Fifteen REACH Award Recipients were chosen in October 2019, ten undergrad and five grad. Please read below to learn a little more about their projects.
The REACH Awards provide funding to students doing independent research projects. Deadline is October 31, connect with Vanessa.Moraes@viu.ca for more info!
Undergraduate |
Projects |
Madeline Clarke
|
Decreasing Transplant Shock of ArbutusFaculty: Trades and Applied Technology A bit about this project: Currently, Arbutus menziesii is not grown commercially by forestry or container nurseries due to high failure rates during the transplant stage in production. This study compares Ellepot® System to traditional plastic propagation containers in growing Arbutus menziesii and the goal is to determine if Ellepots decrease transplant shock. VIU Research Theme: Integrated sciences, technology, and environment |
Kelsey Compagna
|
Impact of Peer Mentorship ProgramsFaculty: Health and Human Services A bit about this project: This project looks at the newly created Peer Mentorship Program, which partners LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) and BSN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) students with higher level students or new graduates. Its intention is to establish a culture of support and guidance within the BSN and LPN programs – the long term goal is that these mentor/mentee relationships persist as the students transition into the workplace. VIU Research Theme: Health, resilience, and well-being |
Megan Fortune
|
Exploring Pro-Environmental Behaviours and ValuesFaculty: Management A bit about this project: The purpose of this study is to explore the pro-environmental values and behaviours of junior high school students living in the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary. A better understanding of youths’ pro-environmental behaviours and values would allow the WCHS to engage and foster youth participation and action in the Sanctuary. VIU Research Theme: Resilience of island, coastal, and rural regions |
Jocelyne Fournier
|
Exploring Environmental Education Curriculum and ProgrammingFaculty: Management A bit about this project: This study explores what educators share in their classrooms about environmental education and how they interact with the Wechiau Community Hippo Sanctuary (WCHS). The goal of this project is to identify current environmental curriculum being taught and links to the WCHS’s programming. VIU Research Theme: Resilience of island, coastal, and rural regions |
Katelyn Horsley |
The Impact of SSRIs on Sleep Quality and HypervigilanceFaculty: Social Sciences A bit about this project: This study intends to compare subjective and objective sleep quality measures in mothers prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) compared to those mothers not consuming SSRIs. We predict that mothers taking SSRIs will display better objective and subjective sleep quality. VIU Research Theme: Health, resilience, and well-being |
Austin Lawson |
Abstracting Variability within CategoriesFaculty: Social Sciences A bit about this project: How we categorize objects is important to our behaviour because once we categorize something we behave towards it based on our knowledge of its category. This project will assess if participants can abstract the amount of variability in categories. The results will test two influential theories about categorization in cognitive psychology. VIU Research Theme: Integrated sciences, technology, and environment |
Tish Lewis |
Discrepancies Between Subjective and Objective Sleep QualityFaculty: Social Sciences A bit about the project: Poor sleep is a pervasive problem for mothers that begins during pregnancy and continues well past the post partum period. This study investigates the differences between mothers and non-mothers’ subjective sleep quality, objective sleep quality, sleepiness and anxiety about sleep. We will also look at whether the awareness of one’s sleep quality affects subsequent self reports and anxiety about sleep. VIU Research Theme: Health, resilience, and well-being |
Jordyn Monaghan |
Assessment of Intimate Partner Violence with IntoxicationFaculty: Social Sciences A bit about the project: This study investigates how undergraduate students going into the field of criminal justice assess intimate partner violence (IPV) when the aggressor is intoxicated. Expanding research on how intoxication of the offender alters one’s assessments of assault will allow us to better understand how criminal justice professionals assess intimate partner violence. VIU Research Theme: Equity, diversity, and social justice |
Samuelle Simard-Provençal
|
Hyperparasitism of Avian Ectoparasitic Hippoboscid Flies by Mites(aka bugs on bugs on birds) Faculty: Science and Technology A bit about the project: Parasites of parasites are known as hyperparasites. Hippoboscid flies may carry avian skin mites that can cause dermatitis, which can lead to bird mortality. The objective of this project is to determine the prevalence and distribution of hyperparasitic mites that attach to flat flies on several species of birds. This is the first such study to be done in British Columbia, and only the second study to be conducted in Canada. VIU Research Theme: Integrated sciences, technology, and environment |
Jeremy Wright
|
Student Study Behaviour and Visual Access to NatureFaculty: Social Sciences A bit about the project: This study seeks to expand a body of research exploring the rejuvenating effects of nature views and their potential to augment the study process. We will explore students’ perceived attention restoration afforded by views to the natural environment and the potential effect they may have on the perceived quality of study sessions in the VIU Nanaimo campus library. VIU Research Theme: Teaching and learning |
Graduate |
Projects |
Ericka Amador
|
Microtransit in MicrocommunitiesFaculty/Program: Social Sciences/MCP A bit about the project: This study will determine the feasibility of community bus service on Quadra and Cortes Islands by establishing success indicators for existing Gulf Island buses. If Quadra and Cortes Islands have similar success indicators, the next steps for community implementation will be made. VIU Research Theme: Resilience of island, coastal, and rural regions |
Danielle Carrie
|
Embedding Trauma-Informed Practice Within a School DistrictFaculty/Program: Education/MEDS A bit about the project: The B.C. Ministry of Education recognizes the importance of trauma-informed practice and each district applies the approach at their own discretion. The purpose of the research is to identify the knowledge and practice gaps across school district #48 in order to strengthen our approach to support some of our most vulnerable learners. VIU Research Theme: Equity, diversity, and social justice |
Wenjue Jia
|
To Hinder or Enable: Teacher Evaluation SystemsFaculty/Program: Education/MEDL A bit about the project: The purpose of this study is to determine in what ways mandatory teacher-assessments affects high school teachers’ motivation to practice Differentiated Learning (DL) in high school classrooms in Grades 10 through 12 in Central China. VIU Research Theme: Teaching and learning |
Sherri Ko |
What Teens/Young Adults with Developmental Coordination Disorder Have to ShareFaculty/Program: Education/MEDS A bit about the project: This study aims to explore the home, school, and community experiences of adolescents and young adults living with Developmental Coordination Disorder. This research aims to contribute to the structure of environments that support adolescents and young adults with DCD. VIU Research Theme: Equity, diversity, and social justice |
Chi Thi Le Nguyen |
A Case Study of Mindfulness Practices for Elementary School StudentsFaculty/Program: Educaiton/MEDS A bit about the project: The overarching goal of this study is to explore how teachers implement mindfulness practice for K-5 students. The research also gains a deeper understanding of teacher perspectives and experiences of mindfulness practices for both typical and atypical students in their classroom. VIU Research Theme: Teaching and learning |
