Students’ research videos featured in national competition

Posted: March 10, 2015 3:05 p.m.

(R to L) Images from Brandon Klug (Biology) and William Ogilvie (Geology)’s research videos. Screenshots

Two University of Regina students have qualified for the first round of a competition called Science, Action! put on by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

Brandon Klug (Biology) and William Ogilvie (Geology) have submitted one-minute videos showcasing their research projects online – and they need your help to advance to the next round.

Klug and Ogilvie are two of 32 finalists featuring students from universities across Canada. Videos submitted are limited to a maximum of 60 seconds.

“It means a lot to me to be in this competition,” says Klug who is in his third year of his PhD in Biology. “One of the most important, vital parts of research is dissemination and being able to get the importance and impact of your research across to the public.”

Klug is focussed on the ecology of bats and how they adapt to our extreme prairie climate.

“Bats are incredibly important to the ecosystem, particularly as insect control in Canada, and declines in their numbers would lead to a noticeable increase in mosquitoes and pests of agriculture and forestry,” says Klug.

Ogilvie is part of a team of five people at the University of Regina conducting a National High Altitude Balloon Experiment (HABEX) studying the atmosphere. The experiment involves the launching of scientific balloons across Canada including Regina, Toronto and as far north as Inuvik.

“We designed the sensor boards ourselves using open-source software and hardware. With that data we will compare it to everybody else’s information so that we can come up with a comparison between provinces and open the doors to a better understanding to what is happening up there,” says Ogilvie who is now in his final year of Geology.  “We started the project as an undergraduate class a couple of years ago. Under Dr. David Gerhard’s (Associate Professor – Computer Science) instruction we learned how to do this from the ground up.”

Ogilvie emphasizes that the experiment and competition is a great way to help promote scientific research to the general public and in particular to high school and elementary school students.

You have until March 20 to watch the videos and share your favourites on Twitter and Facebook.

To view the videos please visit: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ScienceAction/Index_eng.asp

The 15 videos with the most views and shares will proceed to the final round where the winners will be decided by a panel of judges.

The University of Regina is committed to student and research excellence as outlined in the strategic plan. For details please visit: http://www.uregina.ca/strategic-plan/