October 15, 2021
Basking shark, the second largest fish in the sea, feed by straining plankton through gill rakers, off Land's End, Cornwall, U.K. © Doug Perrine
Marine ecology professor Paul Mensink's class will be the first to use an innovative augmented-reality app that will bring students, virtually, into an oceanscape, where they will swim beside the basking sharks.
Photo by Green Chameleon via Unsplash
Founded by Schulich Medicine & Dentistry students, a new social entrepreneurship incubator is helping Western students launch community and social advocacy programs.
Western Communications file photo
D.B. Weldon Library is partially reopening its doors to provide between 450 to 500 additional study spaces and a new home for staff on the fifth floor, featuring a reception area, staff lounge/lunchroom and a workstation area.
Falana. Photo by Savannah Baker, Special to Western Communications
Music sensation Falana – a Western kinesiology graduate dubbed Nigeria’s coolest music and fashion star – sees joy as a state of being, a matter of choice more than a question of circumstance.
Sarah Gallagher. File photo by Frank Neufeld, Special to Western Communications
Physics and astronomy professor Sarah Gallagher has been named the new director of Western’s Institute for Earth and Space Exploration. A science advisor to the president at the Canadian Space Agency, Gallagher's research specialty is quasars, super-bright swirling masses of gas and dust powered by black holes billions of light years away.
Susanne Grainger (submitted photo)
A member of Team Canada women’s eight rowing team that captured gold at the Tokyo Olympics, Susanne Grainger, MA'15, spoke with Western News about the pinnacle event and what fuels her beyond the boat.
Working at Western
Equity Census
Your voice counts. Western has launched the first Western Equity Census, a comprehensive campus-wide survey for all staff, students and faculty. The voluntary and confidential survey has be sent to each member of the community via email on Sept. 26 to be completed by Oct. 27 on Qualtrics.
Green Campus Walking Tour
The Office of Sustainability has partnered with EnviroWestern to offer Green Campus Tours. Learn about the Community Garden, Green Buildings, the UC Hill Arboretum and more! Tours for max 10 people per timeslot are available Oct. 19 from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Oct. 21 from 12:00 p.m. 12:30 p.m. Sign-up and reserve your spot here.
COVID-19 Vaccination Rates
Currently, 98.7 per cent of our faculty and staff are vaccinated, along with 99.5 per cent of students. Response and vaccination rates will be updated every Tuesday on this page.
Photo of the Week
Métis artist Tracey-Mae Chambers working on the installation of Hope and Healing Canada in the green space by McIntosh Gallery on Oct. 13. Photo by Crystal Mackay, Western Communications
Coming Up
Christy Bressette. Photo by Frank Neufeld, Special to Western Communications
Wednesday, Oct. 20 (1 p.m.)
An afternoon with Christy Bressette
Drawing upon her own lived experience and knowledge as an educator, Christy Bressette, Western's inaugural vice provost & associate vice-president of Indigenous Initiatives, will address the value and importance of creating Indigenous-centred spaces on campus and enhancing education outcomes for learners in the areas of policy, curriculum and governance.
Friday, Oct. 22 (1:30 p.m.)
Talking Music
Hosted by the Don Wright Faculty of Music, a brand new research series launches on Oct. 22, taking place on select Fridays following Music’s signature Fridays @ 12:30 Concert Series. The first event in the series features a conversation with musicians on chamber music, friendship, and Felix Mendelssohn's String Octet, led by music theorist/historian Jonathan De Souza from Department of Music Research & Composition .
Friday, Oct. 22 (2:30 p.m.)
Equitable futures: Advancing equity, diversity, inclusion and decolonization (EDI-D) in Canadian academic life
Candace Brunette-Debassige, former special advisor to the provost on Indigenous Initiatives, Nicole Kaniki, former special advisor to the president on anti-racism and Mark Daley, special advisor to the president on data strategy will reflect on their experience of leading change at Western.
Western in the News
Photo by Arthur Debons Guffroy via Unsplash
New York Times
Meteorite Crashes Through Ceiling and Lands on Woman’s Bed
Physics and astronomy professor Peter Brown confirms the rock that crashed through a house in B.C. is a meteorite from an asteroid.
TIME
Inside the battle for the hearts and minds of tomorrow's business leaders
Ivey Business School professor Tima Bansal examines the role businesses and business schools play in tackling social and environmental challenges.
National Post
How ancient water management techniques may help Prairie farmers experiencing drought
Classics professor Craig A. Harvey on how low-tech water management system could offer solutions to modern farming challenges.
CBC Afternoon Drive
Trillion dollar coin
Economics professor Steven Williamson explains why it is unlikely the creation of a trillion dollar coin will be used as a method to circumvent the debt ceiling in the U.S.
Commentary
Cigarette Nation: Business, Health, and Canadian Smokers, 1930–1975 book cover by McGill-Queen’s University Press
Faculty of information and media studies professor Daniel J. Robinson discusses how smoking became a habit by the early postwar period and the inspiration behind his new book Cigarette Nation: Business, Health, and Canadian Smokers, 1930–1975 on the Champlain Society's Witness to Yesterday podcast.
