Research programs -​ leveraging the benefits of working and thinking across disciplines

Education 

EDUCATION FOR AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE - 
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A renovation of post-secondary education is required to meet the learning needs of our society such that we teach the skills necessary to meet an uncertain future, any future. Our research program is designed to serve at the leading edge of scholarship in experiential and transdisciplinary education. It is driven by the existing evidence base in pedagogical best practice, in partnership with community need.

We conduct both fundament and applied research at many levels of organisation (from a single lesson to a complete degree program). Our field site often finds us in the IdeasCongress program. This program establishes a transdisciplinary learning environment for all undergraduate and graduate students at any year level. Using a community-engaged problem based learning approach, students learn the most important skills associated with experiential learning (transferable skills) and practice these in an accessible and inclusive classroom.   

Biomimetics

​BIOMIMETICS - ACCESSING NATURAL INNOVATIONS 

Biomimetics refers to a specific case of knowledge translation and transfer; from biology to, usually, engineering. Nature is overflowing with inspiring solutions to the world's most wicked problems. Some times those solutions are more sustainable than what we are currently doing. 
 
The potential for innovation and sustainable development of technology using the principles of biomimetics is well established. We work to understand how knowledge is successfully accessed and how biology is taught to non-specialists. 

Ecology

​ENVIRONMENTAL ECOLOGY - SYSTEMS APPROACHES TO ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS

Seabirds behavioural ecology can provide meaningful research into both fundamental and applied questions. We study fundamental questions related to mate selection and nest energy dynamics and applied questions related to detecting large ocean regime changes though DNA metabarcoding.

 The COVID19 pandemic has supported a shift in research focus to our local neighbourhoods, wherever we are around the world! We're currently diving into research on the distribution and quality of Personal Protective Equipment litter in metropolitan areas. Join us as a community scientists to help track PPE in your neighbourhood. 

Dr Shoshanah Jacobs - Associate Professor
Graduate Program Coordinator
Department of Integrative Biology
​Department of Management (Adj)
University of Guelph
Guelph, ON, Canada

​sjacob04@uoguelph.ca
​Lab group: biomlab@uoguelph.ca 

​Twitter: @shoshanahjacobs