January 21, 2025

E63: Wildlife Analytics Lab – Lethbridge Polytechnic's hub of innovation and collaborative conservation

1 hour 6 minutes

The only of its kind in Canada, the Wildlife Analytics Lab (WAL) specializes in wildlife cementum (mineralized tissue covering tooth roots) analysis. Through this process, technicians can determine wildlife age and life history to better inform resource conservation practices.

WAL has numerous implications for transformational research (including becoming the new standard for aging wildlife), and fruitful collaborations with multiple stakeholders (including government, industry experts, and organizations).

Dr. Everett Hanna (Scientific Lead and Environmental Sciences Instructor), Kelsey Gourlie (Lead Lab Technician), and Marcela Leija Montoya (Laboratory Technician) join the pod to offer their perspectives.

Everett details how the facility is shaping current and future sustainability efforts. Kelsey and Marcela share how this lab gave them (as former students) invaluable Work-Integrated Learning experiences that helped them transition to their exciting new careers at the polytechnic.

During the show, host (Donna) and guest mention:

WAL – Wildlife Analytics Laboratory at the polytechnic

Ohkotoki’aahkkoiyiiniimaan (Stone Pipe): Lethbridge Polytechnic's Blackfoot name

Lethbridge Polytechnic 360 virtual tour

Cousins Science Centre

Alberta Ministries:

Advanced Education

Forestry and Parks

Environment and Protected Areas

Fishing, hunting and trapping regulations

Dispersed/Distributed leadership: sharing leadership responsibilities across a group of people, where multiple individuals work together, make decisions, and take responsibility for achieving common goals.

WIL – Work-Integrated Learning

Lethbridge Polytechnic programs and courses:

Technology and Engineering

Computer Information Technology

Environmental Science

Ecosystem Management - Bachelor of

Renewable Resource Management

Principles of Wildlife Biology (course)

Wildlife Field Techniques (course)

LC Extension

Business Administration

Digital Communications and Media

Introduction to Marketing (course)

Health and Wellness

Culinary

University of Lethbridge

Co-operative Education

APOS – Alberta Professional Outfitters Society

DAO – Delegated Administrative Organization

Jason Donkersgoed: Director of LC Extension

Chronic Wasting Disease

Hubbard Collection

NSERC – National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada

SSHRC – Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

OHMT – One Health Medical Technologies

Fieldlab Films

Wildlife Forensics & Fish Health Lab (State of Wyoming)

ENGO – Environmental non-governmental organization

CFI (in genetics): complement factor I

Lethbridge Polytechnic Development Office

WAL Instructional extraction video (content warning: this video shows how to extract a tooth from an animal carcass and may be upsetting to some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised)

For a tour of the Wildlife Analytics Lab, email: [email protected]

Check out the Wildlife Analytics Lab on Instagram

Ponderosa Environmental Consulting Inc (Everett's consulting business)

Kelsey created the photo below to illustrate how similar tree rings are to teeth rings in determining age. Check it out👇🏼

...more

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By learninginnovation