July 24, 2026
Sashank Vanga wearing a backpack LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park as part of a NASA analogue mission (Photo source: Catherine Neish)
Earth sciences professor Catherine Neish and PhD candidate Sashank Vanga travelled to Hawai‘i to study volcanic landscapes that mirror the Moon’s surface, helping scientists interpret NASA spacecraft data and support future Artemis missions.
Bri Watson (Photo source: Becky Horst/Faculty of Information and Media Studies)
FIMS professor B.M. Watson is working to transform cataloguing, the metadata libraries and archives use to describe and organize their collections. Watson is making collections more inclusive of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities while helping people find identity, history and a sense of belonging.
A plane's long contrail (Photo source: Christina and Peter/PEXELS)
Physics and astronomy professor Denis Veda and his team are joining an international research project, funded by Horizon Europe, to better understand how aircraft contrails affect the climate.
Ravi Menon (Photo source: Schulich Communications)
A new $1.4-million investment from Brain Canada, matched by Western, will expand access to the Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping's advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, helping researchers across Canada tackle complex neuroscience questions.
The Impact Project
Explore how the Western community is collectively contributing to meaningful change in the world, today.
Luke Stark (Photo source: Steven Anderson/Western Communications)
Luke Stark: How to think critically about the role of AI in our lives.
Coming Up
July 27 and 29 (6:30 to 7 a.m.)
Virtual: Rise and shine yoga
Build a simple self-care routine and boost your energy before the workday. This 30-minute Living Well @ Western class is available virtually so you can participate from home or on campus. Register today.
July 28 (10 to 11 a.m.)
WTS technology training: Microsoft Forms
New to Microsoft Forms or looking to build surveys with confidence? Learn how to create forms, quizzes and polls, collect responses and review results in real time. Registration required.
Working at Western
Middlesex College (Photo source: Western Communications)
New safety training checklist now available
Human Resources has introduced a checklist to help employees identify required and recommended safety training based on their role and work area. Review the checklist today.
Photo of the Week
Faculty, staff and supporters celebrated the 2SLGBTQIA+ community during the London Pride Parade on July 19. (Photo source: Liana Najem)
Western in the News
Kelly Olson speaking with CBS News (Photo source: CBS News)
CBS News
Movie inspires readers to revisit Homer
Classical studies professor Kelly Olson appeared on CBS News to talk about Homer's ancient Greek epic amid the release of Christopher Nolan's film adaptation of "The Odyssey."
BBC's the Naked Scientist
How neuroimaging unlocks the unconscious
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry professor Adrian Owen joined this BBC podcast to share how advancements in neuroimaging allow scientists to better understand the human brain.
Smithsonian magazine
Amateur astronomer spots ancient crater
Earth sciences professor Gordon Osinski explained how his team confirmed an impact crater in Quebec that was originally discovered by an amateur astronomer using Google Maps.
