August 11, 2023
Sheila Heti (Photo source: Sheila Heti)
Award-winning playwright, author and former Western writer-in-residence Sheila Heti is the new Alice Munro Chair in Creativity. She will hold the prestigious chair until 2025, leading creative culture at Western.
Perseids captured in 2020 by a Global Meteor Network camera (Photo source: Robert Marshall)
According to a new meteor activity website launched by Western in partnership with NASA, August 12 to the early hours of August 13 will be an optimal time to view a stunning display of the Perseid meteor shower.
Leith Mahkewa (Photo source: Leith Mahkewa)
Master beadwork artist and incoming Indigenous artist-in-residence Leith Mahkewa looks forward to her return to campus and mentoring students in the arts community.
PhD student Mohammed H. Sarikahya (Photo source: Mac Lai/Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry)
Research led by Addictions Research Group member Mohammed H. Sarikahya and Schulich Medicine & Dentistry professor Steven Laviolette shows that prenatal exposure to THC – the primary psychoactive component in cannabis – can lead to potentially lifelong cognitive and memory deficits.
Hannah Verster (Photo source: Hannah Verster)
Graduate student Hannah Verster has curated an art exhibit inspired by T.S. Eliot’s landmark poem The Waste Land. The exhibit features works by four artists and brings literature, art and earth sciences together to address environment and climate change.
James Voogt (Photo source: Western Communications)
Geography and environment professor James Voogt recently spoke about the role urban heat islands play during extreme heat waves and what cities can do to better mitigate the extra heat they experience.
Working at Western
University Drive Bridge (Photo source: Western Communications)
University Drive Bridge closure
University Drive Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic from August 15 at 6 a.m. to August 16 at 6 p.m. for maintenance. Cyclists will be required to dismount and walk their bikes across the bridge.
Host a Western B.L.U.E. student
Offered through the Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, the Western Black Student Leadership University Experience (B.L.U.E.) program provides part-time leadership experiences for 20 Black students between November and March, funded by the university. Apply by August 18 to host a student in your department.
EDI Annual Progress Report released
Read the Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion’s 2022-23 Annual Progress Report and learn what Western is doing to implement plans for an inclusive campus.
Photo of the Week
Western Sustainability connects with incoming students about sustainability initiatives on campus and how they can get involved. The last Community Connections event is this Saturday, Aug. 12. Stop by their booth located in the Physics and Astronomy Building Atrium to learn more. (Photo source: Western Sustainability)
Coming Up
(Photo source: Hume Cronyn Observatory)
August 12 (8:30 to 11 p.m.)
Those Glorious Globular Clusters
Join astronomers at the Hume Cronyn Observatory to look through telescopes and ask questions. Registration not required.
August 15 (12 to 1 p.m.)
Outdoor yoga at Discovery Park
Join an outdoor yoga class at the green space north of Mogenson Centre at Western Discovery Park. Participants should bring their own yoga mat (contact livingwell@uwo.ca if you require a mat). No registration required.
August 17 (12:10 to 12:50 p.m.)
Lunch & Learn: Exploring self-love
Gender-based violence prevention education coordinator Kelsey Adams will discuss the power of self-love and teach new ways to incorporate pleasure into everyday life. Light snacks and refreshments provided. Thames Hall, Room 3118.
Western in the News
(From left) Els Peeters and Jan Cami (Photo source: Western Communications)
CNN
Webb telescope captures iconic Ring Nebula in unprecedented detail
Physics and astronomy professors Els Peeters and Jan Cami were part of an international team that captured images of the Ring Nebula from the James Webb Space Telescope.
CBC The National
Calls for investigation into Meta's move to block Canadian news
After Canadian media outlets asked the Competition Bureau to investigate Meta after it moved to block Canadian news content, FIMS professor and assistant dean Anabel Quan-Haase discusses why the company is unlikely to back down.
The Globe and Mail
Ontario proposing ‘heat stress’ regulations to protect workers from health risks of rising temperatures
As Ontario looks to add heat stress to regulations for workplace safety, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry professor Dr. Anna Gunz explains how heat can affect the body.
Toronto Star
These people made their own weather stations. Here’s why
Hyperlocal meteorology is increasingly helpful as climate change drives extreme weather worldwide. Geography and environment professor James Voogt provides insight about the value of personal weather stations for data collection.
Commentary
(Photo source: Pexels/Antoni Shkraba)
While increased connectivity brings many benefits, it can also open youth up to online harm and abuse. In this article published in The Conversation, Western researchers say it’s important that meaningful supports are in place to protect young people from sexual harm.
