The solar eclipse on April 8 is one of the most anticipated events of the year. Those on the path of the total solar eclipse — parts of Ontario, Québec, the Maritimes and Newfoundland — will witness an event that, on average, takes place every 375 years.

Today in The Conversation Canada, Nikhil Arora and Mark Richardson at Queen’s University write about the opportunity the total solar eclipse provides to not only engage people with science, but to also invite them to participate in the creation of new knowledge.

During the last eclipse, astronomers noticed a solar corona on the sun’s surface — this time around, NASA is soliciting photos taken by the public. This public data, write Arora and Richardson "will far exceed what could be accomplished by any one experiment or location.”

Also today:

All the best.

Nehal El-Hadi

Science + Technology Editor
Throughout time, eclipses have inspired societies to understand the cosmos and its events. (Shutterstock)

Total solar eclipses provide an opportunity to engage with science, culture and history

Nikhil Arora, Queen's University, Ontario; Mark Richardson, Queen's University, Ontario

Eclipses have inspired myths, predictions and scientific discoveries. The total solar eclipse occurring on April 8 provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engage with science and the cosmos.
Current bereavement policies do not address the reality of employees with family members that have used, or are planning to use, medical assistance in dying (MAID) services. (Shutterstock)

Bereavement policies need to be updated to better support employees affected by MAID

Katherine Breward, University of Winnipeg

Most workplace bereavement policies were designed prior to MAID and very few employers have adjusted these policies in light of the new reality of living and dying in Canada.
Although medical doctors may be the first point of contact for children exploring their gender identity, many other professions can provide gender-affirming care, such as psychologists, social workers, teachers, counsellors and recreational coaches. (Shutterstock)

What is gender-affirming care? A social worker and therapist working with trans people explains

Gio Dolcecore, Mount Royal University

Gender-affirming care assesses psychological, social, medical and surgical options for gender-diverse people.
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Despite positive steps in British Columbia, animal welfare in disaster management remains overlooked

Stephanie Eccles, Concordia University

Despite improvements in disaster response management since the Abbotsford floods of 2021, long-term animal welfare remains woefully underappreciated in B.C.
The Chinese government may access the data collected by Baidu, Alibaba, Tencent, Xiaomi and other operators. How are citizens coping with this constant digital surveillance? (Shutterstock)

Digital surveillance is omnipresent in China. Here’s how citizens are coping

Ariane Ollier-Malaterre, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

State surveillance of citizens is growing all over the world, but it is a fact of daily life in China. People are developing mental tactics to distance themselves from it.

La Conversation Canada
Le train Reseau express métropolitain (REM) à la sortie du centre-ville de Montréal, le 8 décembre 2023. La Presse canadienne/Christinne Muschi

Mégaprojets : la centralisation est-elle une garantie d’efficacité ?

Maude Brunet, HEC Montréal

Québec prépare une réforme de la gouvernance des projets publics, dont celle des transports collectifs. Une agence centralisée et indépendante est-elle la meilleure solution ?

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