November 19, 2021
Photo by Steven Anderson, Western Communications
Western has joined other Canadian universities and colleges in signing the Scarborough Charter on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion in Canadian Higher Education. The charter prescribes four principles that should guide universities and colleges in policy making and action: Black flourishing; inclusive excellence; mutuality; and accountability.
Health Canada has authorized the use of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in children 5 to 11 years of age. Photo by FatCamera via iStock
With today's approval from Health Canada for the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5-11, Schulich Medicine & Dentistry professor and pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Michelle Barton-Forbes offers facts and insights about vaccinating children against coronavirus.
Parshati Patel
A new book published by astrophysicist Parshati Patel is a colourful, pint-sized blast through the vastness of the universe, in fewer than 100 pages. My Book of Stars and Planets is part of the DK series of science books for kids and will be released throughout North America and the U.K.
Top, left to right: Judy Fairburn, Mary Federau, Jennifer Flanagan, Lorin MacDonald and Gillian Mandich; bottom, left to right: Zainul Mawli, Sarah Saska, Allison Taylor and Charlie Wall-Andrews
Nine Western alumni have been named among Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2021. The women, leaders in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, are being recognized for empowering and championing others.
A child plays with sensory-based objects during a day camp in January 2020, held by the Sensory Perception Research lab at Western . Photo by Maggie MacLellan, Western University
Results of a recent study by psychology professor Ryan Stevenson and BrainsCAN postdoctoral fellow Nichole Scheerer on sensory abilities may have positive impact on the way supports are provided to autistic children and help increase their quality of life.
Some of the 2021 Western Mustangs Athletic Association Hall of Fame inductees: Top, from left to right Dave Mills, Helen Luckman, Jack Cowin, women's rugby 2004; bottom, from left: Michael Forgeron, Jen Cotten, Dave Sapunjis, men's basketball 1991
Helen Luckman, MEd’82, and Jack Cowin, BA’64, LLD’00, are being inducted into the Western Mustangs Sports Hall of Fame on Nov. 19. Two Mustangs teams, six athletes and two builders will also be joining the ranks of Mustangs Hall of famers this year.
Irene Hramiak. Photo by Frank Neufeld
Dr. Irene Hramiak, professor of endocrinology and metabolism at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, and her collaborators are developing new treatments that may force Type 2 diabetes into remission.
Working at Western
National Philanthropy Day on Nov. 15 was a time to pause and reflect on the generosity our supporters show us each and every day. Video by Steven Anderson, Western Communications
We are grateful
We are truly grateful for all those individuals who partner with us to help accomplish the university’s goals and make a difference in the lives of so many people.
WesternEats — the new mobile food ordering app on campus
Use WesternEats the next time you're eating on campus to order ahead, skip the line and access exclusive savings at participating eateries. Save $5 on your next order for a limited time. Download the app by searching Campus OrderUp in the App Store or Google Play and selecting 'Western University.'
Add and manage your pronouns in Zoom
The pronoun feature is now available on your Western Zoom account. With the pronouns feature, you can add your pronouns directly to your user profile.
Seven new teaching fellow positions available
The Office of the Provost and Vice-President (academic), and the Centre for Teaching and Learning invite applications from full-time Western faculty for three-year teaching fellowships, starting May 1, 2022. Please see the application call for details and eligible Faculties.
Course feedback period is now open
Each term, students have the opportunity to provide feedback on their courses. For most courses this term, the course feedback period runs from Nov. 18 to Dec. 9.
Photo of the Week
To celebrate International Week, the Songs of Many Lands concert will be livestreamed today. Pictured is Master's student Minyoung Kwon, soprano, with collaborator Samantha Lee, piano during Songs of Many Lands concert in November 2018. Photo from @westernuinternational via Instagram
Coming Up
The Honourable Murray Sinclair and Anna Maria Tremonti. Photo from Ivey Business School
Wed, Nov. 24 (3 p.m.)
A conversation with The Honourable Murray Sinclair
As part of the Ivey Business School's LeaderShift series, this event features a powerful conversation between The Honourable Murray Sinclair and Anna Maria Tremonti on truth, reconciliation, racial equality and Indigenous perspectives, and their implications on leadership, business and society.
Friday, Nov. 26 (2 p.m.)
COVID-19 infection and vaccine trajectories: The vulnerability of racial minority and immigrant communities in Canada
The Network for Economic and Social Trends distinguished speaker series presents sociology professor Kate Choi to discuss inequalities in COVID-19 infections across neighborhoods with varying socio-demographic characteristics and variations in exposure to the COVID-19 virus.
Saturday, Nov. 27 (8 p.m.)
Medtner piano quartet
Celebrated musicians Scott St. John and Angela Park will perform Nikolai Medtner's “Two Canzonas with Dances”, Op. 43 for violin and piano. They will be joined by graduate students violinist Frangel Lopez Cesena, violist Rachel Miner and cellist Ethan Allers for a performance of Medtner's captivating piano quintet. This concert is sponsored by Madeline and Thomas Lennon and will be livestreamed from von Kuster Hall.
Tuesday, Nov. 30 (12 p.m.)
BAWA presents: Black leadership at Western
The first Black at Western Alumni (BAWA) Chapter alumni event will be a virtual panel discussion about Black Leadership at Western, featuring Geraldine Moriba, BA'90, chair, BAWA, Lisa Highgate, BA'95, MEd'00, former special advisor on anti-racism, Dr. Opiyo Oloya, associate vice-president, EDI, and Donna Fagon-Pascal, BA'92, moderated by Nicole Kaniki, MSc'11, PhD '16, MA'21, director of EDI in research & innovation at University of Toronto.
Western in the News
Western News file photo
Toronto Star
Why are some Ontario university students back in class while others are still stuck online?
Western is highlighted as one of the universities that returned to full in-person learning in September after the Ontario government approved a near-normal return.
BBC Future
The race to understand 'immune amnesia'
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry professor Mansour Haeryfar explains that the measles virus essentially sets an individual's immune system to the default mode.
Globe and Mail
From fire to ‘atmospheric river’: Why B.C. is trapped in a world of climate extremes
With the recent floods in B.C., Engineering professor Slobodan Simonovic says parts of the world are experiencing consecutive climate extremes.
Global News
As COVID-19 case rise, here’s what to expect from the pandemic this winter
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry professor Dr. Saverio Stranges says Canada is about a month behind Europe in terms of increasing COVID-19 cases so the situation in Europe can give us an idea of what to expect here.
Commentary
Photo by RawFilm via Unsplash
In this podcast, Robert Klassen, director of the Centre for Building Sustainable Value at Ivey Business School, Sarah Chapman, global chief sustainability officer, Manulife, and Laura Zizzo, founder & CEO, Manifest Climate, explore the strategic implications of the net-zero agenda for businesses and how firms can develop and navigate a successful path forward.
