![]() #5011 Exploring Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) Control Strategies and Economic Benefits of Controlling the Spread of this Invasive Species for Drag and Spruce Lakes
NOTE: This project is available for the 2021 winter semester and can be completed remotely. The Drag and Spruce Lake Property Owners' Association (DSLPOA) is interested in researching different methods of controlling Eurasian Watermilfoil. This project will aim to describe best practices for the control of EWM, evaluate the economic impact of uncontrolled EWM, and summarize findings in a manner that will be easily understood by individuals of all skill levels. It is the hope of the DSLPOA that this project will improve knowledge of EWM within their association and for the benefit of all citizens of Haliburton County. ![]() #5010 Composting Options for Rockwool Growing Medium
NOTE: This project is available for the 2021 winter semester and can be completed remotely. Abbey Gardens is a not-for-profit charity which has worked to transform a 300 acre spent gravel pit into a green space that provides economic and recreational opportunities for the community. In 2019 Abbey Gardens added a hydroponic growing unit to their property (The Growcer). The Growcer system uses rockwool cubes as a growing medium for the plants. Abbey Gardens is interested in exploring possible ways to compost/utilize the rockwool and eliminate this source of waste from the production. This research could also be shared with the Growcer community and has the potential to be implemented in various parts of Canada. ![]() #5009 Mould, Algae, and Fungus in Hydroponic Systems
NOTE: This project is available for the 2021 winter semester and can be completed remotely. In 2019 Abbey Gardens added a hydroponic growing unit to their property (The Growcer), which can provide local, sustainable greens all year round. They have learned a lot about it’s operation over the last year and have identified a number of topics to explore further to adapt the system to fit with their mission and values. Several types of molds and algae (etc.) have been observed growing in the system. Abbey Gardens would like more information about the most typical types of organisms that appear on growing medium or plants in hydroponic systems. Are there risks to humans working in those environments or with the consumption of plants grown in that environment? Are there organic treatment methods that can be used in hydroponic settings? ![]() #5016 Nutrient Disposal from Hydroponic Systems
NOTE: This project is available for the 2021 winter semester and can be completed remotely. Abbey Gardens introduced their hydroponic growing unit (The Growcer) to their property in 2019. Since, they have developed research questions to further understand the safe and sustainable options for nutrient disposal. The Growcer system uses 2 nutrient inputs to supply the plants with what they need to grow! The Nutrients are dosed into the water that flows through the system which is drained every 3 weeks. Abbey Gardens would like to learn more about the nature of the nutrients in their concentrated, power form and their diluted form. What are acceptable ways to dispose of this nutrient water? Can it be land applied and safe for outdoor growing? Are there concentration levels that would be appropriate for land application, and is this being done anywhere else? ![]() #4958 Long-Term Club Moss Monitoring: Haliburton Highlands Land Trust
NOTE: This project is available for the 2021 winter semester and can be completed remotely. Club Mosses are a critical component of monitoring biodiversity and have been identified as key indicators in past reports for the Haliburton Highlands Land Trust (HHLT). This project will aim to determine which club moss species have been sighted on HHLT properties, what species could be present, and how the HHTL should go about monitoring for club moss species on their properties. The HHLT properties to be included as part of this project include the Fred and Pearl Barry Wetland, Barnum Creek Nature Reserve, Dahl Forest, Smith Forest, and Norah’s Island. Club Mosses are one of the oldest living plants on Earth and have been used globally as an indicator of historical changes in climate. If HHLT was able to monitor club moss populations on their properties they could be alerted to slow but significant changes that could be remedied before they impact the ecosystem as a whole. ![]() #4956 Long-Term Frog Monitoring: Haliburton Highlands Land Trust
NOTE: This project is available for the 2021 winter semester and can be completed remotely. Frogs are a critical component of monitoring biodiversity and have been identified as key indicators in past reports for the Haliburton Highland Land Trust (HHLT). This project will aim to determine which frog species have been sighted on HHLT properties, what species could be present, and how the HHLT should go about monitoring for frog species on their properties. The HHLT properties to be included as part of this project include the Fred and Pearl Barry Wetland, Barnum Creek Nature Reserve, Dahl Forest, Smith Forest, and Norah’s Island. ![]() #4997 Supports for Eating Disorder in Rural Communities
NOTE: This project is available for the 2021 fall semester and can be completed remotely. The National Initiative for Eating Disorders (NIED), based in Toronto, is part of the group that developed a national strategy for eating disorders. A local NIED volunteer would like to know more about how we can improve current services and what information and resources we need to empower families and inform a local strategy in rural communities such as Haliburton County. Youth struggling with mental health issues fare better when their families are empowered to take a lead role in their child's treatment. Potential research questions include: a) what can we learn from the research on best practices on family based therapy techniques to better inform and empower families to treat disordered eating within their own households? and, b) what are the unique resources and care needs for rural communities? This project will include a focused literature review on Family Based Treatment, alternative models such as emotion-focused family therapy, and a review of the implementation science required to promote the uptake of findings into practice. It may also include interviews with family health practitioners, leading experts in the field of eating disorders, and, if possible, individuals with lived experience. ![]() #4985 QEII Species Summary - Five Lined Skink
NOTE: This project is available for the 2021 fall semester and can be completed remotely. Queen Elizabeth II Wildland Provincial Park is a non-operating park located between Minden and Gravenhurst and is managed by Ontario Parks. They are looking for a student or pair of undergraduate students to research (via literature review and communication with researchers) and write a QEII specific summary of Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus): focusing on their local biology, ecology, population status, cultural significance, and recommended management strategies. This species summary will be used to inform and educate Park Staff about the species. The summary will provide current information for informing park management, and the regions diverse community of stakeholders. It may also identify gaps in the local life science/cultural knowledge of the species and thus initiate further research. ![]()
#4480 "The Missing Element": Stories of the Mountain Street Red Cross Outpost NOTE: This project is available for the 2021 fall semester and 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. |