Scientificanada is a podcast collective focusing on science news and culture. We are... The AlmaMAC: weekly radio show on 93.3 CFMU about grad students at McMaster University in Canada. Rotating host schedule (Adam Fortais, Shawn Hercules, and Matthew Berry) Random Walk: a show about interesting things host Adam Fortais stumbles upon. Topics include research as it is applied to the world of education, media, and well... pretty much anywhere. Monthly. CUPEcast: CUPE 3906 union news, strike an ...
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Peatlands are wetland ecosystems that are home to at-risk species, tremendous biodiversity, and are responsible for storing huge amounts of carbon. In fact, peatlands are the largest natural carbon source in the world, making them instrumental in mitigating the effects of global warming. However, being a large carbon sink is a double-edged sword be…
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Burnout - a state of exhaustion, stress, and disillusionment - has increased across the workforce, especially in healthcare providers. In these settings, burnout can lead to poor outcomes for patient care, safety, and retention. In order to have the best outcomes for patients, healthcare providers must understand what factors can increase their mor…
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The AlmaMAC Episode 224: Understanding the influence of northern vegetation change on hydrology with Erin Nicholls
30:06
The North is warming at a much faster rate compared to the rest of the world through a process known as Arctic amplification. In Canada, particularly in Yukon, this warming has resulted in more precipitation falling as rain rather than snow. These precipitation changes have several consequences, including changes in vegetation. Erin Nicholls, a 4th…
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The AlmaMAC Episode 223: Exploring the intersection between aging and immune response in lung infections with Kevin Zhao
30:07
Our immune response becomes less effective as we age and makes us more susceptible to infections. For instance, macrophages - white blood cells that eat up foreign pathogens - not only become slower and less effective at destroying these pathogens, but can also cause a chronic, pro-inflammatory state in the body. But, what are the mechanisms underl…
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The AlmaMAC Episode 220: Preparing for GradFlix 2022 with Dr. John Bandler and Megan Vierhout
29:56
For the second year in a row, McMaster is back with its GradFlix competition! GradFlix is a university-wide competition for graduate students where they create a 60 second video showcasing their research. Interested? Nervous? On the fence? Fret not! Dr. John Bandler, who has mentored hundreds of students in these competitions, and Megan Vierhout, a…
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The AlmaMAC Episode 221: Examining plasmonic properties in semiconductors with Milenka Andelic
26:29
Free electrons are responsible for a metal's conductive properties. When light hits these free electrons, they collectively oscillate to create a 'surface plasmon'. Surface plasmons can harvest and focus light on the nanoscale, allowing for an enhancement of light-matter interactions. Milenka, a 3rd year PhD student in the Department of Materials S…
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Random Walk 2.6: Joe Muise is changing student's ideas about physics (and attending CUPC 2021)
30:00
Joe Muise is a physics teacher at St. Thomas More Collegiate in Burnaby, BC, a CAP, NSTA, Vernier & Prime Minister’s Award Winner, and Step Up Ambassador. On this week's episode, Adam talks to Joe about teaching physics, changing the way students think of a physics education (interested in finance or medicine? You might like physics), and the Canad…
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The AlmaMAC 214: Understanding sex differences in the adaptive response to exercise with Mai Wageh
30:01
Historically, people with menstrual cycles have been excluded from scientific studies due to concerns about how hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle may affect research findings. This exclusion and underrepresentation in the health literature have significant implications as research suggests that there are important sex differences in …
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Antibiotics are compounds that fight bacterial infections by either slowing the growth of bacteria or killing them. Antibiotics generally work by inhibiting processes and pathways needed for bacterial growth and/or survival. Enzymes necessary for bacterial growth/virulence (which are absent in mammals) are promising antimicrobial targets. But, how …
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Random Walk 2.5: Food at COP26, Virgin Vultures, NASA Attacking a Meteor, Ecology in Subnautica
30:12
This week: Jessie D takes us deeper into the abyss of Subnautica on Gamer’s Guide to Ecology Looks like yuh brought a haggis to a clahmet fight. The biggest climate conference is underway, and they want you to know how much carbon you make by eating their food Genetic testing shows California Condor produced sons… and didn’t even need a father. A c…
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Organized by: Genome Canada Twenty years after the Human Genome Project, genomics is delivering on its promise: a big data science that—combined with AI, gene editing and biomanufacturing—is revolutionizing our wellbeing and economies. The U.K., U.S. and others are launching genomics strategies to maximize impact for their citizens. Canada is doing…
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My main takeaway from this session was that “we all want collaborations”. Many have industry-led collaborative approaches. I will say, a lot of the session felt like name-dropping different initiatives and quoting numbers which is probably useful for some, but from my perspective, a lot of that was too in-the-weeds for me. However, there were some …
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In 2019 a federal budget item was announced and $134 million was set aside for what is considered the first-ever FOOD POLICY FOR CANADA. Qualitatively, income disparity and unequal access to affordable, healthful food is a fundamental problem we face. Multiple government departments play a part in ensuring Canadians have access to good food because…
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This week, we: Are building towers out of rocks, because the US military wants us to! Buying lottery tickets instead of writing grant proposals - it actually might be the best way to do it! And of course, Jessie is back talking ecology on Gamer’s Guide to Ecology. This week, we’re starting in on the deep sea planet of Subnautica. https://www.bu.edu…
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Random Walk 2.3 - Diffusive Transport (a very special type of random walk!) with Antonia Kowalewski
31:13
This week’s random walk is … going to take up the whole episode this week. We have a very special guest this week. Antonia Kowalewski is an undergraduate student studying biophysics at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby British Columbia. This week I talked to her about a summer research project on Multivalent Diffusive Transport that recently was p…
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Sedimentary rocks are rocks which are formed from the compaction of other rocks or organic material near the Earth's surface. They can tell us information about the Earth's past environment like how much carbon dioxide was in the atmosphere, or what the sea levels were. But, how can this information from millions of years ago help us today? Nick Ra…
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Random Walk 2.2 - Gamer's Guide to Ecology, Sonar-Busting Moth Wings, Cosmic Rays and Electronics
30:00
Ok! This week, we are talking about risk, reward, probability, and money: If you were a moth, how would you protect yourself from predators? Researchers from Bristol have recently discovered a built-in strategy that keeps some moths safe from echolocation-based attacks. Wait, let me try that again. RESEARCHERS FIND NEW TECHNIQUE TO SURVIVE THE NIGH…
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The AlmaMAC 199: Nikoo Aghaei, genomics and lung cancer brain metastasis, Project Empower Circle
30:01
This week, Sawayra talks to Nikoo Aghaei about her work developing an in vivo functional genomics screen to identify novel drivers of lung cancer brain metastasis. They also talk about Nikoo's work with Empower Circle, a group motivated by empowering and connecting individuals from all walks of life, and amplifying the voices of womxn and minoritie…
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The Ig Nobel Prizes have been awarded for 2021! It’s like the Nobel prize, but with a better selection process. Just kidding, but only sort of. The world’s most successful climate-based agreement had its 30-something’th anniversary on September 16th. Let me tell you about it, will ya? A brand new climate-focused reporting outfit right here in frikk…
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WATCH Last week we introduced Jessie deHaan and the Gamer's Guide to Ecology. Today, Adam and Jessie talk about grad school, ecology, gaming, and why those things go together so well. We conclude with the very first episode of the Gamer's Guide to Ecology, where Jessie introduces the world of Red Dead Redemption 2. Find more Jessie on Twitter and T…
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The AlmaMAC Episode 198 (Aug. 5/21): Examining the role of sleep and exercise on cardiovascular health with Josh Cherubini
29:41
Sleep deprivation is associated with poor heart health including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and even mortality. While exercise has been shown to have positive effects on cardiovascular health, less is known how and if it can counteract some of the negative effects of sleep deprivation. Josh Cherubini, a 1st year Master's student i…
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The AlmaMAC Episode 197 (July 22/21): Blurring the lines between art and science with Kay McCallum
30:00
Art and cultural heritage materials are exposed to a number of pollutants including UV light, mold growth, temperature/humidity changes, or gas pollutants that can potentially ruin the pieces over time. Fortunately, these materials remain conserved through the expertise of art conservation scientists. Kay McCallum, a 2nd year PhD student in the Dep…
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Sawayra talks to the cast and crew of The Caffeine Rabbit Hole which is debuting at Hamilton's Fringe Fest 2021! THE CAFFEINE RABBIT HOLE Written, Produced & Directed by JOHN BANDLER Streaming July 15-25, 2021 www.hamiltonfringe.ca Box Office: https://www.tinyurl.com/CaffeineRabbit Fringe Program: http://bit.ly/HFF2021-Programs Web page: http://www…
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How do you relate exercise intensity from one person to another? Heart rate, perceived effort, lactic acid build up are some of the best methods because these signals increase for everyone the harder they work... right? This week Sawayra talks to Sydney Valentino who tells us how these bodily responses don't happen the same way for everyone. Especi…
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This week Sawayra talks to Jennifer Williams about her research on Contraception and Cardiovascular Health. Follow Jennifer on Twitter @JennySWilliams Follow Sawayre on Twitter @Seeingaway If you like this, subscribe to the show! You can watch the interview on scientificanada.ca Thanks for watching!
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Welcome back to The AlmaMAC! This week, Sawayra talks to PhD student and musician Konrad Swierczek about his research into music universality. Why do certain things sound good to us? Do they sound good to other cultures? Let's find out. Find Konrad on Twitter @KonradSwierczek ! Find Sawayra too: @seeingaway ! We are also at scientificanada.ca with …
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Adam talks to Sawayra about "comps". Thoughts and feelings, tips and tricks, and different styles of exams are the focus of discussion this week. For more, head to scientificanada.ca
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CW: Dr. Chungah Kim is an expert on socio-economic indicators connected with suicide, so some of the discussion may not be for everyone.
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This week I am excited to tell you about a new podcast series about university grads who took the long way around, so to speak. I'm sure many listeners are in this boat, but what the heck do you do once you graduate? Post-grad is a big unknown and if you don't have something lined up right out of school (who does, right?) what are you supposed to d…
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The Large Hadron Collider is made up of a bunch of different experiments run by different international collaborations, but it’s all happening on the 27-km loop. All of these experiments are attached to the loop, but at different locations around the loop. This requires a ton of oversight and collaboration between experiments, and to facilitate thi…
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NOTE: 93.3 CFMU HAD TO CUT THIS ONE SHORT. THIS IS THE FULL INTERVIEW. Welcome back to the AlmaMAC! This week Sawayra interviews Rodrigo Narro Pérez. They talk research, diversity in academia, and all of the initiatives that keep Rodrigo busy. Rodrigo is a member of the Glacial Sedimentology Lab whose research looks at using glacial sedimentology a…
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This week Adam is back, and he's talking to his officemate, Carmen Lee. Carmen talks about some of her new projects, existing in a pandemic, the student she supervised virtually, and a smattering of other topics. You can connect with Carmen over Twitter @carmlingling . You can also watch the pod on Youtube! Check out www.scientificanada.ca for more…
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The Navier-Stokes equation is like the e=mc2 for fluid dynamics. It's like the F=ma for flow. It's used to model fluids, airstreams, flow of money, and a wide variety of other things, and it's been around for a very long time... but we don't actually know how to solve it... This week, Sawayra talks to Pritpal Matharu, a graduate student in the Math…
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Hello everyone, and welcome back to the AlmaMAC! I’m your host Adam and today we have the second part of my interview with Sawayra, the inventor and original host of the AlmaMAC. Last week we talked about why she started this radio show, and what direction we are going to take it from here. You can listen to that over on our website, scientificanad…
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We got a little out of sync with CFMU a few weeks ago, so let's get back on track. If you already heard this one, then you have no homework this week! Head outside and take a walk :) Hi hello, and welcome to the show. Today is a particularly special episode of the AlmaMAC. Actually, it’s probably the most Meta episode of the almaMAC that we’ve ever…
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This week’s episode is a very special one. For one thing, it’s the triumphant return of Sawayra Owais as host of the AlmaMAC. For another, she speaks to a guest who studies some very important, very timely issues. I’d probably label them as crises really. Rida is a Masters student at McMaster university. This week Sawayra talks to her about her res…
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Hi hello, and welcome to the show. Today is a particularly special episode of the AlmaMAC. Actually, it’s probably the most Meta episode of the AlmaMAC that we’ve ever had. Today I’m joined by the inventor of the AlmaMAC, the once and future host of the AlmaMAC, Sawayra Owais! This is actually a 2-parter, since we have so much to talk about. Today …
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Sabrina Schalz is a PhD student in Urban Evolutionary Ecology at Middlesex University, focusing on the speech perception of wild Carrion Crows in London. However, in this interview, you will find that she's broadened her scope to cats https://sabrinaschalz.wordpress.com/ Find the full show notes at https://scientificanada.ca/…
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Thanks again to Francesco Zangari! Follow him on Twitter, https://twitter.com/franthewriter1 And now, you may notice we still have a couple minutes left. So here we go, another installment of Journal Club. This week, I want to share something timely. The new year is upon us, which means we are almost done with this 12th month of ours, and this garb…
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Hello and welcome to Random walk episode 27. This week you will be hearing from PhD Candidate and science writer Francesco Zangari. Francesco is finishing his PhD on Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto, and recently attended ComSciCon-GTA, a conference on communicating science for researchers local to the Greater Toronto Area. This is a…
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Welcome back to the show, I’m your host Adam, and this week I am going to be talking to ZiYan Chen about communicating science as a researcher and grad student. But before we get to the interview, I’m excited to announce that as well as being a guest on this episode, ZiYan is one of our very first guest authors on our website, scientificanada.ca . …
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We are back! And with two great guests, Canada's DRAKE and KYLE from the Brain Buzz Podcast! (I wanted to make a click-bait Drake-based title but deemed that too "unprofessional") Kyle and Drake a psychology grad students at the University of British Columbia. When they aren't working towards graduating, they produce a fantastic podcast where they …
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We are back! And with two great guests, Canada's DRAKE and KYLE from the Brain Buzz Podcast! (I wanted to make a click-bait Drake-based title but deemed that too "unprofessional") Kyle and Drake a psychology grad students at the University of British Columbia. When they aren't working towards graduating, they produce a fantastic podcast where they …
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Kathryn is back to talk ComSciConCAN2020! We talk about our take-aways from the 2020 edition of ComSciConCAN, a grad-student focused conference on science communication! Remember, we have a big write-up about the conference available for free at https://www.patreon.com/scican Kathryn Vaillancourt is a PhD candidate at McGill University studying how…
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Roshan is back to talk ComSciConCAN2020! We talk about our take-aways from the 2020 edition of ComSciConCAN, a grad-student focused conference on science communication! Remember, we have a big write-up about the conference available for free at https://www.patreon.com/posts/scienti... Dr. Roshan Achal (from University of Alberta) is a physicist who…
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Sarah is back to talk ComSciConCAN2020! We talk about the panels, policy, and new initiatives! Remember, we have a big write-up about the conference available for free at https://www.patreon.com/posts/scientificanada-40932072 Sarah Turner studies Community Health Science at the University of Manitoba, focusing on breast milk, epidemiology, and heal…
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And we're back! Last you heard, we were going to ComSciConCAN-2020, and you met some attendees. Now that we're back, you'll hear about the conference from Adam and his previous guests. This week, we start with Tareq! You remember Tareq right? :) www.scientificanada.ca patreon.com/scican
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And we're back! Last you heard, we were going to ComSciConCAN-2020, and you met some attendees. Now that we're back, you'll hear about the conference from Adam and his previous guests. This week, we start with Tareq! You remember Tareq right? :)
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THIS WEEK: Kathryn Vaillancourt is a PhD candidate at McGill University studying how addiction can change the way traits are passed down, without having to alter the person's genetic code. It's a fascinating (and relatively new) area of research called "epigenetics", and I wish I had read the wikipedia article before the interview, because it says …
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THIS WEEK: Congrats to Dr. Roshan Achal (from University of Alberta), who had just convocated at the time of recording! In this episode, he tells us about the work he does, organizing, corralling, and placing individual atoms for nano-devices. We also talk about is 90-second video series on Twitter, and Science Communication at large. CHECK OUT: Ro…
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