Episodes
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
WSS S2E8: Canada's Oil Disconnect
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Western Canada is one of the world's largest oil manufacturing regions, but in the last half-decade the industry has experienced a significant downturn, and is only just starting to recover. Western Science Speaks brings in geologist and former oil exploration CEO, Professor Burns Cheadle, for an objective breakdown of Canada's oil sector woes, the head-scratching reality of half the country importing oil from abroad, and how the sector impacts our relationship with the U.S.
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
WSS S2E7: Stirring the pot: Finding sustainable methods for metal extraction
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
We rely on metal to power our daily lives. The good news is, Canada is one of the world’s largest producers of this vital material. However, balancing that productivity with the obligation to protect our increasingly fragile environment is a challenge that leaves Canadian miners and environmentalists grappling. Professor Kim Baines from the Department of Chemistry joins Western Science Speaks to discuss metal’s national importance, the common mining and separation techniques, and how chemists approach the obstacle of assembling an environmentally friendlier mining process.
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
WSS S2E6: The enormous upside to Artificial Intelligence in injury rehabilitation
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Are you concerned about the impact rapidly advancing AI technology on your privacy, wealth and our democracy? If so, you need to hear from Dr. Dan Lizotte from the Department of Computer Science at Western University. Dan joins the podcast to dispel the evil-robot narrative, talk about his medical AI research and illuminate the life-saving upside that robots can contribute to the health of Canadians in the very near future.
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
WSS S2E5: The Genetic Basis for Courtship and Mating Behaviour with Amanda Moehring
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Meeting someone special is an undeniably worthwhile and necessary part of life. Unfortunately, it can often be awkward, flustering and at the worst of times, cringe-inducing. Determining how much of our success (or failure) in that domain is dictated by free will, rather than deep-rooted peculiarities is a question that fascinates researchers of behaviour. Amanda Moehring, from the Department of Biology, joins the podcast to break down the role genetics play in our courtship and mating process.
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
WSS S2E4: Explore the Revival of Atlantic Salmon in the Great Lakes
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
When you live in a fish-eat-fish world, the complexity of your environment and how you use it to survive and thrive is of critical importance. Neff Lab researcher, Chris Therrien joins us for part two in a series about the revival of Atlantic Salmon in The Great Lakes.
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
WSS S2E3: Genetics and Social Behaviour with Dr Anne Simon
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Western students, professors and staff create a social community of over 30,000 people on Western's campus every day. Understanding why we are comfortable or not in these social spaces is a topic of great importance for behavioural researchers. Western Science Speaks sits down with Dr Anne Simon of Western’s Department of Biology, to explore the role genetics in the social behaviour of living things.
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
WSS S2E2: The Story of Salmon Revival in the Great Lakes with Nicole Zathey
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Our world is supporting less natural life forms than ever before. How do we revive a once thriving species, that perished at the hands of man? Western Science Speaks talks to Nicole Zathey, who is working to restore the previously native Atlantic Salmon back into Ontario waters.
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
WSS S2E1: Bird Survival in a Changing Climate
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Western Science Speaks takes a tour of the Advanced Facility for Avian Research. This cutting-edge research facility has it's own wind tunnel and is able to simulate almost any environmental condition. We talk with Jeff Martin who's looking how climate change is affecting birds in Canada.
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
WSS S2 Launch: Canada's Energy Economy
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Wednesday Oct 03, 2018
Sustainability, alternative energy, profitability and competitiveness; concepts that considered together provide a thought-provoking discussion with Western University’s Dr. Matt Davison about Canada’s energy economy from the perspective of the consumer, government and business.