GradCast

312 | Awareness of Storing Nuclear Waste

With the growth and increased use of nuclear energy in Canada, more research is being conducted to understand how nuclear waste should be stored safely and in permanent storage facilities. Hosts Elizabeth Mohler and Gavin Tolometti learn about nuclear waste storage from the Department of Chemistry PhD student Lindsay Grandy. Lindsay's research looks at the underlying processes of copper corrosion when it's exposed to ionizing radiation to be sure we understand how the copper layer will behave in this environment.

If you would like to learn more about Canada's permanent plan to store nuclear waste and Lindsay's lab research you can visit the NWMO and RAMPS website, or you can follow Lindsay on Twitter @drlinds

Full video available on YouTube

Recorded on Feb 9, 2021

Produced by Gavin Tolometti

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

311 | Talking Dirt-y About Antibiotic Resistance

Liam Brown, Masters student in Biology, gives us a tour through the history of antibiotic resistance. Liam tells Elizabeth Mohler and Ariel Frame about his research conducted at the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research facility in London studying this topic and how the make up of fertilizer can impact antibiotic resistance in agricultural soil. For more about Liam's research, check Liam's ResearchGate or email him at lbrow55@uwo.ca

Recorded on Feb 2, 2021

Produced by Ariel Frame

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

Special Episode: Indigenous Awareness Week 2021

For Western's 7th Annual Indigenous Awareness Week (IAW), GradCast hosted two Indigenous Graduate Students to chat about their research. IAW celebrates Indigenous presence and builds community between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. GradCast's IAW Special Episode has two parts: 

Part 1: Reconciliation – in progress?

Riley Corbin (MA French Candidate) discusses how he wants to use the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s, TRC, 94 calls to action to explore whether or not these calls had any effect on Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Part 2: The Role of Housing in Enhancing Access to Post Secondary Education for Indigenous Learners

Victoria Bomberry (MA Geography Candidate) chats about her research on enhancing understandings of the unique housing needs of Indigenous learners at Canadian post-secondary institutions.  Victoria’s research contributes to ongoing work to improve access to post-secondary education for Indigenous Peoples as well as efforts to address rising unaffordability of housing in Canadian urban centres. 

Full video available on YouTube

Recorded on Jan 23, 2021

Produced by Gavin Tolometti

“Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot”

 

310 | Brain Electrical Changes in an Autism Model

Raj Mann is a PhD student in the Neuroscience Program. She has worked diligently for years to perfect a difficult method of measuring the electrophysiology of individual neurons from the brains of rats. Raj tells Elizabeth Mohler and Ariel Frame how she has applied this method to a model of Autism and discovered how their neurons differ. 

To find out about Raj's work, check out her supervisor's lab website theschmidlab.com

Recorded on Jan 26, 2021

Produced by Ariel Frame

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

309 | Another Look at Alzheimer's disease

Asad Lone has nearly completed his PhD in biology. He tells Ariel Frame and Laura Munoz about the cell biology research he has done on the impact of p66Shc on cell metabolism and susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease brain pathology. Asad also discusses his interest in the ketogenic diet and post-PhD plans. 

To read about Asad's work, you can find him on ResearchGate

Recorded January 19, 2020

Produced by Laura Munoz Baena

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io Produced by White Hot

 

Special Episode: #GlobalGrads Episode III: Endearing India

In the series' third episode, hosts Liam Clifford and Rhys Paterson speak to Earth Sciences Master's student Richa Agarwal about her time as a Western student. Originally from Pune, India, Richa endears her home by comparing its sights and sounds to those she has experienced in Canada. From Nova Scotia to Niagara Falls, her journey touches upon the highlights of her experiences and how nicely it complements the Western student body.

If you would like to learn more about Richa's experience in Canada and her work, you can follow her on Instagram @doctorvworp19

Full video available on YouTube

Recorded on Jan 17, 2021

Produced by Gavin Tolometti

“Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot”

#Gradlife XI: How To Own Your Future

#GradLife is back with our first episode of 2021! Starting off the year strong, we bring an episode covering a topic that a lot of graduate students ask ourselves and each other probably every other day, "what job can I get with my degree?". We are all taught to focus on specific projects and problems and we never stop to think, "Can I apply my skills in other fields? or Will my specific skill set be a hinderance when applying for jobs?". I am pleased to tell you that no matter how specified your degree is, you have a stronger and broader skill set than you realize!

The University of Western Ontario offers a Doctoral Professional Development Program called "Own Your Future" with the aim to provide workshops and seminars for Masters and PhD students that will enhance their skills and abilities for academic studies and future careers. In this #GradLife episode, hosts Gavin Tolometti and Elizabeth Mohler talk with Dr Julie Jonkhans, who is the coordinator for Own Your Future. She talks about what Own Your Future can offer graduate students and how you can best apply the skills you have to finding jobs after grad school.

If you would like to learn more about Julie's involvement or have questions about the development program, you can email her at julie.jonkhans@uwo.ca or check out the Own Your Future website https://www.uwo.ca/ownyourfuture/ 

Full video is available on YouTube

Recorded on Jan 5, 2021

Produced by Gavin Tolometti

Theme song Upbeat Party produced by Scott Holmes

307 | Why Do We Make The Choices We Do?

On this episode, hosts Yousuf and Francesco discuss cognitive dissonance with Master’s of Psychology candidate, Mikayla Colthirst-Reid. With a background and industry experience in marketing, social media and communications, Mikayla is attempting to explore how our own self-perceptions affect our decision-making processes and behaviours. She discusses how this phenomenon could make our choices predictable to a certain extent and therefore exploitable by marketing campaigns. Mikayla is returning to school after 7 years of industry experience in both corporate and not-for-profit roles. She also continues to do freelance work as a social media strategist and consultant and hosts a podcast dedicated to mindful marketing for online entrepreneurs.

If you would like to learn more about Mikayla and her work, you can follow her on Instagram @themikaylavictoria or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Full video available on YouTube

Recorded on Jan 5, 2021

Produced by Gavin Tolometti

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

308 | Exploring Our Red Planet

Did you know Mars has seasons too? Different from ours, but they are there. In this episode, Ariel Frame and Elizabeth Mohler sat down with Vidhya Ganesh Rangarajan who shared his research which focuses on studying active surface processes on Mars. These include phenomena that may be driven by wind, water, frost, dust and/or seasonal atmospheric changes seen on Mars. 

To find out more from Vidhya, follow him on Twitter @vidhyaganeshr93

Full video on YouTube

Recorded on Jan 12, 2021

Produced by Ariel Frame

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

REBROADCAST 93 | Taking the Blue Pill with Dan Perdic

This week we speak with Dan Perdic, a media studies scholar looking at the misogynist Red Pill online community.

Hosts: Yimin Chen & Tristan Johnson

Recorded on Nov 29, 2016

Produced by Susan Anthony