When pondering oil production, most Canadians turn to Alberta. However, Ontario boasts more than 2,300 active oil and gas wells. Meet the University of Toronto’s Professor Elizabeth Edwards, whose research seeks out and utilizes microorganisms to unlock nature’s solution for cleansing oil sites. The infamous BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes), integral to petroleum production but hazardous to both the environment and humans, find their key to elimination through this novel anaerobic microbe-driven technology. Successfully reaching commercial scales, it opens a pathway to purify soil and water at oil sites, nurturing a healthier planet. This research was enabled through a long-standing partnership with SiREM and open science.

Spanning from Guelph, Canada, to the vibrant landscapes of Australia, the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics embarks on a captivating journey. A shining illustration is the Insect Investigators program, which beckons school children from various corners of Australia to actively partake in bug sample collection. Through this engaging experience, young minds unravel the genetic enigma of these creatures, unveiling Australia’s exceptional biodiversity. In the process, students relish adventure and foster a profound appreciation for science and the environment. Closer to home, each year, the Bees@Schools project collaborates with 200 Canadian classrooms to unveil the dynamic shifts in plant-pollinator interactions across Canada through innovative DNA barcoding and climate data analysis, providing hands-on experience to students while gathering data valuable to research.

In a groundbreaking collaboration, NutriAg Ltd. and Professor Neil Emery from Trent University have unveiled a novel biofertilizer concoction that’s both efficient and eco-friendly. By harnessing the power of beneficial bacteria, this ingenious formula is key to unlocking plants’ true potential. Through the nurturing touch of the specialized Methylobacterium organophilum, not only do crops thrive and flourish, but they also gain resilience against nature’s trials, such as drought. Initially tailored for soybeans, this botanical elixir boasts universal growth-enhancing attributes, a boon for a myriad of plants.

Drones, often associated with capturing stunning landscapes, have taken on a new role through the FastPheno initiative. At the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Ensminger lab, a remarkable blend of hyperspectral (HSL) and LiDAR data collected by drones. This high-throughput drone-based phenotyping technology captures information of thousands of trees and unlocks the well-being of each individual trees Combined with the genetic information of each tree, this endeavour aims to create the first genotype-phenotype spruce database, empowering scientists to unravel ways to bolster Canada’s forest industry against challenges posed by pests and the changing climate. These innovative methods unveil a previously hidden world of tree vitality for a greener future.

In the realm of bioresearch, antibodies stand as crucial tools. But how do you know when they’re top quality and the right one for a particular experiment? Open-science company YCharOS, which spun out of the Montreal Neurological Institute – a Structural Genomics Consortium site, has characterized more than 760 antibodies and remains committed to keeping their results transparent and patent-free, so their groundbreaking research can be used to move science and healthcare forward. Industry partners warmly embrace YCharOS’ innovative, cooperative strategy, recognizing its key role in fostering progress.

For the past two decades, Ontario Genomics has supported SGC’s relentless pursuit to unravel the mysteries of the human genome. This Toronto-headquartered, global collaboration, blending public and private efforts, is dedicated to deciphering the intricacies of structural and chemical biology, all while expediting the revelation of novel medicinal breakthroughs. SGC’s growth has transcended borders, embracing research partners from London and Germany to Sweden and North Carolina, uniting 250 brilliant minds. Their open-science approach has been instrumental in helping thousands of other scientists around the world advance their own discoveries while accelerating global drug discovery programs.