Professor Godwin Arku is receiving funds for two new projects to empower Black youth on- and off-campus, work he hopes will be transformative for the communities studied. Arku, from the department of geography and environment, was today announced as …
Research
Study shakes up quake, fracking connections
Oil and gas companies can influence the number of fracking-related earthquakes they may unintentionally generate by changing the volume of fluids injected during the extraction process, a study by Western seismic expert Gail Atkinson shows. The volume of material used...
Chair sees health literacy as social justice issue
Lorie Donelle knows we are becoming increasingly dependent on modern technologies. She doesn’t want to constrain those uses – she wants to understand and maximize their benefits to improve health care.
Frankenstein and his monster – two centuries later
Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus still haunts conversations of scientific progress, ethics and human vanity. Today, we celebrate its 200th anniversary with insights from faculty across disciplines.
FRANKENSTEIN 200: Bequeathals create ‘life,’ enable research and learning
Two centuries ago, Mary Shelley was on a trip to Switzerland where she conceived and constructed the idea of Frankenstein. Through countless theatrical and silver-screen adaptations, the novel still conjures ideas of creating a new human from various pieces of humans.
Study to ease collateral damage of cancer treatment
A Western oncologist is examining new radiation techniques that could avoid damaging the esophagus for millions of people with advanced lung cancer.
Twin study unlocks schizophrenia secrets
A new study of identical twins shows for the first time that schizophrenia may be caused by not one distinct gene mutation, but an accumulation of mutations, some of which are not inherited from the twins’ parents. These mutations occur independently as individuals...
Database lends ear to language evolution
Four years ago, Yasaman Rafat became a mother and faced a dilemma that affects millions of the country’s non-native English-speaking immigrants. “How much of my native language, Farsi, do I speak with my son compared to English? When we are outside, do we speak in...
Study spotlights risks in anesthesiologist handoffs
Most patients are totally unaware that the anesthesiologist who put them under for surgery might not be the same one who brings them out even though that ‘handoff’ between the two doctors has been linked to a series of negative patient outcomes, including an increased...
‘Science, Action!’ contest puts research in motion
Postsecondary students across the country, including three from Western, are getting out of the labs and behind the camera for the annual Science, Action! initiative, sponsored by the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), to highlight...
Probiotics for respiratory illness could save millions
A recent study suggests the use of probiotics to prevent respiratory tract infections in Canada could result in annual savings of nearly $100 million. There is growing evidence probiotics can reduce the risk and duration of respiratory tract infections, as well as...
Study: Brief, brisk workout can improve cognition
Approaching his latest study, Matthew Heath already knew aerobic exercise can be as good for the mind as for the body. What he wanted to find out was how long you need to exercise in order to reap those cognitive benefits. There’s a well-documented link between...
Study looks to extinguish persistent firefighter pain
A recently released Western co-authored study is providing an eye-opening look into how physical pain and discomfort have become a way of life for many firefighters across the country. According to the study, the longer a firefighter’s career the greater the chances...
Study shakes up quake, fracking connections
Oil and gas companies can influence the number of fracking-related earthquakes they may unintentionally generate by changing the volume of fluids injected during the extraction process, a study by Western seismic expert Gail Atkinson shows. The volume of material used...
Chair sees health literacy as social justice issue
Lorie Donelle knows we are becoming increasingly dependent on modern technologies. She doesn’t want to constrain those uses – she wants to understand and maximize their benefits to improve health care.
Frankenstein and his monster – two centuries later
Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus still haunts conversations of scientific progress, ethics and human vanity. Today, we celebrate its 200th anniversary with insights from faculty across disciplines.
FRANKENSTEIN 200: Bequeathals create ‘life,’ enable research and learning
Two centuries ago, Mary Shelley was on a trip to Switzerland where she conceived and constructed the idea of Frankenstein. Through countless theatrical and silver-screen adaptations, the novel still conjures ideas of creating a new human from various pieces of humans.
Study to ease collateral damage of cancer treatment
A Western oncologist is examining new radiation techniques that could avoid damaging the esophagus for millions of people with advanced lung cancer.
Twin study unlocks schizophrenia secrets
A new study of identical twins shows for the first time that schizophrenia may be caused by not one distinct gene mutation, but an accumulation of mutations, some of which are not inherited from the twins’ parents. These mutations occur independently as individuals...
Database lends ear to language evolution
Four years ago, Yasaman Rafat became a mother and faced a dilemma that affects millions of the country’s non-native English-speaking immigrants. “How much of my native language, Farsi, do I speak with my son compared to English? When we are outside, do we speak in...
Study spotlights risks in anesthesiologist handoffs
Most patients are totally unaware that the anesthesiologist who put them under for surgery might not be the same one who brings them out even though that ‘handoff’ between the two doctors has been linked to a series of negative patient outcomes, including an increased...
‘Science, Action!’ contest puts research in motion
Postsecondary students across the country, including three from Western, are getting out of the labs and behind the camera for the annual Science, Action! initiative, sponsored by the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), to highlight...
Probiotics for respiratory illness could save millions
A recent study suggests the use of probiotics to prevent respiratory tract infections in Canada could result in annual savings of nearly $100 million. There is growing evidence probiotics can reduce the risk and duration of respiratory tract infections, as well as...
Study: Brief, brisk workout can improve cognition
Approaching his latest study, Matthew Heath already knew aerobic exercise can be as good for the mind as for the body. What he wanted to find out was how long you need to exercise in order to reap those cognitive benefits. There’s a well-documented link between...
Study looks to extinguish persistent firefighter pain
A recently released Western co-authored study is providing an eye-opening look into how physical pain and discomfort have become a way of life for many firefighters across the country. According to the study, the longer a firefighter’s career the greater the chances...