July 24, 2025

A new article published in Psychological Science by researchers from the University of British Columbia suggests that persistent assumptions about “natural” gender differences may be steering women away from system-focused roles in STEM. In their article, UBC Professors Toni Schmader, Audrey Aday, and Holly R Engstrom discuss findings from three studies. Two studies suggested that STEM professionals who believe career interests are biologically hardwired were more likely to assign women to people-oriented tasks and men to technical ones—even when qualifications were identical. A third study found that undergraduate women who received people-focused role recommendations expressed less interest in technical careers. Schmader said such biases “shape not just skills, but interests” and encouraged future research to explore the barriers keeping men from people-focused careers such as care work and teaching.

Institut national de la recherche scientifique has officially become a member of the University of the Arctic, an international network of institutions that are dedicated to research, education, and collaboration in and about the North. INRS’s membership strengthens its commitment to Arctic issues and provides opportunities for learning, exchange, and collaboration. INRS Professor Isabelle Laurion explained that, as a member of UArctic, INRS will be able to strengthen ties with Indigenous communities and recognize the value their research offers in understanding ecosystems in the North.

Large language models (LLMs) are reshaping academic research, but their use requires careful oversight, writes Ali Shiri (University of Alberta). Shiri highlights how LLM tools like ChatGPT and Gemini can support nearly every stage of the research process and foster interdisciplinary collaboration, but raises concerns around bias, privacy, and citation integrity. He stresses the “urgent need to develop AI literacy training tailored for academic researchers” so they can distinguish between “AI research assistants” and emerging “deep research” agents that conduct multi-step analyses across disciplines. Shiri concludes by pointing readers toward the guidelines being published by government and postsecondary sources, as these serve as valuable steps toward the responsible, ethical integration of LLMs in the research process.

Lakehead University’s English Language Centre (ELC) has introduced International English Language Testing System (IELTS) computer-based testing at its Thunder Bay campus through a collaboration with International Language Schools of Canada Toronto. The new IELTS computer-based testing strengthens Lakehead’s role as a regional hub for international student and newcomer support. It also offers test-takers faster results, flexible scheduling, and a modern testing environment. “Offering IELTS computer-based testing on campus allows us to provide international students with more accessible, flexible, and efficient language testing options, right here at Lakehead,” said Lakehead ELC Director Ismel Gonzalez.

The advocacy group Palestinian Students and Scholars at Risk has shared that several Palestinian students accepted by Canadian universities are opting to pursue their education in France instead. CBC reports that some students, despite receiving admissions and scholarships offers from Canadian universities, will be attending university in France instead due to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processing delays. One student told the Canadian Press that French authorities helped him evacuate, receive biometrics tests, and receive a validated French visa within the span of 40 days, while IRCC has not followed up since mid-April. “We’re happy that the [students] actually got an opportunity,” said PSSAR Chair and Université de Sherbrooke Professor Ayman Oweida. “The heartbreak is that they did not come to us.”

College syllabi often fail to reflect the rich scholarly debates surrounding today’s most contentious issues, argue Jon A Shields (Claremont McKenna College), Stephanie Muravchik (Claremont), and Yuval Avnur (Scripps College) in an interview with the Chronicle of Higher Ed. The scholars analyzed syllabi from courses at Canadian, UK, and US institutions that touched on topics such as racial biases, abortion ethics, and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. They found that widely assigned texts are rarely paired with respected counterarguments. Shields cautions that this asymmetry could erode public trust in universities, while Avnur underscores the need for faculty to “recommit to teaching these scholarly disagreements” in order to model the kind of civic dialogue students need.

Brock University Professor Charles Conteh recently shared how mid-sized regions of Ontario—Greater Sudbury, Hamilton, London, Niagara, and Windsor-Essex—are forming the frontlines of technological and socio-economic change. Conteh explains that these mid-sized regions have three commonalities that have helped them become effective leaders in change. They identified and focused on a set of composite industries; built robust platforms to bring together public, private, and non-profit actors to create regional innovation systems, and were strategic about tapping into provincial and federal resources that aligned with their priorities. As an example, Conteh references the growth in the Niagara region and the involvement of postsecondary institutions like Brock and Niagara College in the region’s success.

The University of Fredericton has announced that it is launching a Bachelor of Computer Science (BCS) program. The program will be offered online on a flexible basis to accommodate the life and professional needs of learners, with students taking part in independent learning alongside a set schedule and deadlines. “This new program is made for people who want to build in-demand tech skills and future-proof their careers, online and on their own schedule,” said UFred President Trevor Pothier. “It’s the next evolution of our mission to remove barriers and build real-world leaders.”

In a recent conversation with the Montréal Gazette, LaSalle College President Claude Marchand argues that the Government of Québec’s recent fines risk killing an institution that has directly benefitted the provincial government’s finances, Québec’s international image, and the promotion of the French language. The Gazette offers an overview of LaSalle’s history and operations and provides an explanation of the circumstances that led to its over-enrolment of English students. “We are not stealing from Québec society. On the contrary, we are heavy contributors,” argued Marchand. “We don’t deserve any kind of fine. We deserve additional investments or recognition.”

University of Regina President Jeff Keshen was recently interviewed by the student newspaper The Carillon about key student issues, including the recent student union turmoil, construction on campus, and tuition increases. Keshen explained the history of the University of Regina Student Union’s financial situation and emphasized that core services—including The Carillon itself—are continuing in the meantime. “I want to underline that all we want as a university is a student association that uses the funds that come from students that they pay, and uses that in a responsible manner,” said Keshen. Keshen also shared that the 4% tuition increase was necessary, but expressed concern about student debt and the impact on the university’s competitiveness.