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There are a number of ways that students can complete a Trent CBR research project. You either need to be enrolled in a Trent University or Fleming course that offers CBR. Current courses at Trent include but are not limited to: ERST 3080Y, ERST 3130H, ERSC 1010Y, ERSC 3160H, ERSC 3840H, ERST 4250H, BIOL 3890, FRSC 4890Y, GEOG 3820H, GEOG 4830Y, IDST 4220Y, and SUST 5901H.
There are a number of ways that students can complete a Trent CBR research project. You either need to be enrolled in a Trent University or Fleming course that offers CBR. Current courses at Trent include but are not limited to: ERST 3080Y, ERST 3130H, ERSC 1010Y, ERSC 3160H, ERSC 3840H, ERST 4250H, BIOL 3890, FRSC 4890Y, GEOG 3820H, GEOG 4830Y, IDST 4220Y, and SUST 5901H.
OR…
You can apply to do an independent project under the supervision of a faculty member. Most of our independent projects commence at the beginning of each semester, but opportunities may be available at any time throughout the year. Click here for an "Independent Student Application form for a CBR project"
OR…
You can complete a CBR project as your master’s thesis. A number of community-based projects are broad in scope, require a high level of academic skill and more time for completion. Review the project descriptions for proposals that suggest group work or graduate level work. If a project interests you, contact us directly to discuss. CBR is a unique opportunity to apply your research skills while also gaining valuable professional experience!
Available 2021 - 2022 U-Links Projects (Haliburton County)
Below is a list of available projects in Haliburton County. If you are a student researcher and see a project that you are interested in or would like to learn more about them, you can also check out project here, email Daniela Pagliaro, Administration and Logistics Coordinator (admin@ulinks.ca) or submit an application form (link below).
Benthic Macroinvertebrate Biomonitoring Projects
(Multiple Projects Available - CLICK HERE FOR FULL LIST!) NOTE: These projects involve a field component. Benthic macro-invertebrates (or “benthics” or “benthos”) are aquatic, spineless organisms that live on the bottom of water bodies. Since the late 1980’s they have been used as biological indicators for common aquatic pollutants as they spend part or the entirety of their lives in the water. The use of benthics as an indicator of water quality is now used throughout the world and has been widely used in Ontario since the early 2000’s. These community-based research projects are ideal for an undergraduate student as a full-term project and will include field work early in the fall (COVID-19 health and safety policies from Trent University and U-Links will be in effect). Students are recommended to have OBBN certification or other previous field work experience. 
#5057 Windy Pine Shoreline Rehabilitation Action Plan
NOTE: This project involves a field component. Windy Pine Conference Centre is a property under the care of Canadian Studies at Trent University on Kushog Lake in the Algonquin Highlands. It acts as a recreational and academic site for Trent University and as a link between the University and Haliburton County. Concerns of erosion have arisen due to the naturally thin sandy soils along the roughly 300m rocky shoreline on the property. A baseline inventory was conducted in 2014 through Love Your Lake, and an initial CBE project (#4837) in 2019. This project is slated to expand on this inventory and give recommendations on how to best address problem areas on the site. 
#5020 Health Benefits of Natural Plasters
NOTE: This project can be completed remotely. Beyond Plasters, a natural plasters business based in Haliburton, Ontario, is looking for research on the health benefits of natural plasters. The student(s) will conduct a literature reviews on the health benefits of natural plasters vs synthetic plasters, and, if possible, conduct a lab analysis (VOCs) of the Beyond Plasters mix vs synthetic plasters under faculty supervision. It is hoped the research will bring to light the long-forgotten benefits of natural plasters and present them in the new context of healthy building practices in the 21st century. 
#4480 "The Missing Element": Stories of the Mountain Street Red Cross Outpost NOTE: This project can be completed remotely. Canoe FM (local radio station) and Haliburton Highlands Land Trust (environmental conservation organization) are non-profit organizations working out of a historic building on Mountain Street in Haliburton that was once a Red Cross outpost. A small 1983 book by Martha Perkins,“A Hospital of our Own” was written about its history. The purpose of this project, hosted by Canoe FM, is to discover more about the building and the health professionals who worked there in order to develop a better understanding of the hospital’s connection to history and its contributions to the local community. Existing data will be augmented through oral history interviews with local community members and a visual media display intended for the office. This project is ideal for a small group of senior undergraduate students with a combination of graphic design and interviewing skills. 
#5029 Delineating the Velocity of Climate Change in the Haliburton Highlands for the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust
NOTE: This project can be completed remotely. The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust has as its mandate “to conserve plants, wildlife and clean water of Haliburton County to ensure a legacy of forests, fields and wetlands, and the species they nurture.” To achieve this goal the HHLT is acquiring lands of ecological and cultural significance for conservation purposes. Informed and science-based decision-making is necessary to acquire and manage these landscapes in perpetuity as is the main responsibility of HHLT. Analytical landscape evaluation processes and tools are seen to be key to HHLT decision-making for new acquisitions, land management, monitoring and stewardship endeavours. This project has as one its purposes to critically review one method available for estimating the velocity of climate change in the Haliburton Highlands region. A second purpose is to recommend how this method can be applied by the HHLT for achieving its mandate of landscape conservation. 
#5030 Watershed Mapping Profile and Protocol for the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust
NOTE: This project can be completed remotely. The Haliburton Highlands Land Trust has as its mandate “to conserve plants, wildlife and clean water of Haliburton County to ensure a legacy of forests, fields and wetlands, and the species they nurture.” To achieve this goal the HHLT is acquiring lands of ecological and cultural significance for conservation purposes. Informed and science-based decision-making is necessary to acquire and manage these landscapes in perpetuity as is the main responsibility of HHLT. Analytical landscape evaluation processes and tools are seen to be key to HHLT decision-making for new acquisitions, land management, monitoring and stewardship endeavours. This project entitled Watershed Mapping Profile and Protocol has as one its purposes to develop a spatial context of the HHLT properties and Haliburton Highlands surrounding areas in terms of their watershed composition. Watershed mapping in simple terms uses elevation and flow data to define catchment areas of water systems. Geographic information science is applied to generate the watershed maps. The protocol piece of the project has as its purpose the development of a workflow for using the watershed mapping products for such endeavours as habitat and land conservation. 
#5064 Virtual Adaptation of Abbey Gardens on-site Sprouts to Snacks Program
NOTE: This project can be completed remotely. Abbey Gardens is a non-for-profit organization with a mission to create opportunities to learn about living more sustainably, including learning about local food, gardening, energy, sustainable construction techniques, heritage agricultural animals, land restoration, and cooking techniques. The "Sprouts to Snacks" program ran successfully on site for two years with a local elementary school, engaging children in growing, harvesting, and preparing local food. The effects of COVID-19 and increased bussing fees has prevented the program from occurring on-site. The purpose of this project is to create a hands-on, mostly virtual version of the "Sprouts to Snacks" program, and offer a hybrid on-line/on-site program, where it is accessed and used by educators in a school setting, and concludes with a field trip to Abbey Gardens. | |||
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#5070 Baseline Inventory Report for the Dahl Forest
NOTE: This project can be completed remotely. Habitat loss and degradation are the greatest threats to biodiversity in Canada today. To mitigate this process in the Haliburton Highlands, the HHLT acquires lands of ecological and cultural significance for conservation purposes. The project objective is to incorporate data from the previously established Permanent Sample Plots (PSPs) in the Dahl Forest to create a Baseline Inventory Report of the forest. Students will also develop a database that is spatially relatable to the existing GIS framework. Having a baseline will make room for additional data collection such as vegetation and soil data for each of the PSPs. |
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#5080 Grace Lake Wetland Assessment (Available for SPRING Semester!)
NOTE: This project involves a field component.
The Grace Lake Association (GLA) exists to represent the interests of the property owners on Grace Lake by advocating for the sustained good health of the lake, including the Grace Lake Wetland. GLA would like the selected student researchers to collect data through research and fieldwork to determine what species are present, the ecological and cultural services, and the major water sources and boundaries of the wetland. The data collected can be used to initiate an Environmental Impact Assessment, and help GLA to better advocate for the protection of Haliburton's beautiful and vital wetlands.
NOTE: This project involves a field component.
The Grace Lake Association (GLA) exists to represent the interests of the property owners on Grace Lake by advocating for the sustained good health of the lake, including the Grace Lake Wetland. GLA would like the selected student researchers to collect data through research and fieldwork to determine what species are present, the ecological and cultural services, and the major water sources and boundaries of the wetland. The data collected can be used to initiate an Environmental Impact Assessment, and help GLA to better advocate for the protection of Haliburton's beautiful and vital wetlands.
#5094 Underground Greenhouse Feasibility Study for Haliburton County
NOTE: This project can be completed remotely
The purpose of this project is to research the feasibility of building an underground greenhouse/walipini for growing food in Haliburton County 12 months a year. How can sustainable features such as fishpond irrigation, geothermal and ceramic wood heat be integrated into the design? What innovative, local, or green engineering and construction features can be used?
This project would aid in sustainability and self sufficiency for growing food in Haliburton County and provide an ongoing educational component to the area.
NOTE: This project can be completed remotely
The purpose of this project is to research the feasibility of building an underground greenhouse/walipini for growing food in Haliburton County 12 months a year. How can sustainable features such as fishpond irrigation, geothermal and ceramic wood heat be integrated into the design? What innovative, local, or green engineering and construction features can be used?
This project would aid in sustainability and self sufficiency for growing food in Haliburton County and provide an ongoing educational component to the area.
#5108 Botanical and Entomological Study of the Minden Riverwalk
NOTE: This project involves a field component
The Haliburton County Master Gardeners (MGs) are a group of community volunteers who provide accurate and sustainable horticultural information to the public. The MGs are developing an interpretive audio walking tour of the Minden Riverwalk. Student researchers will provide expertise in identifying the insects associated with the native and exotic plants along the Riverwalk through field work. Research includes host-specific relationships and how the Riverwalk contributes to population health of pollinators. Additional information on how community members can support pollinator/plant relationships in their own gardens in preffered.
NOTE: This project involves a field component
The Haliburton County Master Gardeners (MGs) are a group of community volunteers who provide accurate and sustainable horticultural information to the public. The MGs are developing an interpretive audio walking tour of the Minden Riverwalk. Student researchers will provide expertise in identifying the insects associated with the native and exotic plants along the Riverwalk through field work. Research includes host-specific relationships and how the Riverwalk contributes to population health of pollinators. Additional information on how community members can support pollinator/plant relationships in their own gardens in preffered.
#5110 Haliburton County Agriculture & Food Production Assessment
NOTE: This project can be completed remotely
Local agriculture and food production are significant parts of the Haliburton County economy and support access to healthy foods in the area. The purpose of this project is to assist the Haliburton County Farmer's Market Association and Harvest Haliburton in identifying barriers and opportunities for small farmers and food producers in the county. Student researchers will conduct surveys and interviews with local agriculture and food producers and identify best practices from similar small scale operations in Canada and abroad.
NOTE: This project can be completed remotely
Local agriculture and food production are significant parts of the Haliburton County economy and support access to healthy foods in the area. The purpose of this project is to assist the Haliburton County Farmer's Market Association and Harvest Haliburton in identifying barriers and opportunities for small farmers and food producers in the county. Student researchers will conduct surveys and interviews with local agriculture and food producers and identify best practices from similar small scale operations in Canada and abroad.
#5111 Abbey Retreat Centre Programming Evaluation Assessment
NOTE: This project can be completed remotely
The Abbey Retreat Centre supports people living with cancer diagnosis. Since 2016, the Abbey Retreat Centre has developed and honed a number of Retreats and programming including a 4-day retreat, a 3-day arts-based retreat, and online programming. Each of these programs host their own outcomes and evaluations. However, there has never been an evaluation where outcomes align across all retreats. The purpose of this project is to determine the outcomes and evaluations on each of the retreats and to see if there are areas to improve the evaluations individually or as a broader evaluation across all programming.
NOTE: This project can be completed remotely
The Abbey Retreat Centre supports people living with cancer diagnosis. Since 2016, the Abbey Retreat Centre has developed and honed a number of Retreats and programming including a 4-day retreat, a 3-day arts-based retreat, and online programming. Each of these programs host their own outcomes and evaluations. However, there has never been an evaluation where outcomes align across all retreats. The purpose of this project is to determine the outcomes and evaluations on each of the retreats and to see if there are areas to improve the evaluations individually or as a broader evaluation across all programming.
Matched Projects for the 2022-2023 Academic Year
Congratulations to the student researchers who have matched up with the following local research projects!
#5081 Serenity Wetland Assessment
Many of the wetlands in Haliburton County remain unclassified, with their provincial significance unknown. The Serenity Wetland Alliance (SWA), is a volunteer group dedicated to the protection of the Serenity Wetland in Highlands East, ON. The purpose of this project is to gather relevant data and complete an inventory of species present through research and fieldwork, to initiate an Environmental Impact Assessment. The results of this project will promote the awareness of wetlands and their importance, and support other groups and organizations who are considering seeking protections for wetlands in their communities.
Many of the wetlands in Haliburton County remain unclassified, with their provincial significance unknown. The Serenity Wetland Alliance (SWA), is a volunteer group dedicated to the protection of the Serenity Wetland in Highlands East, ON. The purpose of this project is to gather relevant data and complete an inventory of species present through research and fieldwork, to initiate an Environmental Impact Assessment. The results of this project will promote the awareness of wetlands and their importance, and support other groups and organizations who are considering seeking protections for wetlands in their communities.
#5087 Exploring Eurasian Watermilfoil and the Impact on Lake Water Quality - Phase II
Drag and Spruce Lakes Property Owners Association has recorded multiple communities of the invasive aquatic plant Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM). The purpose of this project is to determine the difference between water quality samples within EWM weed beds and elsewhere in the waterbody. Students will map out the location an identify the aquatic plant species present in weed beds in the lakes and determine whether specific bottom conditions in the lakes are more conducive to supporting EWM. In 2021, 4 known EWM weed beds were measured. Since then, 8 additional weed beds have been identified and need to be studied.
This project will provide information to extend the understanding EWM in Drag and Spruce Lakes and help in the development of a Lake Management Plan.
Drag and Spruce Lakes Property Owners Association has recorded multiple communities of the invasive aquatic plant Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM). The purpose of this project is to determine the difference between water quality samples within EWM weed beds and elsewhere in the waterbody. Students will map out the location an identify the aquatic plant species present in weed beds in the lakes and determine whether specific bottom conditions in the lakes are more conducive to supporting EWM. In 2021, 4 known EWM weed beds were measured. Since then, 8 additional weed beds have been identified and need to be studied.
This project will provide information to extend the understanding EWM in Drag and Spruce Lakes and help in the development of a Lake Management Plan.
Completed 2021 - 2022 Projects:
Food Waste Reduction Strategies for Dysart et al.
#4812 HHLT Permanent Sample Plot Establishment for the Dahl Forest
#5034 Halls and Hawk Lakes Benthic Assessment
#4948 Twelve Mile and Little Boshkung Benthic Assessment
#5033 Haliburton Lake Benthic Assessment
#5067 Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge and Teaching into Abbey Gardens Programming
#5042 Bob and Grace Lakes Benthic Assessment
#4985 5-Lined Skink Species Summary for the QEII Wildlands Provincial Park
#5041 Upper Stoney Lake Benthic Assessment
#5069 Socio-economic Impacts of Wetlands
#5038 Miskwabi Area Community Association Benthic Assessment
#5047 Gull Lake Wetland Assessment
#4997 Supports for Eating Disorder in Rural Communities
#5066 Weevil Farming Feasibility Study for Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) Control
#5068 Nine Spotted Lady Beetle: Inventory and Monitoring Protocols
#5076 Anthropogenic Land Uses and their Impacts on the Water Quality and Aquatic Ecosystems of Upper Stoney Lake
#5032 Gull Lake Benthic and Dissolved Oxygen Assessment
#5075 Exploring Implications of the Haliburton Reservoir Lakes System on the Trent-Severn Waterway
#4812 HHLT Permanent Sample Plot Establishment for the Dahl Forest
#5034 Halls and Hawk Lakes Benthic Assessment
#4948 Twelve Mile and Little Boshkung Benthic Assessment
#5033 Haliburton Lake Benthic Assessment
#5067 Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge and Teaching into Abbey Gardens Programming
#5042 Bob and Grace Lakes Benthic Assessment
#4985 5-Lined Skink Species Summary for the QEII Wildlands Provincial Park
#5041 Upper Stoney Lake Benthic Assessment
#5069 Socio-economic Impacts of Wetlands
#5038 Miskwabi Area Community Association Benthic Assessment
#5047 Gull Lake Wetland Assessment
#4997 Supports for Eating Disorder in Rural Communities
#5066 Weevil Farming Feasibility Study for Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) Control
#5068 Nine Spotted Lady Beetle: Inventory and Monitoring Protocols
#5076 Anthropogenic Land Uses and their Impacts on the Water Quality and Aquatic Ecosystems of Upper Stoney Lake
#5032 Gull Lake Benthic and Dissolved Oxygen Assessment
#5075 Exploring Implications of the Haliburton Reservoir Lakes System on the Trent-Severn Waterway