Science North Science Cafés

We've got exciting news to share about a brand new podcast! Look for us now at the Science North Podcast.

We've got exciting news to share about a brand new podcast!

Look for us now at the Science North Podcast.

With increased demand for resources, the mining industry continues to search for new deposits, often in new places. These deposits are often much deeper underground than deposits that have historically been mined. However,

With increased demand for resources, the mining industry continues to search for new deposits, often in new places. These deposits are often much deeper underground than deposits that have historically been mined. However, mining in difficult landscapes (such as below 2.5km underground) has major challenges such rock stresses and stability, heat on the human body, ventilation, productivity, and energy consumption, to name a few. What innovative ways are people in the mining industry overcoming these challenges? What does the future of mining look like?

Speakers:

Charles Nyabeze, Vice President of Business Development CEMI

Dr. Tammy Eger, Full Professor in the School of Human Kinetics, Research Chair in Occupational Health and Safety with the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH) at Laurentian University

Patti Pegues, Manager of Mine Planning for the North Atlantic Technical Services Department, Vale.

Unfettered experimentation driven by pure curiosity is giving way to a debate over whether to establish “no-go” areas of science—such as using new gene-editing technologies to produce engineered babies,

Unfettered experimentation driven by pure curiosity is giving way to a debate over whether to establish “no-go” areas of science—such as using new gene-editing technologies to produce engineered babies, giving flu viruses and other pathogens new capabilities, and engineering microbes to produce illegal drugs. Should we establish no-go areas of research? Who decides and who enforces it? What are the risks of not establishing regulations? Do we limit our potential by limiting ourselves?

Speakers:

Barbara Ward-Dagnon, CEO Medicor Research Inc

Adam Pawluch, Clinical Research Coordinator, Medicor Research Inc.

Dr. Farukh Jabeen, Founder and CEO, Avecina MedCann Innovations

Dr. Michael Yeo, Full Professor, Department of Philosophy Laurentian University

The current rate of species loss on our planet is alarming, but scientists and conservationists are divided about the best response to this extinction crisis. Is it possible to save all species, and should we even try? What is the value of a species,

The current rate of species loss on our planet is alarming, but scientists and conservationists are divided about the best response to this extinction crisis. Is it possible to save all species, and should we even try? What is the value of a species, and what is lost in extinction? If it is not possible to save all species, how should we make decisions about where to focus our conservation efforts? Do we have a responsibility to conserve as many species as possible... or even bring some back?

In partnership with Thinking extinction

Panelists included:

Brett BuchananAssociate Professor, Department of Philosophy, Laurentian University

Matt ChrulewAdjunct Researcher, School of Humanities, University of New South Wales

David LesbarreresAssociate Professor, Department of Biology, Laurentian University

Thomas NuddsProfessor Emeritus, Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph

Moderator: Dana MurchisonStaff Scientist, Science North

TV shows and movies about crime solving have exploded in popularity in recent years, but real-life forensic research is much more complicated, and much more diverse, than what we see on the screen. Is forensic science in the media actually affecting re...

TV shows and movies about crime solving have exploded in popularity in recent years, but real-life forensic research is much more complicated, and much more diverse, than what we see on the screen. Is forensic science in the media actually affecting real-life court cases, and are criminals walking free because of junk science? Meet experts from Laurentian's Department of Forensic Science and hear some myths busted about forensics. Supported by NSERC.

Panelists included:

Dr. Scott FairgrieveFull Professor, Department of Forensic Science and Director, Forensic Osteology Laboratory, Laurentian University

Dr. Gerard M. CourtinProfessor Emeritus, Adjunct Professor, Department of Forensic Science, Laurentian University

Dr. James WattersonAssociate Professor and Chair, Department of Forensic Science, Laurentian University

Moderator: Dana MurchisonStaff Scientist, Science North