of legacy for Canada (Nurse 2021).

     

    Bibliography

    Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Sir John Macdonald.”  Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Jan. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Alexander-Macdonald.  Accessed 18 March 2023.

    Deer, Ka’nhehsí:io. “Why it’s difficult to put a number on how many children died at residential schools.” CBC News, 29 Sept. 2021, https://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/residential-school-children-deaths-numbers-1.6182456. Accessed 14 March 2023.

    Ejeckam, Chuka. “Canadian media justifies Canada’s genocidal foundations.” rabble, 1 Feb. 2023, https://rabble.ca/columnists/canadian-media-justifies-canadas-genocidal-foundations/. Accessed 14 March 2023.

    Hopper, Tristan. “Here is what Sir John A. Macdonald did to Indigenous people.” NationalPost, 28 Aug. 2018, https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/here-is-what-sir-john-a-macdonald-did-to-indigenous-people.  Accessed 14 March 2023.

    Ibbitson, John. “Why should Sir John A. take all the blame for Canada’s injustices to Indigenous peoples?” The Globe and Mail, 24 Jan. 2023, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-why-should-sir-john-a-take-all-the-blame-for-canadas-injustices-to/. Accessed 14 March 2023.

    McCarten, James. “Canada’s tragic residential-school reckoning could be grim harbinger for U.S.” LethbridgeNewsSnow, 27, June. 2021. https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2021/06/27/canadas-tragic-residential-school-reckoning-could-be-grim-harbinger-for-u-s/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIts%20founder%20coined%20the%20phrase,prime%20minister%2C%20Sir%20John%20A. Accessed 14 March 2023.

    Nurse, Andrew. “The Problem of Legacy: John A. Macdonald and the Politics of History.” WordPress, 1 Feb. 2021, https://earlycanadianhistory.ca/2021/02/01/the-problem-of-legacy-john-a-macdonald-and-the-politics-of-history/.  Accessed 14 March 2023.

    Rodriguez, Jeremiah. “John A. Macdonald defenders fear admitting Canada is ‘linked to white supremacy,’ scholars say.” CTV News, 14 Jan. 2021, https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/john-a-macdonald-defenders-fear-admitting-canada-is-linked-to-white-supremacy-scholars-say-1.5266977?cache=tjcjnjuh. Accessed 14 March 2023.

  • Marco Landaverde – Restoration Worker

    Marco Landaverde – Restoration Worker

    Susan Huebert interviews Marco Landaverde, a restoration worker.

  • Alison Sawatzy – Teacher

    Alison Sawatzy – Teacher

    Susan Huebert interviews Alison Sawatzy, a teacher.

  • Kirsten Bass – Independent Filmmaker

    Kirsten Bass – Independent Filmmaker

    Avreet Jagdev talks with Kirsten Bass, an independent filmmaker.

  • Benjamin Fieschi-Rose – Director and Stop-Motion Filmmaker

    Benjamin Fieschi-Rose – Director and Stop-Motion Filmmaker

    Julia Skoczypiec interviews Benjamin Fieschi-Rose, a director and stop motion filmmaker.

  • The Connection Between Physical Health and Mental Health

    The Connection Between Physical Health and Mental Health

    By Rabia Khan

    Human beings have a unique and complex system. Both mind and body and soul are interconnected. When one part goes downhill, everything else goes downhill too. What happens to the mind deeply affects your physical health in different ways. Though, men and women both seem to take on the toll differently. There is a strong connection between physical health and mental health that many are not aware of.

    How mental health affects your physical health

    As we share an intense connection between our mind and the body, it also tends to affect us by the way we feel.

    Poor sleep: Too much stress can hamper quality of life and take away all the peace! Your sleep is precious as it prepares you to fully function and wake up for a new day! If you skip a good sleep, it will most likely affect your physical health leading to fatigue, chills, headache, fever, etc.

    High blood pressure: Another proof of mental stress manifesting into physical stress unfolds when you experience your blood pressure bursting into flames and suddenly turns high. If the symptoms worsen overtime, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

    Stroke: Most often the connection of mental health and physical health is so strong that certain mental health disorders can cause havoc to the body. Too much stress can cause a heart or a brain stroke. That is why most health practitioners consider mindfulness and meditation good for the mind, body and soul.

    Premature aging: Nobody talks about the fact that increase of stress can lead to premature aging. Your hair would eventually start falling while you’re young, nails will turn brittle and skin will sag and start showing wrinkles. Internal stress easily wears off on your skin making it look old. It’s important to keep yourself hydrated at all times!

    Reproductive health: Many women face tremendous physical issues when they are stressed. One is the reproductive system, taking too much on yourself can lead to major health issues like PCOS, fibrosis, menstruation problems, etc.

    Digestive system: Remember keeping a calm mind leads to a calm internal system, when your mind is thinking too many intrusive thoughts, that alerts your digestive system and causes a weaker immunity functioning. Your physical health is most likely to get affected severely, inviting issues like diarrhea, stomach cramps, bloating, indigestion, constipation, etc. It’s a known fact that mental health disorders lead to poor eating habits.

    Here are some ways you can maintain mental and physical health:

    Meditate: In order to keep your physical health in best shape, your mind needs positive fuel. You can only achieve this by meditating and practicing mindfulness daily.

    Eat healthy: Eating healthy food contributes to a healthy mind and body, always be mindful of what you are eating! Remember, you are what you eat!