UCalgary's most-read research and teaching news of 2024

From menacing wasp populations to groundbreaking advancements in health care and research, 2024 was a year of discovery and innovation at the University of Calgary. 

Whether it was studying the effects of a wet spring on insect populations, or launching the first-ever Master of Physician Assistant Studies program in Alberta, UCalgary’s contributions to science and society were both diverse and impactful. 

As the year progressed, the university’s researchers continued to push boundaries in fields like medicine, environmental science, and community health, illustrating the university’s entrepreneurial spirit. What follows are the 10 most-read UCalgary News articles published in 2024, tracked by Google Analytics.

Everybody wants to know why there are so many wasps

In September, the wasp population of southern Alberta seemed bigger and more menacing than previous years. Dr. Jackie Lebenzon, PhD, an insect physiologist and assistant professor in Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary, explained why: the wet spring provided plenty of nutrient-rich honeydew, helping wasps to grow fast, and this followed by a hot summer sped up the wasps’ biological processes, creating a boom in the population. Relief from the wasp invasion began, as Dr. Lebenzon predicted, with the arrival of the first frosts. Read the article

UCalgary launches Master of Physician Assistant Studies program 

In March, UCalgary announced it would be accepting applicants for its Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program, the first of its kind in Alberta. The program, run by the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM), received foundational funding from the Government of Alberta. Physician assistants are highly skilled health-care professionals who work under the supervision of licensed medical professionals. 

Objectives of the MPAS program include attracting applications from rural and remote communities, Indigenous communities, and equity-deserving groups. “The University of Calgary works collaboratively with the Government of Alberta to bring about transformative change in medical education, clinical practice and health outcomes. In working towards these goals, we are grateful for the province’s support of our essential role in improving health care for all Albertans," said Ed McCauley, UCalgary president and vice-chancellor. Read the article

AuroraMAX camera launches for dramatic season of northern lights 

January saw the AuroraMAX live-feed observatory in Yellowknife, N.W.T. launch for the season. With Yellowknife within the aurora oval – a belt around the magnetic North Pole – the northern lights are seen every night (when the sky is clear) and interest in the ground camera has grown since its launch in 2009. The 2024 aurora season was particularly exciting as it preceded a solar maximum, expected in 2025. Solar maximums cause an increased frequency in solar storms, and make for more powerful and dramatic northern lights. The AuroraMAX project is led by UCalgary, and supported by the Canadian Space Agency, Astronomy North, and the City of Yellowknife. 

Dr. Eric Donovan, PhD, professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, who leads the project with Dr. Emma Spanswick, PhD, says the intensity of the lights will really increase in southern latitudes throughout 2025. “We’re heading into an exciting period. Down here in Calgary, you will see the aurora much more often. The solar maximum makes a huge difference at the latitudes we live at.” Read the article

What the wild horse microbiome can teach us about health and longevity

The largest genetic analysis of gut microbiomes conducted on a population of wild animals, produced evidence on the role microbiomes play in animal survival. The groundbreaking research project from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine was undertaken by Mason Stothart as part of his PhD research at UCalgary, and Dr. Jocelyn Poissant, PhD, assistant professor at UCVM, on the wild horses of Sable Island, 300 kilometres southeast of Nova Scotia. The research identified several exciting discoveries relating to the unique features of the horses’ gut microbiome, such as the potential to reduce methane emissions in agricultural animals, and developing a better understanding of other large-bodied at risk animals, such as elephants and rhinoceros. The work may also have implications for human health, with some of the gut bacteria traits predictive of mortality in horses having also been identified as strong predictors of a lean body mass index in humans. Read the article

Growing number of Canadian households contain dangerous levels of radon gas 

The 2024 Cross Canada Survey of Radon Exposure in the Residential Buildings of Urban and Rural Communities identified that radioactive radon exposure continues to be a critical health concern, with an estimated 10.3 million Canadians living in houses with high radon, increasing their risk of developing lung cancer in the future. 

The coalition of researchers behind the report, led by Dr. Aaron Goodarzi, BSc'99, PhD'05, professor at UCalgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, and includes scientists from Health Canada and CAREX Canada, found that 18 per cent of Canadian homes contain radon levels at or above 200 Bq/m³. Read the article

15 faculty members named UCalgary Research Excellence Chairs

In July, 15 UCalgary faculty members were appointed as chairs of the esteemed UCalgary Research Excellence Chairs (UCREC) program. The UCREC program is funded through the President’s Strategic Initiatives Fund and overseen by the Office of the Vice-President (Research). Launched in 2023, UCREC was established to highlight the university's commitment to knowledge, discovery and innovation across various fields of study and provides significant funding to support top-tier researchers who advance knowledge, address critical societal challenges, and enhance the university's global research reputation. The new cohort of research chairs was drawn from across the university’s faculties, illustrating the broad scope of research undertaken at UCalgary. Read the article

Parents establish law school scholarship to honour daughter’s courage

From a hospital room at the Foothills Medical Centre, lawyer Christina Lam managed to command authority. Wearing a wig and sporting a blazer with hospital pants, she argued her final case via video conference.

Being a palliative-care cancer patient — court-case principals and even co-workers had been unaware of her dire condition — Christina, BSc’10, JD’13, quietly took pain medication off-screen. But, on behalf of The City of Calgary, she made a convincing presentation before a judge of the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench on June 7, 2022. Only at the conclusion of the session — five gruelling hours — did she request a leave of absence. She died 12 days later. The ruling was in favour of Christina and the City, a victory over a multinational retail giant.

Determined to share their daughter’s memory, Dora and Richard established a tribute at UCalgary — the Christina Irene Lam Memorial Scholarship in Law. The award goes to a student entering the Faculty of Law, with a preference given to those with at least five years of work experience between their undergraduate degree and law school. Read the article.

First year of rural community nursing program begins in Drayton Valley

Nine students from the Drayton Valley area commenced their studies and gained hands-on training on their way to obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, all without having to leave their home community. Offered for the first time in Drayton Valley this year, the program builds on the successes of Alberta Health Services and the University of Calgary in Wainwright, where the rural nursing degree program was launched in 2021. The program was developed as a way of reducing barriers to learning, recruiting students to health-care careers, and encouraging graduates to stay in their home communities. 

“Having supportive community partners is integral to our ability to provide an excellent academic and clinical experience for students,” said Dr. Catherine Laing, interim dean of the Faculty of Nursing. “We are grateful to work with partners who have an important stake in ensuring we are meeting the health-care needs of our communities across Alberta.” Read the article. 

No ‘drought’ about it: Water restrictions are coming in Alberta this summer

On World Water Day, and with a drought expected over the summer, Dr. Tricia Stadnyk, P.Eng, professor in the Schulich School of Engineering and Faculty of Arts, and Canada Research Chair in Hydrologic Modelling, shared how researchers measure Alberta’s drought conditions, and what impact a Stage 4 drought could have on the lives of Calgarians. Watch the video

UCeed marks four years of driving prosperity with investments in 62 companies

In just four years, UCeed has established itself as a unique and dynamic contributor within the Canadian innovation ecosystem. Since launching in 2020, UCeed has invested $9.21 million across its portfolio of 62 companies, making UCeed one of the most active pre-seed investors in Canada as noted by the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association. The 2024 UCeed Momentum report offered an in-depth look at each fund’s accomplishments and UCeed’s growing impact on Alberta’s economy and innovation landscape. 

“UCeed-supported startups have already created a powerful multiplier effect,” says President McCauley. “These companies have generated economic activity and created jobs while changing lives with their innovations.” Read the article