Pacific Science Enterprise Centre Reflection
Hi folks,
Thanks again to those that attended the PSEC building fieldtrip this week. It was eye opening to see all the work and research being done on a multitude of different disciplines. That said, as always, I have several reflections questions/prompts to get you thinking about your experiences/research that was presented to you. Remember, the only two requirement are to write in full sentences and write a minimum of one paragraph (minimum 4 sentences).
- Which presentation topic intrigued you the most? Why? What did you learn from the presentation? (Nutrition Lab: The role of aquatic nutrition research in the sustainability of aquaculture and monitoring marine ecosystem health [Ian Forster], Genomics Lab: Altering genes in fish: Aquaculture gains and environmental risks [Rosalind Leggatt], Genomics Lab: Understanding the risks of hatchery supplementation for salmon fisheries and conservation [Kyle Wellband], Outreach: How to Conduct Research and Work in the Community, What is PSEC? [Nikki Kroetsch])
- Is there a topic of interest you wished we covered?
- On the facility tour, which lab/area was your favourite?
- How did being in a government research building make you feel?
- Is working in a government research position something that interests you? Did this learning journey inspire you in anyway?
- What was the most thought provoking thing you learned about on this learning journey.
- Free prompt.
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I most enjoyed seeing the three tiny urchins in the water pump facility. I learned a lot by seeing how a government lab is run and the kinds of jobs that exist. I found it really helpful when I asked one of the leaders what her favourite part of her job was. She explained that every day, she gets to do something different. I know that I want variety in my job, so this was valuable information. Finally, it was really cool to see the huge tanks of salmon that were for research purposes!
During our tour of the Pacific Science Enterprise Centre, we learned about various fascinating topics including altering fish genetics, sustainability in aquaculture, the roles and processes of salmon hatcheries, and a bit about salmon life itself.
We got to see different modified salmon and learn about their genetic alterations. Having never seen live salmon up close before, being able to look at them and point out their differences was very cool…especially the salmon that turned blue as a side effect to their genetic modifications.
Finding ways to eat seafood sustainably is no easy feat, so I loved hearing about how the lab designed a fish that could replace eel in foods such as unagi sushi. They were able to make their innovative idea a reality which is truly amazing. Fishing sustainably is also incredibly important. We learned that bycatch fish often don't survive--a fact that was both enlightening and disheartening.
Peeking into the salmon hatchery, we learned a bit about what it takes to raise fish: how the eggs are collected and fertilized by the lab techs, then grown in a controlled environment. We discussed potential volunteer opportunities and I hope to one day help raise salmon as well.
Watching the salmon in a spacious, 25 ft deep tank, we got to observe their behavior. We learned that salmon actually have a hierarchy amongst themselves. This was surprising, as I’d never considered their social lives before.
Our visit to the PSEC has prompted me to seriously consider a career in aquatic research. Not only was the subject matter we covered extremely interesting, but the sheer passion that the scientists and researchers had for their work was inspiring.
The PSEC facility was a wonderful experience that I would highly recommend to anyone that has yet to go. Through various presentations and videos, I greatly developed my awareness of aquatic knowledge. My favourite presentation was on aquaculture, where I learned the different fish meals that are provided and developed for fish hatcheries. The genes presentation was also intriguing, as the difference in behaviour with growth enhanced transgenic salmon surprised me. The hatcheries presentation also did an excellent job elaborating on the ethics and safety of hatcheries. I would love to come back for a co-op or just for a visit sometime in the future!
Our visit to PSEC was incredible. All topics were fascinating, but The Genomic Lab just blew my mind. The things you can do are unbelievable, and the presenter made it sound so simple. The possibilities are infinite. I think it’s interesting how they used genetic information from anemones to make the glow fishes. Still, it made me wonder if it was really necessary and if the money could have been used to research and create something that would benefit our planet. The Nutrition Lab surprised me a lot. I did not know that the fishes’ feed required fish oil extracted from fishes taken from the wild to be produced. I was super interested in learning all those different oils and ingredients they are testing to replace fish oil and make everything more sustainable. Camelina oil and the Black Soldier Fly Larvae seem beneficial and more environmentally sustainable options. I loved visiting the indoor and outdoor tanks and seeing the rainbow trout, Atlantic salmon, and other fish. Still, it was scary to see the behavioural changes in the transgenic fish. I also loved visiting the labs, especially the one we learned from the person working there. They were dissecting the head of a fish, looking for toxins that could be causing harm to marine mammals like beluga whales. I also liked to visit the lab studying forestry and how transporting the wood through the rivers causes the wood sediments to acidify the water underneath it, creating an environment hard to survive. Being in a government research building made me realize that many careers are working to help our environment and oceans. It made me open my mind to possible careers and jobs I hadn’t considered before. It made me question how sustainable hatcheries actually are and think how important it is to implement strict government policies and laws that focus on what is best for the environment. It also made me reflect on animal rights and how difficult it is to balance sustainability and human’ s needs. A highlight was holding a fish that sadly died and examining its body and mouth, filled with many tiny teeth.
As I watched a shimmering, huddling school of slippery, teenage fish dart towards a crack of light and a sprinkle of food in their wonky plastic tank, I thought to myself "this is the coolest experience of my life". The Pacific Science Enterprise Center initially sounded like a journey throughout small labs filled with microscopes and a cooler in a backroom. I had no idea what to expect. To be fair, I was pretty close with my estimation, but my experience was far from dampened from this. The PSEC marries the act of hands-on learning with esteemed and knowledgable seniors in the business. They managed to create a tour not only incredibly informative of the types of government-based marine biology jobs but also informative of the kinds of necessary research accumulating on the planet today. This was one of the rare times the rushed, important, earth-shattering news on climate change was delivered with hope backed by fact. I deeply appreciate the work every employee and expert at the PSEC has put in over the months and years. It was inspiring to see their passion and research shine through on a cold morning in North Van.
Ethan
Dec 8, 2021 at 7:57 PM