March 24, 2023
Middlesex College (Photo source: Western Communications)
Western is continuing to ramp up support for graduate students by offering $1.5 million in additional needs-based funding, tripling its off-campus housing staff and adding new graduate student support services.
Marisa Modeski (Submitted photo)
Marisa Modeski joins us as the new university registrar effective May 1. Currently the director and associate registrar of admissions and student recruitment at the University of Toronto in Mississauga, Modeski will work closely with senior leaders to help achieve the strategic priorities outlined in Towards Western at 150.
Fine arts students Liv Pattison (left) and Shelby Sammut (centre) in class with London Embroidery Guild member Deb Gorman-Smith. (Photo source: Christopher Kindratsky/Western Communications)
Community connections and experiential learning are the features of a visual arts class co-taught by the London Embroidery Guild, where master embroiderers pass on the centuries-old craft to a new generation of artists.
Kenisha Arora (Photo source: The Mint Studio)
Third-year medical sciences student Kenisha Arora created a non-profit organization to spread hope to seniors and foster children, landed a role with UNESCO and is building her entrepreneurial and professional skills through the Founders Program.
Researcher Mariya Goncheva holds SARS-CoV-2 samples. (Photo source: Schulich Medicine & Dentistry Communications)
A new study led by Schulich Medicine & Dentistry researchers has shown a common protein found in all strains of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria boosts SARS-CoV-2 replication up to 15 times.
(From left) Mental health advocate Paula Jesty, Poppy the puppet and Colin King, director, Mary J. Wright Child and Youth Development Clinic. (Photo source: Christopher Kindratsky/Western Communications)
Researchers at the Mary J. Wright Child and Youth Development Clinic and mental health advocate Paula Jesty worked together on a series of intervention programs for families navigating mental health challenges and found using a comfort toy could help prompt conversations with children.
Working at Western
(Image source: Indigenous Initiatives)
Building Reconciliation Forum 2023: Call for presentations
The Office of Indigenous Initiatives is hosting the 8th annual Universities Canada’s Building Reconciliation Forum, “Education for Reconciliation: Rebuilding Stronger and with Intentionality.” Community members are invited to submit presentation proposals to support the forum’s theme by March 31.
Course feedback period now open
Each term, students have the opportunity to provide feedback on their courses. For most courses this term, the feedback period runs from March 22 to April 12. Instructors can learn more by visiting the instructor FAQs.
Securing your Zoom sessions
For those who use Zoom for meetings, be sure to secure your sessions to avoid unauthorized individuals gaining access. Western Technology Services offers a number of training videos and best practices for using Zoom.
Photo of the Week
Team ParaSight (from left) Robin Cunningham, fourth-year engineering and Schulich Medicine; Justin Yang, fourth-year medical biophysics student and Sammy Farnum, third-year HBA student won first-place in this year's World's Challenge Challenge for their idea of an accessible, low-cost microscope to diagnose malaria. The team will represent Western at the Global Final in June. (Photo source: Nyren Mo/Western International)
Coming Up
(Photo source: Western Communications)
March 25 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
Know a student interested in studying at Western? Bring them to Spring Open House
Tomorrow, we’re opening our doors to thousands of future students and their families to explore campus, discover programs and meet faculty, staff and students.
March 29 (3 to 5 p.m.)
Campus cleanup
The Society of Graduate Students Sustainability Committee is hosting its first campus cleanup of the year. Meet at the Grad Club patio.
March 30 (1 to 2 p.m.)
Sustainability Impact Showcase
Celebrate campus community members who are making a positive impact on sustainability. During the showcase, three individuals or groups will be recognized with a Western Green Award and attendees can learn about the new Campus as a Living Lab program.
Refreshments will be provided; registration required.
April 2 (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
Celebrating our Future Generations Powwow
The Indigenous Student Association is hosting its 17th annual powwow in the Faculty of Education gym with host drum Crazy Spirit. Singers and dancers who attend in
regalia will receive an honorarium. All are invited to attend. Email indigenousstudent.club@westernusc.ca for more information.
Western in the News
Marieke Mur (Photo source: Western Communications)
Economic Times (India)
Why AI fails to reproduce human vision
Psychology and computer science professor Marieke Mur explains why despite the power and promise of deep learning, computers have yet to master human calculations when it comes to visual recognition.
The Globe and Mail
Food inflation in Canada shows signs of easing, but grocery prices to remain high
Ivey professor Fraser Johnson provides insight on the high price of food and says factors such as costs for delivery, packing and labour, coupled with historically high commodity prices, are contributing to rising grocery bills.
TVO
‘A place they know they’re welcome’: Are tiny shelters an answer for homelessness?
As some Ontario cities move to adopt tiny homes to support the unhoused, occupational therapy professor Carrie Anne Marshall says she’s wary of this being a ‘band-aid solution’ that doesn’t address the larger issues.
WIRED
Senators warn the next U.S. bank run could be rigged
Statistics and actuarial science professor Cristián Bravo says the Silicon Valley Bank collapse should help federal officials see the potential cyberthreat of mass digital hysteria.
Commentary
President Alan Shepard (Photo source: Rachel Lincoln)
In this University Affairs opinion piece, President Shepard says teaching young people to approach their work – and their lives – with a multidisciplinary mindset is key to preparing them for a cultural and technological landscape that’s moving at warp speed.
