GradCast

In this final instalment of the WUGSOM series from 2017, hosts Yimin and Roger speak with Rachel Avery from McGill University in Montreal, and Ryan Blakely from the University of Ottawa on their research projects they've developed over the past few years. Rachel and Ryan each communicated their research in lecture format during WUGSOM 2017. Hosted by: Yimin and Roger

David Reyes Figuero, a visiting graduate student from Mexico, is here at Western to work with Dr. Mikko Karttunen. Using a computational microscope, they probed the small world of atoms and molecules to investigate how fat molecules float on water. But, they stumbled upon something even more curious that can impact the medical world.    Hosted by: Susan Anthony & Navaneeth Mohan   Produced by: Ari...

Taniya and Roger speak to Kinesiology Master's student Kelsey Sick. Kelsey studies the health impact of reducing sedentary behaviour in Type 2 Diabetes patients and she is also the co-founder of a community wellness initiative, UREnough. https://urenough.org Instagram:  @UREnoughh  Twitter: @UR_Enoughh Facebook: UrEnoughh Hosted by: Roger Hudson & Taniya Nagpal Produced by: Ariel Frame

Care giving for the elderly is a hard job. How hard? Nicole Dalmer is looking into it. Nicole Dalmer from FIMS tells Ariel and Roger about her work on elder care, policy and aging in place.  Hosted by: Ariel Frame & Roger Hudson Produced by: Chantal Lemire Producer: Chantal Lemire

Time flies when you're having fun, but the visual perception of time can vary between individuals. Matt Bernardinis, a second year MSc student in Biomedical Engineering, has designed a way to assess visual perception in terms of distance, time and velocity in Parkinson's patients. Discover the intricacies of this interdisciplinary field and more with hosts Ariel and Viki. Hosted by: Ariel Frame &...

By the time the First World War began, over 8000 Romanian immigrants had established new lives in the young Dominion of Canada. Over the course of the war, hundreds would enlist in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces to fight for a country they barely knew. History MA student Ilinca Olariu delves in archives and museums in search of their stories. Yimin and Navaneeth host. Want to find out more abou...

Yimin and Roger have an enlightening chat with Ariel Frame about his work testing memory in fruit flies in order to determine the role lactate might play. As the new chair of GradCast, Ariel also discusses the importance of science communication. To hear more from Ariel, check out his 3 minute thesis on youtube , his supervisor's lab website or @arielframe on Twitter.  Hosted by: Yimin Chen & Roge...

Dickson Wong is pursuing both a medical degree and a research doctorate as a student in Western's MD/PhD program. Today on GradCast, Dickson speaks to Navaneeth and Yimin about his work using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy to study changes in brain chemistry related to Alzheimer's disease. Dickson is @dickson11 on twitter and can also found on LinkedIn. Hosted by: Yimin Chen & Navaneeth Mohan Pro...

Shortly following last week's interview with the GTA labour union, the university and the union agreed to a tentative deal. Though the deal leaves much to be desired, the settling dust calls for a moment of introspection before looking to the future. Laura Cabral - strike committee member, among other roles -  recalls the many sleepless nights and cheapshots endured on the path to this deal. Hoste...

Over the past 8 months, the labour union of Western Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) has led them in a fight against the university for better living standards. With the onset of final examinations, GTA labour is more crucial than ever. Yet, both sides are unwilling to bend, risking a lockout or a strike. How did things get here? Join Ariel and Nav on today's episode while they untangle this st...

Roger and Ariel spoke with Lauren Smith about her work in the medical biophysics program coming up with a new way to image inside the womb completely non-invasively. Learn from Lauren how this development could drastically help diagnose problems in prenatal babies, and what effects a "Western" diet may have on them.  You can follow the research at Medical Biophysics  Hosts: Ariel Frame & Roger Hud...

Coming up April 13th, 2018, a conference that integrates 3 diverse faculties - Information & Media Studies, Music, and Law - into the FIMULAW Graduate Interdisciplinary Research Day. A conference that facilitates a conversation between diverse experts and participants through panel discussions and musical performances. Join Navaneeth and Roger while they chat with Kelly Bylica, the Music Faculty's...

Taniya and Nav interview an Interdisciplinary team of engineers and scientists (Alexis Pascual,  Gavin Tolometti, Liam Innis, and Matthew Svensson) who have come together to study microorganisms in the atmosphere by launching a weather balloon in April! Hosts: Navneeth Mohan & Taniya Nagpal Produced by: Chantal Lemire

We know that all dogs go to heaven, but can all dogs go to physiotherapy? This week Viki and Ariel spoke with Liz Fryer, a second year student in the Master of Physical Therapy program here at Western. Join us as we discuss placement experiences, current research in the field, and some unconventional canine therapies.    You can follow up with Liz on program details and more at @elizabethfryer on...

In this week's episode of GradCast, we present Part 1 of our 2 part series from the Western Research Forum, Western University's largest interdisciplinary showcase of research. Every year, the Society of Graduate Students presents a day-long conference filled with talks from faculties around campus, all associated with the theme of the year. WRF 2018 is all about Controversy. Navaneeth and Yimin c...

On ingesting cannabinoids, why do some people have panic attacks, while others experience cerebral euphoria? The answer might lie with a specific part of the brain. Western PhD student Chris Norris has specifically targeted the "hedonic hotspot". Here on Gradcast, with Viki and Nav, he shares his research that could change the lives of people living with PTSD.  Chris is on Twitter and you can foll...

Alexandre Desbiens-Brassard joins Roger and Charlotte to speak about his PhD thesis in comparative literature. Alex's work is examining English and French language contemporary horror and science fiction works, including Jurassic Park, which features monsters created by human technology with the ultimate goal to explore and comment on capitalist modes of production in our society.  Hosts: Roger Hu...

In 2015, the Trudeau government committed to resettling 39,000 Syrian refugees across Canada, with over 1,000 finding their way here to London. On this episode, Yimin and Ariel speak with Masters of Public Administration candidate Henry Awere, who is investigating the municipal programs in place to help refugees integrate into our community. Hosts: Yimin Chen & Ariel Frame Produced by: Chantal Lem...

Last week, the snow in our backyard thawed, and out of the ground came a host of pesky bugs. For Jacqueline Lebenzon, that is research fodder! She studies a species of beetle - the Colorado potato beetle - because their extraordinary winter survival tactic could hold the cellular key to battling aging. Tune in with Roger and Nav. You can follow Jackie's science and art at jackielebenzon.com and on...

You might think it's laughing gas or a race car fuel, but NO! Nitric Oxide is a crucial compound vital for healthy brain function. Viki Tellios is a neuroscience PhD student working to find out just how NO affects cerebellum development and maintenance. On this episode, Ariel and Yimin learn about an unexpected connection between Bill Nye and "drunk" mice. If you would like to know more about Viki...

Continuing our coverage of the Western University Graduate Symposium on Music, Yimin and Roger speak with Elizabeth Mitchell about her work on inclusive arts for children with disabilites and with Martha Schulenburg about what "Vamp" songs reveal about the role of women in the early 20th century. Hosts: Yimin Chen and Roger Hudson   Produced by Susan Anthony

We heard that Gavin Tolometti works with lava, and we thought you should hear about that too. He's smashed solid lava with a hammer. Has melted it in a furnace. Sliced it into hair-thin discs. Because somewhere in there is the key to understanding our moon and many extraterrestrial planets. Join Susan and Navaneeth as they discover how to research on the rocks. Look for more info on Gavin's work o...

From disco to techo, Musicology PhD student M. Gillian Carrabré takes us through a musical (and personal) history of rave culture. Join hosts Navaneeth and Yimin as we learn about the principles of PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect) and about conducting field research as a participant-observer.  You can find Gillian on Radio Western (CHRW 94.9) Tuesday nights from 8:30 - 10pm, or streaming onl...

Roger and Chantal talk to SOGS Accessibility Commissioner, Martin Ross, and accessibility advocate Ashton Forrest about resources for graduate students with disabilities.   Hosts: Roger Hudson and Chantal Lemire   Produced by Susan Anthony

In this episode, hosts Roger and Yimin are introduced to the WUGSOM organizers and researchers studying how music reflects and enriches our lives.   Hosts: Yimin Chen and Roger Hudson   Produced by Susan Anthony