Latest news with #UniversitéLaval
Toronto Star
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Amid upheaval abroad, universities urge Ottawa, Quebec to invest in attracting talent
MONTREAL - Four major Quebec universities are proposing initiatives to make the province a landing spot for high-level researchers. A joint statement released today highlights a number of moves, including co-ordinated steps at the national level to attract talent. The four universities — Université Laval, McGill University, Université de Montréal, and Université de Sherbrooke — hope to leverage political and social tensions affecting researchers around the world to lure them to Canadian schools. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The group of universities, going by the name Polaris, say both Quebec and Ottawa have a role to play in making that happen. Vincent Poitout, vice-rector of research and innovation at Université de Montréal, says there is a window to transform a very unfortunate situation in science, particularly in the United States, into an opportunity for Canada. The universities note a recent survey published in Nature, a journal, that 75 per cent of researchers in the United States are considering leaving the country. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 14, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Amid upheaval abroad, universities urge Ottawa, Quebec to invest in attracting talent
MONTREAL - Four major Quebec universities are proposing initiatives to make the province a landing spot for high-level researchers. A joint statement released today highlights a number of moves, including co-ordinated steps at the national level to attract talent. The four universities — Université Laval, McGill University, Université de Montréal, and Université de Sherbrooke — hope to leverage political and social tensions affecting researchers around the world to lure them to Canadian schools. The group of universities, going by the name Polaris, say both Quebec and Ottawa have a role to play in making that happen. Vincent Poitout, vice-rector of research and innovation at Université de Montréal, says there is a window to transform a very unfortunate situation in science, particularly in the United States, into an opportunity for Canada. The universities note a recent survey published in Nature, a journal, that 75 per cent of researchers in the United States are considering leaving the country. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 14, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Amid upheaval abroad, universities urge Ottawa, Quebec to invest in attracting talent
MONTREAL – Four major Quebec universities are proposing initiatives to make the province a landing spot for high-level researchers. A joint statement released today highlights a number of moves, including co-ordinated steps at the national level to attract talent. The four universities — Université Laval, McGill University, Université de Montréal, and Université de Sherbrooke — hope to leverage political and social tensions affecting researchers around the world to lure them to Canadian schools. The group of universities, going by the name Polaris, say both Quebec and Ottawa have a role to play in making that happen. Vincent Poitout, vice-rector of research and innovation at Université de Montréal, says there is a window to transform a very unfortunate situation in science, particularly in the United States, into an opportunity for Canada. The universities note a recent survey published in Nature, a journal, that 75 per cent of researchers in the United States are considering leaving the country. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 14, 2025.
CBC
05-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
Search is on for new water source in Umiujaq, Que., as local spring dries up
The community of Umiujaq, Que., is looking for a new source of drinking water, after its water reservoir was found empty last year. Next to the village's water treatment plant is a large reservoir to store water collected during the summer. When it's full, it can hold roughly two years' worth of water for the community. Hossein Shafeghati, the Kativik Regional Government's municipal public works director, said he was notified in March 2024 that the reservoir had no more water. He brought in researchers from Université Laval to investigate. The researchers' theory is that the spring that Umiujaq draws water from has dried up, and thawing permafrost could be to blame. "They believe that the permafrost might have degraded and changed the slope. So that water is going somewhere else [away from the reservoir]," Shafeghati said. Last summer, the researchers flew in pumps to extract water from a part of the river further north, to ensure there is sufficient supply. In the coming months, some of the researchers will be back in Umiujaq to look for a new, permanent water source near the community. Challenges of location Richard Fortier is one of the researchers involved in the search for a new source. His team has identified several possible sites, but all have logistical challenges. One section of a local river, for example, is near a landfill. "If you want to use the surface water in the river, you have to pump the water uphill of the dump and the wastewater pump. Otherwise if you take it downhill, you are vulnerable to the contamination from the dump and the wastewater pump," Fortier said. That would mean a more complex — and costly — construction job. Another researcher, Jean-Michel Lemieux, also floats the idea of underground water as a possible source, like in the other Nunavik communities of Salluit and Kuujuaraapik. The warmth from a body of water can create taliks – layers of unfrozen ground within a permafrost region. Lemieux, who's studied the area for a decade, said there is a valley with groundwater, though it's several kilometres away from the village. But he believes it could be worth it, given groundwater is better quality – and tastes better — than surface water. "The soil naturally filters the water, so there's bacteria, there's viruses. So the rock quality of the water that could be pumped from an aquifer is much better." Once a viable new water source is identified, the Kativik Regional Government will need to get it approved with Quebec's Environment Ministry. It will also take time to build new infrastructure, so Shafeghati anticipates the entire process could take up to five years. Other impacts of climate change Thawing permafrost, on areas with a slope, can cause active layer detachment. "That is when that active layer sitting on the slope loses the attachment to the permafrost and then it slides down the slope. That's where you have landslides," Shafeghati explained. The road to Umiujaq's airport could be at risk, he said, though he doesn't believe other parts of the village will need to be relocated because of permafrost degradation. However, it will be a factor in where they choose the new water source to be situated. Last week, the Quebec government announced $1.85 million for landslide research in Nunavik. The province said that money will help Université Laval to map out landslide-prone areas in the region, and funding is also being provided to the Kativik Regional Government to improve risk management. In an email to CBC News, Umiujaq Mayor Jack Niviaxie said he's seeing the effects of climate change already in his community. About 460 kilometres east of Umiujaq, climate change is also threatening the water in Tasiujaq. That village, situated near Ungava Bay, is renowned for its high tides. Shafeghati said the tidal fluctuation there is greater than the Bay of Fundy, and rising sea levels could be pushing water further up the community's river. "There are times in the year that there is salt water intrusion and there are sensors in the system that will shut down the pumping when there is salinity in the river," he said. He said the system in Tasiujaq is fine for now, but in the new few decades, the community may have to consider moving the water pumping station further upriver.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
This discovery in Cannabis DNA will change how you see weed forever; 33 genetic markers explained
Université Laval in Québec has made a significant breakthrough in cannabis research and breeding by identifying 33 genetic markers in marijuana that influence the plant's cannabinoid production . The discovery opens new doors to developing custom cannabis strains for specific medical and recreational purposes. Published in the peer-reviewed journal The Plant Genome , the study could significantly advance the science of cannabis cultivation by allowing breeders to fine-tune the plant's chemical profile with greater precision. The research team studied 174 cannabis samples and used high-density genotyping to analyze over 23,000 molecular markers. From this dataset, they pinpointed 33 specific markers strongly associated with the production of 11 cannabinoids, compounds like THCA, CBDA, and CBN , which are known for their therapeutic and psychoactive properties. Among the most notable findings was a large cluster of genes on one chromosome region that spans approximately 60 megabases. This region was strongly linked to THC-dominant strains of cannabis, confirming the role of specific DNA segments in driving potency levels. Live Events What does this mean for breeders? Historically, cannabis breeding has been a time-consuming process that involved growing plants to maturity, harvesting them, and analyzing their chemical content. This method can take months and is prone to variability. The new genetic markers now provide a reliable way to predict cannabinoid content early in the breeding process. This allows breeders to select plants with the desired genetic traits without waiting for full plant maturity. The process becomes faster, cheaper, and more efficient. 'These markers offer powerful tools for improving cannabis through molecular breeding,' the researchers wrote. 'They help overcome barriers that have limited the development of elite strains due to decades of prohibition and lack of genetic infrastructure.' A boost for medical marijuana This development is particularly promising for the medical cannabis industry. It targets genetic traits responsible for producing non-psychoactive cannabinoids like CBD and CBG, breeders can create strains tailored for pain relief, inflammation, anxiety, epilepsy, and other conditions, without inducing a high. The ability to develop strains with precise chemical balances can also help standardize dosing, which has long been a challenge in medical marijuana use. Global research momentum This study adds to a growing wave of scientific interest in cannabis. Recently, researchers in South Korea identified a new cannabinoid compound, cannabielsoxa, which has sparked further investigation into the plant's unexplored genetic complexity. As more countries legalize cannabis and invest in research, experts say these kinds of discoveries will become more common and more valuable. The discovery of these 33 genetic markers marks a significant step toward modernizing cannabis cultivation. As genetic tools become more widely adopted, the industry can expect to see faster development of high-quality, purpose-driven cannabis strains. Researchers believe that with continued investment in plant genomics, cannabis could soon join other major crops like corn, wheat, and soybeans in benefiting from cutting-edge breeding techniques.
