November 3, 2023
Master of environment and sustainability student Russ Vey hauls a buckthorn shrub (Photo source: Mitch Zimmer)
Armed with shovels, shears and a lot of enthusiasm, students took part in a ‘Buckthorn Bust’ last week to help eradicate the invasive species from campus.
“Looking at Each Other Through the Cage” by Liu Shiming (Photo source: ArtLab Gallery)
For the first time in Canada, 25 bronze artworks by the late renowned Chinese sculptor Liu Shiming are on display at Western’s ArtLAB Gallery. It is the first stop of the exhibition’s nationwide tour.
(Clockwise from top left,) Sheila Heti, Anne Lindsay, Téa Mutonji, Larry Towell, Emma Donoghue, Matthew Dawkins, Max Wyman, Gray Brogden (Image design: Rob Potter/Western Communications)
As part of the Words Festival’s 10th anniversary, attendees will find everything from music, journalism and open mics to best-selling authors, an award-winning photographer and some of Western’s biggest literary names.
Illustration of an extremophile called Pyrococcus furiosus (Image source: Michelle Kropf)
A recent Western study using AI found evidence that living in extreme temperature environments leaves a discernible imprint on the genomes of microbial extremophiles.
Students volunteers help fill primary care gap
Mutiat Olaniyan (Photo source: Faculty of Health Sciences)
Mutiat Olaniyan was among three nursing students who jumped at the chance to help promote cancer screening in the community.
Salvadoran Civil War survivor Genaro Guardado Cartagena (Photo source: Shawn Robertson)
Geographic information systems specialist Liz Sutherland and map librarian Zack MacDonald trekked to remote areas through the jungles of El Salvador as part of Surviving Memory in Postwar El Salvador, a project documenting survivor stories and mapping war sites.
Working at Western
(Photo source: United Way Elgin Middlesex)
Donate today for the chance to win early bird prizes
Make your donation to Western’s United Way campaign by Nov. 27 to be entered to win a $100 hospitality gift card, a private tour of the Cronyn Observatory, Grand Theatre tickets, or a Columbia Sportswear gift card. First-time donors also have a chance to win one of two prizes for free parking on campus from January 1 to April 30, 2024.
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Photo of the Week
Facilities Management’s landscape services crew is snow ready. The team convened on campus in the early morning hours of Nov. 2 for a dry run of snow and ice management operations. The annual preparation event allows for team training and ensures equipment and processes are dialed in ahead of the inevitable winter weather. (Photo source: Facilities Management)
Coming Up
Wampum Learning Lodge, November 2023 (Photo source: Douglas Tulett/ Office of Indigenous Initiatives)
November 7 to 10
Wampum Learning Lodge celebrations
The Wampum Learning Lodge is celebrating its one-year anniversary. Join the Office of Indigenous Initiatives for a week of learning, sharing and growing community.
November 10 (10:30 to 11:30 a.m.)
Remembrance Day ceremony
Each year, we gather to remember all those who served our country during times of war, conflict and peace. Western’s Remembrance Day ceremony, hosted by the University Students’ Council, will take place in the McKellar Room (2nd floor UCC). Please consider donating to Western’s local Canadian Legion's online poppy campaign.
November 13 to 16
GIS Days
Learn more about Geographical Information Systems alongside community leaders at a free, interactive, hybrid event, which includes presentations, tutorials, demos and virtual social events.
November 20 to 24
International Week 2023
Celebrate International Week by taking part in events and activities with a focus on diversity, intercultural learning and global perspectives. From discussions on timely topics, to cultural performances and opportunities to connect with colleagues and students, the week’s schedule is full of options.
Western in the News
Wren Montgomery (Photo source: Ivey Business School)
CBC Marketplace
Exposing the secrets of sustainable fashion
Ivey professor Wren Montgomery and a class of MBA students help CBC Marketplace decipher the accuracy of sustainable claims made by major clothing brands.
The Globe and Mail
Safety measures taking flight to protect birds from crashing into windows
Biology PhD candidate Brendon Samuels has been researching and advocating for bird-safe windows. He attended the Ontario Legislature this week for the tabling of a private members bill to make bird-safe measures mandatory in the province’s building code.
Chatelaine
How survivors of intimate partner violence are coping during a housing crisis
Survivors of intimate partner violence are facing new challenges as the cost of housing climbs. Barb MacQuarrie, community director of the Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children, explains why finding a safe place to live is so critical.
Toronto Star
White House lays out early framework for regulating AI development, growth
This week U.S. President Joe Biden enacted new ground rules for the responsible growth and development of AI. Chief AI Officer Mark Daley says the challenge is to find a balance between taking societal safety concerns seriously, while at the same time not holding back innovation.
Commentary
Yalda Mohsenzadeh (Photo source: Western Communications)
Computer Science professor Yalda Mohsenzadeh discusses the potential of AI to translate our thoughts into speech or text in this commentary published in Maclean’s.
