Vancouver Island University’s Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute is inviting the public to attend the 2022 Regional Research, Stewardship and Citizen Science Open House.
The open house will take place at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre on Wednesdsay, March 16 from 2-8 p.m. It is a collaborative event between MABRRI and other stewardship and citizen science groups working within the Parksville-Qualicum and surrounding area, that will showcase research and initiatives that are taking place.
Members of the public will have the opportunity to learn about these initiatives through booths and presentations that will run throughout the event. This open house is a free event and people are welcome to drop by at their leisure. However, proof of vaccination and masks will be required upon entry.
The open house is funded by the Canadian Mountain Network as part of MABRRI’s View from 2117 project. The View from 2117 project is a four-year project that aims to understand the impact of human actions on mountain ecosystems, specifically within the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region. Under this project, an interdisciplinary team has been working on five studies to answer the main research question: What are the ways in which individual and collective behaviour, population growth, regulatory regimes, and societal change have affected and will affect First Nations, mountain communities, and mountain environments over the next century? Results from this project will be shared at the open house.
As part of the View from 2117 project, the new MABR In Bloom community profile will be launched at the open house. A community profile showcases the health of a community through various well-being indicators, such as education, transportation, housing, income and workforce.
READ MORE: Vancouver Island University working to decolonize B.C. classrooms
The MABR In Bloom community profile is a significant document because it can inform decision-makers about the health of the community. A community profile is a tool that can be used to learn about a certain area and identify where there may be gaps in social, environmental, and economic needs. Municipal governments can then make informed decisions based on the information provided. The research team is excited about this project because it is the first community profile created for the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region and sets the groundwork for future community profiles to be developed. In this case, trends can be identified over time and significantly contribute to a healthy future for the MABR community.
To find out more about this event, you can visit the Regional Research, Stewardship, and Citizen Science Open House website. We will continue to provide updates there, including a schedule of events and a list of participating organizations.
If you have any questions, please contact Courtney Vaugeois, MABRRI’s Assistant Research and Community Engagement Coordinator at courtney.vaugeois@viu.ca.
— NEWS Staff