Hidden Figures (Canada)

Dr. Allan E.S. Lumba is an Assistant Professor of History at Concordia University. His latest book "Monetary Authorities: Capitalism and Decolonization in the American Colonial Philippines" is available from Duke University Press, or at the open access at the link below. In this episode, Dr. Lumba chats with Joe and Annie about the importance of history in understanding contemporary issues, especially as they relate to race and power. He emphasizes the need for institutional change within academia to better serve communities and address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and discusses his research on the American colonial Philippines and his upcoming projects on infrastructural history in Manila.

https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/58913

Dr. Sylvia Santosa, Canada Research Chair in Clinical Nutrition at Concordia University, joins the Hidden Figures team to discuss her journey into academia and how she became interested in researching fat tissue, obesity, and metabolic disorders. This conversation covers the challenges of bias and inequity in academia and within the discipline itself, but also highlights positive shifts towards inclusivity and a growing recognition of diverse experiences. Dr. Santosa also shares her insights on the evolving criteria for evaluating success, such as grants and peer review processes, that are contributing to a more equitable and inclusive academic environment.

In this episode, Dr. Alejandro Hernandez discusses his journey in academia, starting from his motivation for pursuing a PhD to his experiences as a postdoctoral fellow. He reflects on the complexities and challenges within academia, particularly regarding the neo-liberalization of education and the hierarchies present within institutions. Dr. Hernandez shares insights on his research projects and the structural barriers that impact the ability to conduct research in Canada. He also highlights issues related to faculty hiring practices in sociology departments, emphasizing the preference for non-Canadian candidates over Canadian ones.

In this episode, Dr. Ethel Tungohan discusses what motivates her, her experiences with tenure processes, and the relevance of her research in a polarized political environment. Dr. Tungohan shares her approach to making research accessible to broader communities and discusses socially engaged research practices. The podcast also touches on the challenges and biases in academic disciplines and the importance of uplifting marginalized scholars in the field. Dr. Tungohan also discusses the way that her podcast “Academic Aunties” is form of community support, and she tells Nathan and Joe to start a Hidden Figures band.

https://www.academicaunties.com/

In this episode, Dr. Raywat Deonandan talks with Annie about his journey from childhood in Guyana to pursuing a career in science and academia. He reflects on the importance of being brutally honest about personal goals and motivations in choosing a career path, and also emphasizes the role of academia in public health communication, the need for knowledge translation, and the challenges of balancing well-considered research with rapid responses in emergencies. Dr. Deonandan advocates for engaging conversations and meaningful relationships in knowledge exchange and highlights the complexities of knowledge mobilization and the importance of accessibility in academia.

In this special Early Career Scholar episode of the HF Podcast, Renata Hall and Tari Ajadi talk with Akalya Kandiah about their experiences of incorporating activism into their academic journey. Hall shares her journey from facing challenges as a Black identifying student in the classroom to creating the Learning in Color project to advocate for inclusivity and anti-racism in higher education. Dr. Ajadi discusses his activism in Black communities and the challenges of being an ECR in the academy. Both scholars reflect on the importance of mentorship and the impact of uncompensated labor on their academic pursuits. They also highlight the disparities in mentorship and the need for systemic changes within academia. Throughout the conversation, Hall and Dr. Ajadi discuss the importance of accountability to the communities they research and the challenges they face as BIPOC scholars.

This episode features Dr. Janelle Joseph (https://janellejoseph.com/), who discusses her research on anti-racism policies, physical activity access, decoloniality, and ethics. Dr. Joseph's groundbreaking 2017 book "Black Atlantic: Cricket, Canada and the Caribbean Diaspora" (linked below) focused on how sports create transnational social fields that connect migrants in North America, England, and the Caribbean. She is the founder of the IDEAS research lab dedicated to issues of race and movement cultures in Canada. Her conversation with the Hidden Figures podcast team covers the challenges of accessing predominantly white and male spaces in her research, the importance of centering the voices of participants in her work to address racism in university sports, and the need for policies to address racism in athletic departments across Canada.

https://manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781784994075/sport-in-the-black-atlantic/

https://www.amazon.ca/Sport-Black-Atlantic-Caribbean-diaspora/dp/1784994073/

In this episode, Dr. Niiyokamigaabaw Deondre Smiles discusses his research on Indigenous cultural responses to climate change and on leading the Geographic Indigenous Futures Co-Laboratory. He talks about the importance of building relationships with Indigenous communities and ensuring that research projects are community-led and non-extractive. Dr. Smiles also addresses the challenges of tokenizing Indigenous knowledge and emphasizes the need for a deep understanding of the multiple Indigenous knowledges and local context. He discusses a project he is working on with a First Nation community to develop mapping software for ecological conservation and marine stewardship, and shares his long-term goal of increasing geographic outreach to young Indigenous students and the growing importance of Indigenous perspectives in addressing climate change and environmental challenges.

https://deondresmiles.com/

Dr. Kevin Hewitt joins Nathan and Joe in this episode to discuss his journey as a black physicist and his efforts to increase representation of black professionals in STEM fields. He talks showcasing hidden figures in science, shares his research on optical diagnostic tools for disease detection, and highlights his work with Imhotep's Legacy Academy, a program that supports youth of African heritage in STEM fields. Dr. Hewitt emphasizes the need for diversity in STEM and how it can lead to innovation and problem-solving in marginalized communities. He also discusses his own challenges, the importance of community support, and his commitment to social justice in academia.

In this episode, Dr. Debra Thompson (McGill University) chats with Nathan and Joe about her research on race and racism in Canada and abroad. She talks about the challenges of studying race in Canada, the history of racial classifications on censuses, and the need for new methodologies to understand racial discrimination. She also discusses the impact of her work in teaching students about racism and how her main focus is societal change rather than seeking recognition in the academic field.

Dr. Thompson's latest book "The Long Road Home" was a finalist for the Hilary Weston Writer's Trust Prize for nonfiction.

(producer's note: Joe's audio stopped working halfway through the interview, so there may be some awkward transitions...)