June 5, 2024

The Government of Canada recently announced more than $92M in funding through the New Frontiers in Research Fund to support 165 Canadian-led projects. $60M of this investment will be distributed through the 2023 International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation and will support 32 international interdisciplinary research projects, involving 424 researchers from 45 countries. These research projects are three years in length and focus on designing and implementing adaptation and mitigation strategies. The other $33M of this investment is distributed through the 2023 Exploration competition, which is funding 133 interdisciplinary research projects that cover a wide range of topics including the exploration of the Earth’s atmosphere and AI software concepts.

The University of Manitoba has publicly apologized to First Nations, Métis, and Inuit descendant communities for inappropriately acquiring and housing Indigenous ancestral remains, burial belongings, and cultural heritage for over a century. UManitoba President Dr Michael Benarroch apologized during a rematriation and repatriation ceremony, saying that “these actions broke a basic principle of our shared humanity: a loved one buried for eternal rest, must remain at peace.” UManitoba has completed a two-year process to create a new policy on rematriation and repatriation, which was implemented earlier this week. The repatriation committee is now contacting communities to return the remains.

Yellowknife is set to have a new private college: The College of Northern Canada. College of Northern Canada President Dr Chehrazade Aboukinane said that the “non-traditional” institution will use a “co-teaching mode” wherein Indigenous educators regularly spend time with students in the classroom. The college will offer programming across its variety of centres of academic study; some classes are currently being offered online and preparations are underway for the grand opening of its physical campus. While some community members are supportive of the new college, CBC highlighted several concerns about the college, including the lack information about the college’s programming and the fact that its programs are ineligible for student financial aid.

Matthew Hoffmann (University of Toronto) has penned an article on the experiences of climate social scientists and the need to involve their perspectives more meaningfully in climate change discussions. Drawing on interviews with over 20 climate social scientists, Hoffmann shares how many of these scientists are struggling with anxiety or despair, intentionally trying to cultivate hope and optimism in their practice, and/or finding empowerment in taking sustainable actions. The author concludes that navigating the climate crisis will require the involvement of climate social scientists to help generate urgency and create “outlets” for that urgency that fashion a more equitable future.

OpenAI recently unveiled its ChatGPT Edu product, a platform specifically designed for postsecondary institutions that want to provide their students and campus communities with free access to AI. ChatGPT Edu is designed for educational applications such as conducting data analysis, tutoring, and writing grant applications, and receiving feedback on assignments. The platform is being met with both optimism and trepidation from the postsecondary sector. While some are applauding the tool for offering students personalised learning experiences and robust research assistance, others are worried about its overuse, potential for plagiarism, and negative impact on the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

A former University of Waterloo student has pled guilty to four charges in relation to the hate-motivated stabbing of an instructor and two students during a philosophy class focused on gender issues in June 2023. According to CBC, the accused Geovanny Villalba-Aleman appeared in a Kitchener court in person this week and pled guilty to two charges of aggravated assault, one charge of assault causing bodily harm, and one charge of assault with a weapon. Sentencing will be carried out in October, when the judge will hear victim impact statements and a sentencing submission from prosecutors on a terrorism charge.

BCCAT has published a new report on “summer melt,” a phenomenon where students who received and accepted an institution for the Fall semester, but fail to enrol and appear on campus. Report author Dr Anna Tikina describes the conditions that contribute to this phenomenon, such as unexpected fees, financial constraints, and the loss of mentors such as high school counselors and teachers. She then highlights the interventions that can be used to reduce summer melt, including increasing access to key contacts like counsellors and using targeted communications methods like text messages and chatbots. Noting the dearth of research on the topic in Canada, Tikina calls for improved data tracking and collection in Canada to help support additional studies examining summer melt.

The McMaster University-led EMBRACE study—focused on improving care for Canadians who are living with a blood cancer called multiple myeloma—is receiving $4.9M from Pfizer. With this funding, the study will evaluate whether adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma can be remotely monitored so that they can safely receive treatment and care at home. The researchers will also examine whether increasing the treatment dosing intervals may help reduce the risk of infection. EMBRACE will be launched at five sites across Canada this July.

St Mary’s University has officially opened a new disc golf course on campus. The course was developed in partnership with the Calgary Disc Golf Club to include nine baskets at 18 holes. It features varying terrain—including wooded areas, varying elevations, and open lines—to provide challenges to individuals from all skill levels. “We are incredibly excited to offer this new recreational opportunity to both our students and the broader Calgary community,” said StMU President Dr Sinda Vanderpool. “This course embodies our commitment to promoting active lifestyles and providing inclusive, accessible outdoor activities.” The course is a permanent campus fixture and is open to use by the public at no charge.

Western University Libraries has received its largest donation to date: a $2M gift from the estate of Halina and James Russell (Rus) Robinson. This donation will fund the establishment of a signature collection in history and social sciences, with a focus on military history. The collection will include full-text access to the history databases America: History and Life and Historical Abstracts. Western Distinguished University Professor Jonathan Vance said that this collection will give students “unparalleled access to the most important literature in military history” and the opportunity to “take advantage of the newest research resources as they become available.”