Welcome to Christy Morrissey's acreage.

We're about 15 minutes west of Saskatoon on a gorgeous Friday fall morning. The sun is rising and the grass is wet as Christy points a Hairy Woodpecker on an Aspen Tree.

Christy Morrissey is an ecotoxicologist and professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Saskatchewan who loves prairie grasslands and wetlands. She is doing important research to protect and preserve these beautiful but fragile ecosystems in Western Canada, which she talks about in this episode.

Christy also discusses why is hopeful to see more women in scientific and research roles.

I love prairie grasslands, which is kind of ironic because I'm allergic to grass, but I love their subtle beauty, and I think we are so fortunate to have access to beautiful grasslands in and around Saskatoon. I hope that sense of gratitude comes through in this conversation.   

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or on the website: yxeunderground.com

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You can follow YXE Underground on social media. Simply search YXE Underground on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. That's where you will see some lovely photos of Christy and that woodpecker you heard at the beginning of the episode taken by Saskatoon photographer and emerging birder, Chelsea Klette. 

I would like to acknowledge that these interviews were gathered on Treaty Six territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis.

YXE Underground is a production of the Salthammer Production Company. My name is Eric Anderson. Thank you so much for listening and we’ll talk to you soon, Saskatoon. 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis