Speaker Series - March 1 - 12, 2021
This is an exciting opportunity to hear from Ontario Tech experts on a variety of topics. Virtual sessions will run Monday to Friday from March 1 to 12, beginning at noon each day.
Speaker Schedule
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Monday, March 1 - Fostering the Development of Creativity and Critical Thinking Through “Maker” Education
Dr. Janette Hughes, Faculty of Education
In this presentation, Dr. Hughes will discuss how she uses a “maker approach” to education, which draws on inquiry-based, design thinking processes, to help students and their teachers in K-12 develop foundational competencies. She will specifically focus on how innovative learning environments like makerspaces can promote skills such as critical thinking and creativity, as well as knowledge and dispositions that address the uncertainty and ambiguity of the future, while increasing personal resilience and well-being.
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Tuesday, March 2 - Virtual rehabilitation: A promising way forward
Dr. Pierre Côté, Faculty of Health Science
The limited access to rehabilitation services during the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the health and well-being of thousands of Canadians. The current public health crisis highlights more than ever that we need to develop effective and safe alternatives to in-person health care and rehabilitation. In his presentation, Professor Côté will discuss why virtual rehabilitation offers promising solutions to this problem and how it could facilitate access to care to those with limited services.
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Wednesday, March 3 - Energy and the Future of Advanced Mobility
John Komar and Dr. Justin Gammage, ACE
Energy that powers the movement of people and goods around the world is undergoing changes that are creating transformational opportunities for emissions reduction and increases in efficiency. Innovation in energy storage and transfer, climatic aerodynamics and the use of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things “IoT” on our roadways are bringing concepts like GM’s Vision Zero: Zero Emissions, Zero Crashes and Zero Congestion. This discussion will dive into the foundational technologies driving the changes in the mobility sector and highlight some of the near term challenges along with all the opportunities being created for the innovators of the future.
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Thursday, March 4 - Engineering Education Re-imagined
Dr. Qusay Mahmoud, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
The job of the professor is changing from delivering content in the classroom to designing learning experiences for students. In this talk, Dr. Qusay H. Mahmoud will provide insights into preparing future engineers to thrive in the age of artificial intelligence and automation.
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Friday, March 5 - Tiny Neonates, Big Impact: How AI innovations for our tiniest Canadians are driving innovation for astronauts, tactical officers and firefighters
Dr. Carolyn McGregor, Canada Research Chair, Faculty of Business & IT
Professor McGregor AM will provide an update on her world leading research program where she is creating new advanced computing and information techniques, including new artificial intelligence approaches, to improve outcomes for premature infants. She will then show how that research has grown and expanded to new approaches for health, wellness, resilience and adaptation for astronauts, tactical officers and firefighters also. You will learn about her innovative use of Ontario Tech’s one-of-a-kind ACE Facility and her new directions for the Moon and beyond!
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Monday, March 8 - Facing Hate in Canada
Dr. Barbara Perry, Director, Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism, Faculty of Social Science and Humanities
In light of recent events in the US, many commentators are asking, “could it happen here?” We like to think that Canada is immune to the threat of hate crime and white supremacists, but data and research suggest otherwise. *** International Women’s Day ***
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Tuesday, March 9 - Age-Friendly University and Community Initiatives
Dr. Shilpa Dogra/ Dr. Winnie Sun, Faculty of Health Science
Come learn about initiatives aimed at making our university and our community more age-friendly. Drs. Dogra and Sun will speak about various initiatives aimed at creating an age-friendly environment that supports active aging and intergenerational collaboration, as well as implementing approaches that challenges negative aging stereotypes. They will highlight current work being done in collaboration with community partners, and identify opportunities for future programming. Finally, they will speak to their research and how it is used to inform decision making and its impact on promoting an age-friendly community for all.
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Wednesday, March 10 - Maintaining your privacy while working from home
Dr. Rajen Akalu, Faculty of Business and Information Technology
This talk will discuss privacy risks associated with working from home. It will also discuss privacy risk mitigation strategies and recent legislative reform in privacy law.This talk will discuss privacy risks associated with working from home. It will also discuss privacy risk mitigation strategies and recent legislative reform in privacy law.
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Thursday, March 11 - Pi in the Sky
Dr. Rupinder Brar, Faculty of Science
The search for new planets throughout our galaxy is the fastest growing and most exciting field in Astronomy today. The methods that astronomers use to detect these exoplanets will be discussed alongside the new Earth-like planets and strange new worlds that have been discovered, one amusingly and fittingly nicknamed the Pi Planet.
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Friday, March 12 - The Case for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
Dr. Kirk Atkinson, Director, Centre for SMRs; Dr. Akira Tokuhiro, Dean, Faculty of Energy Systems and Nuclear Science; Megan Tougas-Cooke, 4th-year nuclear engineering student
Information available soon.