Inter/Trans-disciplinary Research and Knowledge Co-Production
Biocultural approaches to biodiversity conservation are critical to the long-term success of socio-ecological systems, as they consider governance structures and promote inclusive ways of knowledge gathering from diverse knowledge systems. Given the complex problems of biodiversity loss and climate change, the use of a critical anti-colonial lens through arts and humanities provides depth, complexity and sustainable solutions, therein expanding inquiries beyond solely evidence from conventional natural science methods. The drastic declines of pollinators and the ecosystem service of pollination has received much attention globally, and that pollinator conservation is a socio-ecological problem is becoming increasingly recognized.
Mike MacDonald's Garden Works
Mike MacDonald’s Gardens embody different conceptions of place, property/ownership, care, relationships, pedagogy, knowledge building, truth, and time. The gardens are cognizant of what habitats and kinships are required for things to grow, to Indigenous people’s intrinsic and non-binary relationship with the land. These gardens exercise Indigenous sovereignty, rights and responsibilities of land stewardship, while encompassing complex practices and knowledge systems. They challenge modern ideas of value, use, and usefulness; of land ownership and property. Tension exists between his work and the different levels of settler-state-sanctioned jurisdictions.
Native-Plant and Native-Pollinators Relationships
As the most diverse group of plants on the earth, flowering plants and their proliferation reflect the sheer efficacy of the more than hundred-million-year-old relationships between themselves and pollinators. In its simplest explanation, flowering plants partner with animals (or the elements) to deliver their reproductive units to other compatible plants, paying their messengers with materials that may offer nutrition, provide defensive benefits, or even facilitate mating. Plants and pollinators that have co-evolved together over the millenia are often better equipped to complement each other's needs, and in some instances, are completely reliant on each other to meet all of their biological requirements. These relationships between native plants and pollinators are critical to maintaining diverse and robust ecosystems, and are the reason Finding Flowers uses native plants in our garden work and promotes native pollinators in our research.
Inter/Trans-disciplinary Research and Knowledge Co-Production
Biocultural approaches to biodiversity conservation are critical to the long-term success of socio-ecological systems, as they consider governance structures and promote inclusive ways of knowledge gathering from diverse knowledge systems. Given the complex problems of biodiversity loss and climate change, the use of a critical anti-colonial lens through arts and humanities provides depth, complexity and sustainable solutions, therein expanding inquiries beyond solely evidence from conventional natural science methods. The drastic declines of pollinators and the ecosystem service of pollination has received much attention globally, and that pollinator conservation is a socio-ecological problem is becoming increasingly recognized.
How Wet’suwet’en butterflies offer lessons in resilience and resistance
Lisa Myers, Sheila Colla & Dana Prieto
The Conversation
February 25, 2020
Research Spotlight - Finding Flowers
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York University FES
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Finding Flowers
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Nature Conservancy Magazine
Spring 2020
Mike MacDonald's Garden Works
Mike MacDonald’s Gardens embody different conceptions of place, property/ownership, care, relationships, pedagogy, knowledge building, truth, and time. The gardens are cognizant of what habitats and kinships are required for things to grow, to Indigenous people’s intrinsic and non-binary relationship with the land. These gardens exercise Indigenous sovereignty, rights and responsibilities of land stewardship, while encompassing complex practices and knowledge systems. They challenge modern ideas of value, use, and usefulness; of land ownership and property. Tension exists between his work and the different levels of settler-state-sanctioned jurisdictions.
Push The Record Button: Aesthetics of Evidence in Mike MacDonald's Art Practice
Lisa Myers
Other Places
2020
Native-Plant and Native-Pollinators Relationships
As the most diverse group of plants on the earth, flowering plants and their proliferation reflect the sheer efficacy of the more than hundred-million-year-old relationships between themselves and pollinators. In its simplest explanation, flowering plants partner with animals (or the elements) to deliver their reproductive units to other compatible plants, paying their messengers with materials that may offer nutrition, provide defensive benefits, or even facilitate mating. Plants and pollinators that have co-evolved together over the millenia are often better equipped to complement each other's needs, and in some instances, are completely reliant on each other to meet all of their biological requirements. These relationships between native plants and pollinators are critical to maintaining diverse and robust ecosystems, and are the reason Finding Flowers uses native plants in our garden work and promotes native pollinators in our research.
How planting a garden can boost bees, local food and resilience during the coronavirus crisis
Sheila Colla
The Conversation
May 12, 2020
Give bees a chance: We can’t afford to lose our wild native pollinators
Sheila Colla & Rachel Nalepa
The Conversation
May 15, 2019
Community science participants gain environmental awareness and contribute high quality data but improvements are needed: insights from Bumble Bee Watch
Sheila Colla, Shelby Gibson & Victoria MacPhail
PeerJ Life and Environment
May 12, 2020
Canadians are digging into victory gardens for 2020
Meredith MacLeod
CTV News
May 15, 2020
What’s the bee-g deal with community science?
Sandra McLean
YorkU Media Relations
May 15, 2019
Garden Views: Toronto’s bee populations can use some help from gardeners this spring
Mary Fran McQuade
Beach Metro
April 30, 2020
Facing a climate emergency, these researchers explain what gives them hope
Kate Allen
The Star
February 16, 2020
'It's almost too late:' Canada protects honey bees but native bee species are becoming endangered
Bobby Hristova
National Post
July 31, 2019