OVERVIEW

Welcome to the Lucas Lab at the University of Calgary

We are aquatic biologists, unifying biomechanics, physiology, ecology, and fluid mechanics to understand how fishes cope with dynamic environments. We focus on four major questions.
  1. How do body and fin shapes and swimming movements interact to dictate what forces a fish can produce?
  2. How much inter- and intraspecific variation is there in swimming mechanics, behavior, and energetics?
  3. Do swimming specializations limit habitat occupancy?
  4. What role does biomechanics have in determining species persistence in various habitats, relative to other factors like climate change?

EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, ACCESSIBILITY

Our commitment

We believe that our lab, our work, and science in general are all poorer without the breadth of insights and ways of knowing that come from a scientific community inclusive of all the dimensions in which we vary from each other, including all genders, races, cultures, 2SLGBTQIA+ orientations, socioeconomic statuses, ages, visible and invisible ability statuses, the intersections of these identities, and more. We strive to create safe and supportive environment for all, in all aspects of our work, and to uplift voices traditionally underrepresented in higher education.

RESEARCH

Recent Projects

Our ongoing work explores fish functional morphology, swimming biomechanics, flexible fins, and climate change physiology.
Image credits: Left, middle: D Kennedy; Middle, top: CM Donatelli; Middle, bottom: HA Jamniczky.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Calgary
We respectfully acknowledge that Calgary is located on the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprising the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai First Nations), as well as the Tsuut'ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations). Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Districts 5 and 6. We are honored to be guests on this land, and we strive to understand how nature works around us and how we can better care for, connect to, and learn from it.

CONTACT US

Interested in joining us? Seeking to collaborate?

kelsey.lucas [at] ucalgary.ca