Over the past decade, millions of hibernating bats across eastern North America have died from a fungal disease called white-nose syndrome causing the fastest population decline of wild mammals ever recorded. Through their research, Dr. Craig Willis and the bat lab research team at the University of Winnipeg have been trying to slow the spread of this disease and help affected bats survive. 

On this episode the research questions is, “how do we stop the spread of white-nose syndrome in bats?” We will hear from Dr. Craig Willis, bat lab research coordinator Kaleigh Norquay and other researchers about what they are doing to curb the spread of white-nose syndrome and what their research can tell us about managing wildlife diseases in the wake of global bat-borne pandemics like COVID-19.

Episode Credits

Written, narrated and produced by Kent Davies

Interview participants: Craig Willis and Kaleigh Norquay.

UWRQ Logo and Web Editing: Kimberley Moore

Interviews

Dr. Craig Willis, Interviewed by Kent Davies, January 23, 2020 at the University of Winnipeg Oral History Centre, Winnipeg MB. Digital Audio Recording. “Research Question Podcast,” Oral History Centre Archive, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB.

Kaleigh Norquay, Interviewed by Kent Davies, Feburary 2, 2020 at University of Winnipeg Oral History Centre, Winnipeg, MB. Digital Audio Recording. “Research Question Podcast,” Oral History Centre Archive, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg. MB.

Music

Lee Rosevere – Curiosity; I don’t want to be like him; Let’s start at the beginning; Puzzle pieces; Quirky small town characters; What happened in the past doesn’t stay there.

Blue Dot Sessions – Elvira; Greylock; Arbic Tallow