Researchers up north

Three researchers in the department of geography are part of a $4 million-project to investigate sustainable development and adaptation strategies in Northern Canada.

The Arctic Development and Adaptation to Permafrost in Transition project will explore the implications of rapid environmental change, including thawing permafrost and changing snowfall. The study will cover land in Canada’s North over four years.

Funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s Frontiers initiative, 14 of Canada’s premier Arctic researchers were selected to participate in the project.

The multi-institutional team, made up of researchers from universities that also include Carleton, McGill and Laval, will examine not only the effects of environmental change on landscapes, water and wildlife, but also on the northern communities and industries that depend on natural resources.

— Sarah Witiuk

Computer design

Software Startups, a new course offered by the School of Computing, is targeted towards students interested in both computer science and entrepreneurship.

The course allows small teams of students to build products combining software development with business skills.

Game Design, another new School of Computing course, provides an introduction to computer game design. The course will also cover topics such as game prototyping and game evaluation.

Both semester-long upper-year courses are offered in the Winter semester.

— Chloë Grande