when I was a kid I had a passion for digging up old things I would spend full
digging up old things I would spend full
digging up old things I would spend full summers and the long days that made them
summers and the long days that made them
summers and the long days that made them up pacing up and down the dusty old
up pacing up and down the dusty old
up pacing up and down the dusty old railway tracks in the woods behind my
railway tracks in the woods behind my
railway tracks in the woods behind my house I would walk the trail head down
house I would walk the trail head down
house I would walk the trail head down shuffling focus so that I wouldn’t miss
shuffling focus so that I wouldn’t miss
shuffling focus so that I wouldn’t miss the faint glimmer of a rusting railroad
the faint glimmer of a rusting railroad
the faint glimmer of a rusting railroad spike
spike
spike I loved uncovering those objects
I loved uncovering those objects
I loved uncovering those objects apparently I loved wearing my mask
apparently I loved wearing my mask
apparently I loved wearing my mask upside down and I’m grateful that my
upside down and I’m grateful that my
upside down and I’m grateful that my parents were patient enough to clean off
parents were patient enough to clean off
parents were patient enough to clean off all the dust iron that accumulated
all the dust iron that accumulated
all the dust iron that accumulated through the garage as I cleaned them off
through the garage as I cleaned them off
through the garage as I cleaned them off and so here I am today an archeology
and so here I am today an archeology
and so here I am today an archeology student living out that childhood
student living out that childhood
student living out that childhood passion I guess you could say but the
passion I guess you could say but the
passion I guess you could say but the thing with being an archeologist is that
thing with being an archeologist is that
thing with being an archeologist is that when you go to a party or you introduce
when you go to a party or you introduce
when you go to a party or you introduce yourself you say I’m studying
yourself you say I’m studying
yourself you say I’m studying archaeology the first thing that they
archaeology the first thing that they
archaeology the first thing that they ask you about is if you know this guy or
ask you about is if you know this guy or
ask you about is if you know this guy or if that’s what you do and it’s not so
if that’s what you do and it’s not so
if that’s what you do and it’s not so you may imagine us digging through
you may imagine us digging through
you may imagine us digging through ancient pyramids or diving deep beneath
ancient pyramids or diving deep beneath
ancient pyramids or diving deep beneath the sea surface to find lost shipwrecks
the sea surface to find lost shipwrecks
the sea surface to find lost shipwrecks and while that is certainly what some
and while that is certainly what some
and while that is certainly what some archaeologists do it is far from what
archaeologists do it is far from what
archaeologists do it is far from what most of us do and by no means what I do
most of us do and by no means what I do
most of us do and by no means what I do in fact I spend most of my time here in
in fact I spend most of my time here in
in fact I spend most of my time here in the lab as not as romantic I’ll tell you
the lab as not as romantic I’ll tell you
the lab as not as romantic I’ll tell you that I don’t study artifacts or excavate
that I don’t study artifacts or excavate
that I don’t study artifacts or excavate ancient ruins I study ancient bones but
ancient ruins I study ancient bones but
ancient ruins I study ancient bones but okay what do I really mean when I say I
okay what do I really mean when I say I
okay what do I really mean when I say I study ancient bones how much is there to
study ancient bones how much is there to
study ancient bones how much is there to know
know
know well I study paleo pathology paleo
well I study paleo pathology paleo
well I study paleo pathology paleo meaning old pathology meaning the study
meaning old pathology meaning the study
meaning old pathology meaning the study of disease yet more precisely I study
of disease yet more precisely I study
of disease yet more precisely I study paleo oncology paleo again meaning old
paleo oncology paleo again meaning old
paleo oncology paleo again meaning old oncology being the study of cancer
oncology being the study of cancer
oncology being the study of cancer I study ancient cancer and today I want
I study ancient cancer and today I want
I study ancient cancer and today I want to share with you what we can learn when
to share with you what we can learn when
to share with you what we can learn when we begin to look deeper one of the
we begin to look deeper one of the
we begin to look deeper one of the tenants of archaeology is that we never
tenants of archaeology is that we never
tenants of archaeology is that we never take anything from the past however
take anything from the past however
take anything from the past however we’re willing to make an exception today
we’re willing to make an exception today
we’re willing to make an exception today this treasure
this treasure
this treasure rather this perspective will be yours to
rather this perspective will be yours to
rather this perspective will be yours to keep my journey began here with this
keep my journey began here with this
keep my journey began here with this image it was included in a scientific
image it was included in a scientific
image it was included in a scientific paper that described the remains of a
paper that described the remains of a
paper that described the remains of a two year old child from the northern
two year old child from the northern
two year old child from the northern peninsula of Newfoundland whom belong to
peninsula of Newfoundland whom belong to
peninsula of Newfoundland whom belong to the maritime archaic culture not only
the maritime archaic culture not only
the maritime archaic culture not only where the remains more than four
where the remains more than four
where the remains more than four thousand years old but they showed signs
thousand years old but they showed signs
thousand years old but they showed signs of a disease perhaps cancer that forever
of a disease perhaps cancer that forever
of a disease perhaps cancer that forever changed the structure of this child’s
changed the structure of this child’s
changed the structure of this child’s skeleton I had known and read about
skeleton I had known and read about
skeleton I had known and read about cases of ancient cancer before but it
cases of ancient cancer before but it
cases of ancient cancer before but it was after seeing this image that I knew
was after seeing this image that I knew
was after seeing this image that I knew I had to know more there simply was more
I had to know more there simply was more
I had to know more there simply was more to know I found myself asking what did
to know I found myself asking what did
to know I found myself asking what did this child experience as this disease
this child experience as this disease
this child experience as this disease ran through its entire body what did the
ran through its entire body what did the
ran through its entire body what did the community of people experience as this
community of people experience as this
community of people experience as this child slowly weakened eventually
child slowly weakened eventually
child slowly weakened eventually succumbing to a disease they likely had
succumbing to a disease they likely had
succumbing to a disease they likely had little understanding of and these
little understanding of and these
little understanding of and these weren’t the only questions I had but I
weren’t the only questions I had but I
weren’t the only questions I had but I knew if I were to find any answers I had
knew if I were to find any answers I had
knew if I were to find any answers I had to look deeper and so back in that lab
to look deeper and so back in that lab
to look deeper and so back in that lab and using a scanning electron microscope
and using a scanning electron microscope
and using a scanning electron microscope I was able to look 5,000 times deeper
I was able to look 5,000 times deeper
I was able to look 5,000 times deeper what was great was at this magnification
what was great was at this magnification
what was great was at this magnification discoveries just present themselves you
discoveries just present themselves you
discoveries just present themselves you see our bones are a lot like glaciers
see our bones are a lot like glaciers
see our bones are a lot like glaciers they’re dense composed of many different
they’re dense composed of many different
they’re dense composed of many different layers and like our bones seemingly
layers and like our bones seemingly
layers and like our bones seemingly impenetrable yet they are not
impenetrable yet they are not
impenetrable yet they are not invulnerable when glaciers are exposed
invulnerable when glaciers are exposed
invulnerable when glaciers are exposed to heat pools of water collect on their
to heat pools of water collect on their
to heat pools of water collect on their surface and when bones are exposed to
surface and when bones are exposed to
surface and when bones are exposed to cancer cells called osteoclasts that are
cancer cells called osteoclasts that are
cancer cells called osteoclasts that are naturally occurring in our body but when
naturally occurring in our body but when
naturally occurring in our body but when cancer becomes active in the body they
cancer becomes active in the body they
cancer becomes active in the body they proliferate out of control
proliferate out of control
proliferate out of control and what they do these osteoclasts they
and what they do these osteoclasts they
and what they do these osteoclasts they create holes in the bone surface craters
create holes in the bone surface craters
create holes in the bone surface craters really and these craters look like this
really and these craters look like this
really and these craters look like this they mimic or mirror those same Glacial
they mimic or mirror those same Glacial
they mimic or mirror those same Glacial pools and in glaciers what we get are
pools and in glaciers what we get are
pools and in glaciers what we get are these called glacial Newlands those
these called glacial Newlands those
these called glacial Newlands those pools of water developed deep into the
pools of water developed deep into the
pools of water developed deep into the glacial core are creating waterfalls and
glacial core are creating waterfalls and
glacial core are creating waterfalls and holes that run all the way throughout
holes that run all the way throughout
holes that run all the way throughout the glacier in bone those cancers
the glacier in bone those cancers
the glacier in bone those cancers osteoclasts or just as deep leaving
osteoclasts or just as deep leaving
osteoclasts or just as deep leaving similar patterns of destruction and like
similar patterns of destruction and like
similar patterns of destruction and like the glacier that drifted over
the glacier that drifted over
the glacier that drifted over Newfoundland more than ten thousand
Newfoundland more than ten thousand
Newfoundland more than ten thousand years ago and left rocks like these
years ago and left rocks like these
years ago and left rocks like these called glacial erratics cancer to leaves
called glacial erratics cancer to leaves
called glacial erratics cancer to leaves a subtle trace of its once immense force
a subtle trace of its once immense force
a subtle trace of its once immense force the globules here are called cow cows
the globules here are called cow cows
the globules here are called cow cows fear rights they are balls of calcium
fear rights they are balls of calcium
fear rights they are balls of calcium and phosphorus that are excreted by
and phosphorus that are excreted by
and phosphorus that are excreted by those osteoclasts in healthy bone
those osteoclasts in healthy bone
those osteoclasts in healthy bone they’re normally recycled but here they
they’re normally recycled but here they
they’re normally recycled but here they are left behind like a radix on the
are left behind like a radix on the
are left behind like a radix on the tundra as a testament to the great
tundra as a testament to the great
tundra as a testament to the great forces that once shaped this landscape
forces that once shaped this landscape
forces that once shaped this landscape but it’s easy to spot those boulders as
but it’s easy to spot those boulders as
but it’s easy to spot those boulders as you drive across the province or to see
you drive across the province or to see
you drive across the province or to see an iceberg floating outside the st.
an iceberg floating outside the st.
an iceberg floating outside the st. John’s narrow but finding evidence for
John’s narrow but finding evidence for
John’s narrow but finding evidence for ancient cancer even for researchers is
ancient cancer even for researchers is
ancient cancer even for researchers is incredibly rare this is because just a
incredibly rare this is because just a
incredibly rare this is because just a few thousand years ago cancer did not
few thousand years ago cancer did not
few thousand years ago cancer did not exist at the same scale as what we see
exist at the same scale as what we see
exist at the same scale as what we see it today cancer whether we like it or
it today cancer whether we like it or
it today cancer whether we like it or not is a disease of civilization it is a
not is a disease of civilization it is a
not is a disease of civilization it is a result of living longer of exposing
result of living longer of exposing
result of living longer of exposing ourselves to the things that come along
ourselves to the things that come along
ourselves to the things that come along with development and technologies what
with development and technologies what
with development and technologies what we see here in this graph is the
we see here in this graph is the
we see here in this graph is the expected rate of increase for cancer in
expected rate of increase for cancer in
expected rate of increase for cancer in the next 20 years it’s a 70% increase so
the next 20 years it’s a 70% increase so
the next 20 years it’s a 70% increase so what that means is the current number
what that means is the current number
what that means is the current number globally for diagnosis of cancer per
globally for diagnosis of cancer per
globally for diagnosis of cancer per year 14 million will be 22 million by
year 14 million will be 22 million by
year 14 million will be 22 million by the time 2022 hits us
what this really means is that it will
what this really means is that it will be our generation that will compose the
be our generation that will compose the
be our generation that will compose the predicted 22 million lives to be
predicted 22 million lives to be
predicted 22 million lives to be affected by cancer annually so equally
affected by cancer annually so equally
affected by cancer annually so equally it must be our generation to rise to the
it must be our generation to rise to the
it must be our generation to rise to the challenge and meet this health crisis
challenge and meet this health crisis
challenge and meet this health crisis it must be our generation to become the
it must be our generation to become the
it must be our generation to become the medical professionals to employ new
medical professionals to employ new
medical professionals to employ new innovative solutions to this growing
innovative solutions to this growing
innovative solutions to this growing health challenge we must be ready to
health challenge we must be ready to
health challenge we must be ready to look at and act on cancer in ways that
look at and act on cancer in ways that
look at and act on cancer in ways that we have never before but I want us to
we have never before but I want us to
we have never before but I want us to know is there a way for us to step
know is there a way for us to step
know is there a way for us to step beyond statistics or biology or beyond
beyond statistics or biology or beyond
beyond statistics or biology or beyond the capacity of the naked eye is there
the capacity of the naked eye is there
the capacity of the naked eye is there an issue that exists here that is deeper
an issue that exists here that is deeper
an issue that exists here that is deeper than what is first sight research
than what is first sight research
than what is first sight research involves us to see things from new
involves us to see things from new
involves us to see things from new perspectives in my research I’m
perspectives in my research I’m
perspectives in my research I’m exploring a new way of imaging bone in
exploring a new way of imaging bone in
exploring a new way of imaging bone in the third dimension and it’s at this
the third dimension and it’s at this
the third dimension and it’s at this point in my talk I would invite you all
point in my talk I would invite you all
point in my talk I would invite you all to put on your 3d glasses as we look at
to put on your 3d glasses as we look at
to put on your 3d glasses as we look at the next few images and it may take some
the next few images and it may take some
the next few images and it may take some time for the bones to invite you in and
time for the bones to invite you in and
time for the bones to invite you in and to gain that perspective that with time
to gain that perspective that with time
to gain that perspective that with time it seems like the bones only become more
it seems like the bones only become more
it seems like the bones only become more deep you see as archaeologists we are
deep you see as archaeologists we are
deep you see as archaeologists we are always concerned with what we find yet
always concerned with what we find yet
always concerned with what we find yet we rarely ask ourselves what’s missing
we rarely ask ourselves what’s missing
we rarely ask ourselves what’s missing here well what’s missing here are the
here well what’s missing here are the
here well what’s missing here are the blood vessels bone marrow and the
blood vessels bone marrow and the
blood vessels bone marrow and the flowing blood that once filled these now
flowing blood that once filled these now
flowing blood that once filled these now empty caverns when we take the time to
empty caverns when we take the time to
empty caverns when we take the time to see what once filled these bones we can
see what once filled these bones we can
see what once filled these bones we can recognize that these bones more than
recognize that these bones more than
recognize that these bones more than 4,000 years ago housed a human life the
4,000 years ago housed a human life the
4,000 years ago housed a human life the bones were always a person but sometimes
bones were always a person but sometimes
bones were always a person but sometimes it is a change of perspective that is
it is a change of perspective that is
it is a change of perspective that is required of us to acknowledge that the
required of us to acknowledge that the
required of us to acknowledge that the scientific work we do is not merely with
scientific work we do is not merely with
scientific work we do is not merely with specimens
I’ve never lived in a maritime archaic
I’ve never lived in a maritime archaic longhouse I’ve never hunted caribou on
longhouse I’ve never hunted caribou on
longhouse I’ve never hunted caribou on the exposed northern coast nor have I
the exposed northern coast nor have I
the exposed northern coast nor have I ever processed harp seal with tools I
ever processed harp seal with tools I
ever processed harp seal with tools I had carved from the stones around me and
had carved from the stones around me and
had carved from the stones around me and so when I go to a museum and pull out
so when I go to a museum and pull out
so when I go to a museum and pull out trays of artifacts looking at harpoon
trays of artifacts looking at harpoon
trays of artifacts looking at harpoon heads or the reconstructions of those
heads or the reconstructions of those
heads or the reconstructions of those long houses it is hard for me to ever
long houses it is hard for me to ever
long houses it is hard for me to ever imagine myself in that world but this
imagine myself in that world but this
imagine myself in that world but this world although seemingly more alien it
world although seemingly more alien it
world although seemingly more alien it is perhaps more familiar
is perhaps more familiar
is perhaps more familiar I’ve lost loved ones to sickness I faced
I’ve lost loved ones to sickness I faced
I’ve lost loved ones to sickness I faced health challenges myself we all have and
health challenges myself we all have and
health challenges myself we all have and everyone in this room has experienced
everyone in this room has experienced
everyone in this room has experienced the reality that comes with that
the reality that comes with that
the reality that comes with that adversity sadness loss anxiety confusion
adversity sadness loss anxiety confusion
adversity sadness loss anxiety confusion frustration these are human feelings
frustration these are human feelings
frustration these are human feelings they are just as natural as the
they are just as natural as the
they are just as natural as the biological processes that hurt and heal
biological processes that hurt and heal
biological processes that hurt and heal us the diseases that affected
us the diseases that affected
us the diseases that affected individuals throughout history
individuals throughout history
individuals throughout history biologically psychologically and
biologically psychologically and
biologically psychologically and emotionally still affect individuals
emotionally still affect individuals
emotionally still affect individuals today what we learned through this is
today what we learned through this is
today what we learned through this is that we do not need to live the same way
that we do not need to live the same way
that we do not need to live the same way of life to share similar experiences of
of life to share similar experiences of
of life to share similar experiences of being we are tied to the maritime
being we are tied to the maritime
being we are tied to the maritime archaic and all people of history in
archaic and all people of history in
archaic and all people of history in ways that transcend time and space
so looking deeper does not just require
so looking deeper does not just require us to zoom in five thousand times
us to zoom in five thousand times
us to zoom in five thousand times sometimes it will require us to change
sometimes it will require us to change
sometimes it will require us to change the lens through which we see the world
the lens through which we see the world
the lens through which we see the world to see old bones in new ways to hear the
to see old bones in new ways to hear the
to see old bones in new ways to hear the stories that they have to tell I’m not
stories that they have to tell I’m not
stories that they have to tell I’m not an expert in this field I’ll be frank
an expert in this field I’ll be frank
an expert in this field I’ll be frank with you I’m just an undergraduate
with you I’m just an undergraduate
with you I’m just an undergraduate student but I do know that we are
student but I do know that we are
student but I do know that we are visitors to this earth and only here for
visitors to this earth and only here for
visitors to this earth and only here for a fraction of a second it is our
a fraction of a second it is our
a fraction of a second it is our responsibility to unearth these
responsibility to unearth these
responsibility to unearth these narratives to create new understandings
narratives to create new understandings
narratives to create new understandings and to push forward the boundaries of
and to push forward the boundaries of
and to push forward the boundaries of human knowledge to help those who are
human knowledge to help those who are
human knowledge to help those who are and those who certainly will face the
and those who certainly will face the
and those who certainly will face the adversity that is cancer I didn’t know
adversity that is cancer I didn’t know
adversity that is cancer I didn’t know it then but I was learning a valuable
it then but I was learning a valuable
it then but I was learning a valuable life lesson the days I would spend
life lesson the days I would spend
life lesson the days I would spend washing up and down the railroad tracks
washing up and down the railroad tracks
washing up and down the railroad tracks in my hometown committing ourselves to
in my hometown committing ourselves to
in my hometown committing ourselves to uncovering small pieces of history
uncovering small pieces of history
uncovering small pieces of history whether they are railroad spikes or the
whether they are railroad spikes or the
whether they are railroad spikes or the bones of ancient lives allow us to piece
bones of ancient lives allow us to piece
bones of ancient lives allow us to piece together an understanding of life in the
together an understanding of life in the
together an understanding of life in the present with this we must use the past
present with this we must use the past
present with this we must use the past diva’s perspective on the future and use
diva’s perspective on the future and use
diva’s perspective on the future and use the present to effect that positive
the present to effect that positive
the present to effect that positive change in our world
change in our world
change in our world [Applause]
”
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