GradCast

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

The Lego Grad Student visited Western as the special guest for the 2017 SOGS Graduate Wellness Forum and GradCast was fortunate enough to get him into the recording booth! Join Yimin and Chantal in conversation with Dr. Lego Grad Student as he reflects on his life in plastic. Follow his exploits on social media at: https://twitter.com/legogradstudent https://www.facebook.com/legogradstudent https:...

What happens when pregnant mothers get sick? Ariel and Yimin discuss maternal infections during pregnancy and its effect on neurodevelopmental disorders - with Faraj Haddad. Follow along with his work at the Schmid Lab at:  http://www.theschmidlab.com Hosts:Yimin Chen and Ariel Frame     Produced by Charlotte Panneton

Last year, at the SOGS Western Research Forum, we spoke with Brandon Baer. His work on antibiotic-resistant bacteria caught the interest of many of you so we invited him again! Passionate as before about his work, he has been on the path to develop a new therapy for treating a whole range of bacterial lung infections. Curious? So join Navaneeth and Roger on today's episode.    Hosts: Navaneeth Moh...

Yimin and Ariel spoke with Ryley Yost about his work looking into the social behaviour of the fruit fly Drosophila, and what techniques are needed to experiment on this interesting little model organism.   Hosts: Yimin Chen and Ariel Frame   Produced by Susan Anthony   

Navaneeth and Ariel talk with Niki Kamkar about her work studying how stressful events in children affect response to reinforcement.   Hosts: Ariel Frame and Navaneeth Mohan     Produced by Susan Anthony

What happens when animals hibernate? Kate Mathers is working to find out! Catch her conversation with Susan and Yimin about Doritos, arousal, and adorable 13-lined ground squirrels.   Hosts: Susan Anthony and Yimin Chen   Produced by Susan Anthony

Have you reached for a cigarette and been advised to take a walk instead? Well, Matthew Fagan is speaking to you. While rolling up for his PhD at Western's Kinesiology dept he investigates the effect of nicotine on cognitive functioning. In today's episode, he chats with Tanya and Navaneeth about how nicotine fares against a brisk walk on cognitive tests. What he found was unexpected.   Hosts: Nav...

A little bird told us that Chlöe Carter was studying stress and memory in birds. Chlöe tells Ariel and Charlotte about her work testing whether stressful smells, sights and sounds can illicit fear and alter memory.    Hosts: Ariel Frame and Charlotte Panneton   Produced by Susan Anthony

Yimin and Taniya chat with "baby Master student" Charlotte Panneton about navigating graduate studies, her interest in the online video streaming platform 'Twitch' and her love for community radio.   Hosts: Yimin Chen and Taniya Nagpal   Produced by Susan Anthony

Roger and Taniya chat with PhD Candidate Erin Shellington about the potential of 'Square Stepping Exercise' on improving cognition, mobility and mood in older adults. We also get insight on what the end of a PhD degree is like!   Hosts: Roger Hudson and Taniya Nagpal   Produced by Susan Anthony

Ariel and Chantal chirp with Brendon Samuels about beat perception in birds and humans. Hosts: Ariel Frame and Chantal Lemire Produced by Susan Anthony

Navaneeth and Roger speak with Danny Bednar, Patrick Hill, and Zack Morse about the upcoming international observe the moon night occurring on October 28th 2017.    Hosts: Roger Hudson and Navaneeth Mohan   Produced by Susan Anthony

Danny Bednar joins Roger and Navaneeth to speak about his research on geography and Canada's role in adapting to climate change. Hosts: Roger Hudson and Navaneeth Mohan   Producer: Susan Anthony

Sabrina and Ariel pick Simon Benoit's brain about Parkinson's and his unique approach to studying this neurodegenerative disease.    Hosts: Ariel Frame and Sabrina Hope     Produced by Susan Anthony

Roger and Ariel speak with Niveen Fulcher about sensory motor gating, and it's relation to autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.   Hosts: Ariel Frame and Roger Hudson   Produced by Susan Anthony