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The Abstract

by the McGill Science Undergraduate Research Journal

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Category: c – Environment & Ecology

Includes pieces about the environment, ecology, biodiversity, animals, and evolution.

Back from the dead: The science of de-extinction

Cover Image: Brianna Fasoli, March 2026 By: Becca Carballal, Contributing Writer The possibility of bringing extinct animals back from the … More

biodiversity, biotechnology, Burcado, conservation, de-extinction, ecosystem, ethics, extinct, genetics, ibex, research, science fiction, threats, wolves

Cloudy skies could point to brighter days ahead

Future scientists could spray tiny particles into the atmosphere with airplanes. This technique, called stratospheric aerosol injection, would likely cause … More

climate change, clouds, computer modeling, ecology, environment, geoengineering, geopolitics, global warming, ocean acidification, ozone hole, research, simulation, stratospheric aerosol injection, sulfur dioxide

Parasitoidism acquaints a wasp with strange bedfellows

Virus particles used as gene delivery vectors by parasitoid wasps—and people? Cover image: Signe Dixon, February 2026 By: Jacob Van … More

a - Biology & Genetics, caterpillars, eggs, genetics, immune response, immunity, McGill, medicine, MSURJ, parisitoid wasps, polydnaviruses, science, venom, viral gene delivery, virus, wasps

Where is the St. Lawrence headed?

Cover image: May Wang, February 2026 By: Quinny Boyle, Contributing Writer Stretching from Lake Ontario, past Montreal, and out to … More

Assembly of First Nations Québec-Labrador, Bill 990, biodiversity, c - Environment & Ecology, climate change, conservation, legal personhood, Montreal, MSURJ, National Assembly of Quebec, North America, Quebec, SLAP agreement, St. Lawrence Action Plan, St. Lawrence River

Origins of the nervous system as told by sea sponges and comb jellies

Cover Image and Figures: Auden Akinc, February 2026 By: Jacob Van Oorschot, Contributing Writer Who branched off first: comb jellies … More

McGill, MSURJ, science, a - Biology & Genetics, evolution, genetics, biology, phylogeny, evolutionary history, comparative genomics, comb jellies, sea sponges, ctenophores, fishing, neural systems, nervous system, convergent evolution

Parallels in global food insecurity: Examining pollinator decline and assessing an ecological collapse through arctic entomology

Can Arctic Entomology Predict the Future of Global Food Security?

arctic, climate change, climate science, ecology, entomology, environment, food insecurity, global food insecurity, indigenous populations, pollinators

Are biodegradable plastics the solution to the plastic crisis?

by Pauline Hughes, Contributing Writer As you make efforts to be a more environmentally-conscious consumer, labels like ‘biodegradable,’ ‘compostable,’ ‘sustainable,’ … More

biodegradable, biodegradable plastics, c - Environment & Ecology, Pauline Hughes, plastic

Career conversations with a conservationist

Sarah goes back to the K’tzim-a-deen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary every year to hang out with bears. Pictured here are a … More

career, conservation, gabriel forest, graduate school, interview, science career

Too cute to die: How human emotions influence wildlife conservation

by Louise Durand, Contributing Writer Estimating the number of endangered species on earth is difficult, as we haven’t yet studied … More

a - Biology & Genetics, animal conservation, conservation, cute, emotions, louise durand, wildlife conservation

Frogs as pets

(Above: The author as a young child with his father’s garden pond in the background.) by Gabriel Forest, Contributing Writer … More

biodiversity, conservation, frogs, gabriel forest, natural ponds, urban planning, urban ponds

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