Feb. 27, 2026
(L to R) Nursing lecturer Safeyyah Raji, professor Danielle Fearon, student Charles Ozzoude and lecturer Ashley McKeown. (Photo source: Iulia Costache/Faculty of Health Sciences)
Western’s Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing launched a mentorship program, Black Nurses and Students Allied for Success, connecting Black nursing students with experienced health professionals through an initiative of the Canadian Black Nurses Alliance.
Also covered by: CBC London
Latifeh Ahmadi (Photo source: Iulia Costache/Faculty of Health Sciences)
Latifeh Ahmadi, a professor in the Brescia School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, discovered acid whey – a Greek yogurt byproduct – can be used in sourdough starter to improve taste and shelf life while cutting food waste.
(L to R) Bogumil Karas and Emma Walker hold up samples of algae cells. (Photo source: Megan Morris/Schulich Medicine & Dentistry)
A study published in Nature Communications, led by Bogumil Karas, professor at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, and researcher Emma Walker, PhD’25, introduces a faster, more reliable way to engineer diatoms, which could lead to cheaper and cleaner fuel sources.
Also covered by: Phys.org and CTV London
A pile of basic mobile phones from the early 2000s. (Photo source: Adobe Images)
Education professor Emma Duerden and postdoctoral fellow Rubina Malik explore why some teens and young adults are trading smartphones for “dumb phones,” cameras and MP3 players – single-use technologies that help avoid digital burnout.
Also covered by: The Independent (U.K.) and CBC London Morning
The Impact Project
Explore how the Western community is collectively contributing to meaningful change in the world, today.
Eric Arts (Photo source: Steven Anderson/Western Communications)
Eric Arts: How to advance innovation and equity in infectious disease research.
Coming Up
Month of March
SDG Month
Join a national collaboration that inspires action and aims to deepen understanding of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Visit the Sustainability website to learn more about events happening across campus, including a panel discussion exploring artificial intelligence and environmental impact.
March 2 (5:30 to 8 p.m.)
Art, Architecture & Speculative Futures in International Relations
Hear from a panel of scholars, including Canadian artist Dara Vandor, as they explore how art and political imagination shape global futures. The evening includes a roundtable, exhibit launch and reception at Weldon Library. Register online.
March 4 (noon)
Annual Pension Plan meeting
Join Western’s Joint Pension Board for their annual update, featuring a guest presentation on smarter investing by Ivey professor Stephen Foerster. Register online and submit questions in advance.
March 5 (9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.)
Western Day Talks
Celebrate Western Day by joining a series of virtual talks showcasing how researchers are tackling the most urgent challenges of our time and shaping solutions that matter to communities around the world.
March 5 (noon to 1:30 p.m.)
Feminist Paradox: More choice, same game?
Join the Office of EDI for an International Women’s Day talk with gender, sexuality and women’s studies professor Bipasha Baruah as she examines gender inequalities faced around the world. Schmeichel Building, Rm. 4106.
March 5 to 8
Opera at Western: Sweeney Todd
Experience Stephen Sondheim’s darkly comedic tale of love and revenge set in Victorian England. Performances take place in the Paul Davenport Theatre. Visit the Don Wright Faculty of Music website to purchase tickets.
Working at Western
Main campus (Photo source: Steven Anderson/Western Communications)
Temporary road closure: University Drive
University Drive will be closed to vehicle traffic from March 4 to 6 to support construction of the new residence building. Drivers can access campus via Huron and Sunset streets. The south sidewalk in front of Alumni House will be closed during these hours; pedestrians should follow posted detours. Charter buses will continue to access the Medway parking lot for pick-ups and drop-offs.
Global Affairs Canada scholarships
Supervisory applications are open for faculty to oversee international undergraduate and graduate students through the Global Affairs Canada International Scholarships Program. Apply by March 16.
Weather siren testing
Live testing of Western’s emergency weather siren will take place March 4 at noon. Unless otherwise notified, this is only a test. No action is required. Testing occurs the first Wednesday of every month.
Photo of the Week
(L to R) Mustangs track and field coach Taylor Ehrhardt and student-athlete Olivia Reevie celebrate with sprinter Maya Chande after she secured a bronze medal in the women’s 60m final during the 2026 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Track and Field championships in Toronto on Feb. 21. (Photo source: Dylan Johnson)
Western in the News
In addition to the news above, your colleagues have been featured in the following media outlets.
Daniel Keir (Photo source: Faculty of Health Sciences)
CBC The National
Canada’s Olympic bobsleigh team is loaded with football players
Kinesiology professor Daniel Keir explains the muscle advantage football players have when covering short distances, making them the perfect athletes for bobsleigh.
Toronto Star
Tumbler Ridge shooter’s ChatGPT account was banned months before tragedy, company didn’t warn authorities
Sociology professor Laura Huey calls for national policies and practices to guide tech companies in the wake of the discovery that OpenAI banned the Tumbler Ridge shooter’s ChatGPT account months before the tragedy.
TVO’s Big If True
The Disinformation Games
Political science PhD candidate Noah Vanderhoeven explains how misinformation can spread when nations use sporting events to promote agendas.
