Blogs

My name is Kiersten DeViller, and I’m in my third year studying Biology at Carleton University. I’m hoping to pursue a career in entomology - I think that insects are the most incredible group of animals. Their diverse behaviour and morphology is endlessly fascinating.

Have you heard of radon? It’s a colourless, odourless radioactive gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in the ground. Radon gas can seep into our homes undetected.

The Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) program recently awarded a $2-million grand prize in the Pop up city contest, to build more efficient “green” energy, water and waste management solutions for camps used by the Canadian Armed Forces.

Wildland fires, pandemics, floods, and more – Canada is increasingly feeling the consequences of extreme disasters.

The Canadian Safety and Security Program (CSSP) is looking to develop several research micro-nets to advance the application of promising artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies to support first responders.

It’s hard to find a place that can serve as both a training ground for military ships and aircraft, and as a home to sensitive wildlife.

With electric cars becoming increasingly popular, it’s easy to see how quickly electrification is taking a hold of the car market – but what about Navy ships? Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is tackling that very question.

One of the best ways to increase energy efficiency is to map out how it is used and look for opportunities to cut back. But with a system as complex as a Navy vessel, it’s nearly impossible to do without potentially compromising the ship’s operations.

Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is responsible for pesticide regulation in Canada. The PMRA is working to help all Canadians understand the risks associated with pesticides, and what the government does to protect your health and the environment.

A Second World War-era innovation is being revived by a team of researchers in Toronto, that will improve care for trauma patients and possibly save lives of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members who are in combat or in remote locations.

By undertaking a research project based on the One Health approach, which recognizes the interdepency between the health of humans, domesticated and wild animals, and the environment, scientists are working together to develop new knowledge in the Canadian context.

In June 2022, Health Canada achieved a significant milestone in its contribution towards banning nuclear weapons testing around the world by obtaining the certification for its noble gas laboratory.

Coping with heat hasn’t been easy this summer. For many, it’s been finding air conditioning, gaining access to pools or some other means of cooling down. It’s not that easy for CAF members in combat or in training – but Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) researchers are looking at solutions.

Millions of people worldwide can now recognize the burnt smell, the thick smoke, and the red haze of a fire burning kilometres away. With the effects of climate change increasing their number, frequency, and intensity, wildfires have spread across Canada at an unprecedented rate. We are in the middle of the worst wildfire season yet, with 5530 recorded in 2023 to date.

As the impacts of climate change increase in Canada, we expect to experience more and more days of extreme heat.

It’s a situation no one wants to face. You need a medication or health product, but you can’t find it anywhere. The reason? A shortage.

Many of us have become all too familiar with drug shortages, which have been increasing in the last few years.

Foresight analyst sounds like a job where you might need a crystal ball to go along with your degree, but as Inbal Marcovitch, a defence scientist with the Department of National Defence’s science and technology organization, Defence Research and Development Canada, explains, her work is more practical than mystical.

Testing chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) technology is no easy feat – but it’s made easier with friends. That’s why Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is getting military personnel and scientists from around the world to put on their protective suits and get their gloves dirty at Exercise PRECISE RESPONSE (EX PR) 2023.

Did you know that coming into contact with mouse droppings can be fatal?

At the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory (NML), protecting people in Canada from hantavirus means working on the problem from various angles. This involves multiple scientists, each with different specialities, who put in time not only in the lab, but also out in the field.

DRDC tested the most-advanced military GPS technology to date - a system that has the potential to improve mission effectiveness, reduce risks to personnel, and enhance operational efficiency. This research could revolutionize the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) navigation and communication capabilities.

When avian influenza (also known as bird flu) is featured in the news, it is often accompanied by alarming headlines highlighting the highly infectious nature of some strains and their ability to cause severe disease. The current outbreak of the H5N1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus has garnered more headlines globally, documenting its spread around the world killing scores of domestic and wild birds.

Heat waves mean high temperatures and humidity, and climate change can lead to longer and more intense heat events that can be dangerous for health, and even lead to death.

As some vaccine preventable disease outbreaks - like measles, polio and diphtheria – have made headlines around the world in recent months, people may wonder why these outbreaks are occurring and if they are at risk. To understand the current situation, it is important to understand how vaccination works as a public health preventive measure.

What do dental offices, vet clinics, hospitals, and mines have in common? All of them, plus many other industries, use radiation as an important tool in their day-to-day operations.

Serious gaming may seem like an oxymoron, but war games are a valuable tool for the Canadian Forces and government departments to work through complex problems with limited resources and sometimes competing agendas.

Did you know Canada holds 7% of the world’s renewable fresh water supply?

Swim suits – check! Sand toys – check! Sunscreen – check! But don’t forget to check the water quality at your favourite beach to make sure it’s safe to enjoy the water.

DRDC researchers worked with NATO partners to test sensors on drones to look for improvised explosive devices (IED), mines, and unexploded ordinance in six scenarios including buildings, power transmission towers, and roads.

The Marine Mammal Monitoring (M3) program, led by Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), is helping the Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces (DND / CAF) understand, monitor, reduce and mitigate its impact on the marine environment.

Filoviruses can cause some of the deadliest diseases on the planet including the Ebola, Sudan and Marburg virus diseases.

March 22 is World Water Day, a day set by the UN to focus on the importance of freshwater. Canada is home to 20 per cent of the world’s freshwater. We have an important responsibility to protect our waterways from the potentially disastrous impacts of oil spills.

Radiation is found everywhere in the environment, occurring both naturally and through human activity. Generally, it doesn’t represent a risk to health, unless it is found in elevated levels.

Do you live, work or play near a busy roadway? If so, the quality of the outdoor air may be impacting your health.

In 2008, Canada saw one of its largest foodborne illness outbreaks in recent times. What was the cause? Listeria.

Welcome to a special guest blog post highlighting a new citizen and community science initiative to protect fish species in Canada. This blog post was originally published in Healthy Wildlife, the blog of the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative.

Have you ever heard of botulism? While this foodborne illness may be less well known than others, it can have serious consequences. Fortunately, botulism is very rare in Canada thanks to safe food practices and the work of devoted Health Canada scientists.

As international trade increases, a growing number of plant diseases are threatening global agriculture and food security. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is constantly seeking ways to improve plant health while supporting Canada’s economy.