CanMoon is a Canadian Lunar Analogue Mission funded by the Canadian Space Agency, run by the CPSX program at Western in collaboration with The University of Winnipeg. Hosts Nikol and Greg chat with Cassandra Marion, the mission's "MOM", about what's it's like to simulate controlling a rover on the Moon, and more interestingly, how do you even train graduate students to do this. Tune in and hear about the team's experience working 10 hour night shifts controlling a rover from Western's control room, who knows maybe it's the perfect career for you!

Produced by Gavin Tolometti

Biodiesel provides an alternative fuel option for gasoline combustion engines, reducing the output of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Usually the production of biodiesel requires the fermentation of bio-products such as soy or sugarcane, however the process is slow and cannot compete with fossil fuel production. Now with the help of bacteria, everything is about to change. In this weeks episode, hosts Gavin and Greg talk with MSc student Colin Couper from the chemical and biochemical engineering department about his research using a bacteria called Clostridium pasteurianum to intensify the fermentation process of converting glycerol to the biodiesel fuel alternative butanol.

Produced by Ariel Frame

Canadian perception of immigrant minority groups is the topic of this week’s episode, as we welcome back to the show Ilinca Olariu, MA student in the History department. This time, Ilinca discusses what it meant to be a Romanian immigrant in Canada during WWI, and why a proportion of Romanian citizens were considered “enemy aliens”. Hosted by Yimin Chen and Viki Tellios.

Produced by Roger Hudson.

This week, hosts Roger Hudson and Nicholas Handfield Jones interview PhD Candidate Andrew Roebuck from the University of Saskatchewan via Skype for another #GradCastOnTour episode!

Roger and Andrew recently attended the Gordon Research Conference in Spain for Cannabinoids in the Central Nervous System where they had a chance to discuss all things cannabis-related. Andrew is using cutting edge neuroscience tools to explore aspects of the endocannabinoid system using compounds known as 'Positive Allosteric Modulators' (PAMs) that bind to the Cannabinoid Type 1 Receptor (CB1R) in the brain under the supervision of Dr. John Howland. Unlike THC, which binds to 'orthosteric' sites of the CB1R to elicit intoxication, the PAMs that Andrew uses in his laboratory do not produce a feeling of being 'high'. Through his research, he hopes that these compounds may someday be a therapy for various forms of pediatric epilepsy.

you can also check out the video recording of this episode by clicking here

On this episode, hosts Gavin and Greg discuss game theory with a PhD Candidate in Economics, Adam Rooney. From childhood, Adam has been an avid poker fanatic often hosting poker tournaments with his friends. When he came to university, he started with $50 in his bank account, which he used as a buy in for online poker tournaments. After winning many tournaments, he cashed out with an undergraduate degree education. Now he is in his PhD studying what he loves most, poker. And most importantly, he has many poker tips and tricks. Tune in to unlock the secrets of how you can become a poker pro too!

Produced by Gavin Tolometti