March 17, 2023
A mountain chickadee eats from a specialized feeder at a field site in the Sierra Nevada mountains. (Photo source: Vladimir Pravosudov)
Psychology professor Carrie Branch says decade-long research shows feeders don't alter mountain chickadee reproduction or behaviour and believes the results can be applied to black-capped chickadees common to London, Ont.
Whitney Onoberhie (Submitted photo)
Computer science student Whitney Onoberhie is one of 20 Canadians awarded an RBC Future Launch Scholarship for Black Youth. She has been recognized for her strong academic performance and contributions as a community volunteer helping at her high school, a community centre and a local food bank.
Professor Paul Frewen demonstrates VR technology at Alumni Hall. (Photo source: Steve Anderson/Western Communications)
With fans gearing up for NCAA March Madness basketball, Western researchers say you may soon be able to grab a VR headset and cheer on your team from wherever you are, experiencing the excitement as if you were courtside.
Roma Roth (Photo source: Courtesy of Bell Media)
Roma Roth, BA’90, tapped into her education at Western to consider what it takes to make a hit TV show. The executive producer of fan favourite Virgin River is now the showrunner of Sullivan’s Crossing, premiering this Sunday on CTV.
A satellite image of a portion of the Greater Toronto Area. (Photo source: Wikimedia Commons)
Management and organizational studies professor Diana Mok is using remote sensing, satellite imagery and real estate analysis to examine how price volatility in a city’s housing market might influence how compact that city is.
(Photo source: Pearley Nguyem/Western Human Resources)
Human Resources has launched the Make Kindness Count initiative to enhance a culture encouraging gratitude, recognition and appreciation in the workplace. The program’s website provides links to self-directed learning and resources to help spread kindness.
Working at Western
Ville de Trois-Pistoles (Photo source: Western Continuing Studies)
Travel and learn French this summer
Western's French Immersion School in Trois-Pistoles offers employees the opportunity to learn French while exploring Quebec's unique culture and traditions. For eligible employees, the tuition portion of the program qualifies for reimbursed funding through the Educational Assistance Plan.
Call for nominations: Joint Pension Board
The Joint Pension Board has two full-term positions open beginning July 1 (to June 30, 2027): One full-term position on the Administrative Pension Board; and one full-term position on the Academic Pension Board. Nominations are due by March 22 at 12 p.m.
Photo of the Week
For SDG Week Canada, the Sustainable Workplace Ambassadors Program (SWAP) offered an interactive beeswax wrap workshop, in collaboration with Hospitality Services. Here, the Book Store’s Gabriella Parker (left) poses with her new DIY beeswax wrap alongside Hospitality Service’s Anne Zok who led the beeswax workshop. (Photo source: Jessica Cordes/Office of Sustainability)
Coming Up
Performers with the Return to Eden production. (Submitted photo)
March 18 (4 p.m. doors open/ 5 p.m. show starts)
African Students’ Association showcase: Return to Eden
The African Students’ Association is holding their biggest event of the year at the Wolf Performance Hall. Return to Eden is a celebration of African art, music, dance and fashion. Arrive at 4 p.m. and enjoy refreshments before the performance. Tickets cost $30.
March 21 and March 23 (various times)
Town Hall sessions on the Policy for Academic Consideration – Undergraduate Students in First-Entry Programs
Attend one of three town hall sessions and provide feedback on the latest iteration of the Policy on Academic Consideration – Undergraduate Students in First-Entry Programs. This policy provides guidance to undergraduate students, instructors and administrators in situations where students are unable to complete academic responsibilities and includes the parameters for students to submit documentation for absences. Sessions are being
held over Zoom.
March 22 (4 to 7 p.m.)
World’s Challenge Challenge Western Final
The World's Challenge Challenge is a global competition where student teams present unique solutions to address a global concern. Hear from the top 10 teams who will present their innovative ideas in the Atrium at Thames Hall. The students with the best idea will each receive a prize of $1,000 and
represent Western at the Global Final, where teams can win $30,000.
March 23 (11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 2 to 3:30 p.m.)
Empowering women’s voices: Performance and open mic event with Andrea Thompson
Andrea Thompson is an award-winning spoken word artist, editor and educator, who blends poetry, storytelling and musicality into her art. Join Thompson in the Weldon Community Room for a workshop on the art of writing spoken word and poetry. Open to anyone who identities as a woman, the event includes lunch, networking and an opportunity to explore your poetry with Thompson one-on-one. Registration required, space is limited.
March 23 (4 to 5 p.m.)
Distinguished speaker: Carrie Snyder
Words Festival has collaborated with the Faculty of Arts & Humanities to present award-winning Canadian author Carrie Snyder. Her bestselling novel, Girl Runner, was a finalist for the Writers’ Trust Prize and published in twelve countries. Her latest, Francie's Got a Gun, was listed as one of CBC's best Canadian fiction books of 2022.
Western in the News
David Sills, Northern Tornadoes Project executive director (left), and Gregory Kopp, ImpactWX Chair in Severe Storms Engineering, survey the Barrie community on the one-year anniversary of the 2021 tornado that ripped through the region. (Photo source: Jeffrey Renaud/Western Communications)
The New York Times
Where is Canada hiding all its tornadoes?
Western’s Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP) is working to track and provide accurate tornado numbers in Canada to improve impact warning systems and build resilient communities. NTP executive director David Sills and winds impact researcher Connell Miller explain the science behind tornado hunting.
The Globe and Mail
Western University researchers call for new licensing system to allow physicians to practise in Space
Researchers from Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and Western Law propose changes to the medical licensing framework to allow for medical care in Space. Currently, doctors are required to be licensed in each province or territory where they practise. But the researchers say Space doesn’t fall under any licensing jurisdiction.
CBC Cross Country Checkup
How accessible are mental health services in Canada?
Psychology and psychiatry professor David Dozois addresses what’s working and what needs to change when it comes to mental health services in the country.
CTV News
After the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, how likely are bank failures in Canada?
As the world economy continues to feel the ripple effects of the Silicon Valley Bank failure last Friday, statistical and actuarial sciences professor
Cristián Roman Bravo explains why a similar bank collapse is unlikely to happen in Canada.
Commentary
The shore of the Thames River in Southwestern Ontario. (Photo source: Ryan Hodnett/Wikimedia Commons)
To improve drinking water quality in First Nation communities, a collaborative approach with strong communication and co-ordination between community leaders and adequate financial support is important, says Christopher Alcantara, professor of political science.
