On July 7th, 2014, Trent alumnus Mark Quattrocchi ‘08

departed on a two-year cycling journey around the globe, travelling across 40

countries, 5 continents, and 35,000km, all while raising money for Free the

Children’s Adopt-A-Village program. The impressive trip has raised over $48,000

in support of education in underprivileged communities around the world.

Beginning in Sanya, China, where he spent time as an

international teacher at a Canadian school, Mark cycled home to his small town

of Rideau Ferry, Ontario, turning his dream of biking across the world into a

reality. Mark experienced vast cultures, unique food, beautiful

off-the-beaten-path landscapes, and friendly hospitality along the way.  It’s a journey he’ll never forget.

Cycling anywhere from 70 to 130km each day, then camping out

in a tent by night, the trip was both physically and emotionally strenuous for

the 28 year old. Yet, despite facing difficulty along the way, Mark’s passion

for education and the success of his fundraising efforts for Free the Children

continued to motivate him.

In June 2016 Mark’s spectacular journey came to an end when

he cycled across the border into Canada and arrived at home. Raising money for

Free the Children’s Adopt-A-Village program along the way, Mark’s ride has

helped to build schools in Rural China, India, Kenya, and Ecuador. With each

school costing $10,000 to build, Mark is still working towards his ultimate

goal of raising $50,000 for the charity, which will support the completion of a

fifth and final school in Nicaragua. To support Mark and Free the Children, click here.

Mark completed his Bachelor of Education at Trent University

in 2012, having already completed his undergraduate degree in Anthropology and

Greek & Roman Studies at the university.

Having accomplished his goal of biking around the world,

Mark is currently focusing on writing a book about his experiences. He is also

speaking about his ride in locations around Eastern Ontario. He calls his talk,

“Finding Your Bicycle Ride.”

Visit Mark’s website, www.oneadventureplease.com, to read

about his experience.

Listen to the full podcast to hear about Mark’s cycling trip

across the world.

The four-part series showcased the breadth of research undertaken by scholars and scientists associated with the School of the Environment, which launched in September 2015 and brings together experts from a variety of disciplines who are teaching or studying environmental topics.

"Each meeting features two short presentations, one by a scientist and one by an arts or policy person, so that every session captures a bit of the diversity of scholarship that goes on here," explains Professor Bocking, who is also chair of the Environmental and Resources Studies Program.  "It's a way for researchers at the School to gain a better understanding of what everyone else is doing and to encourage collaboration and sharing."

Trent Voices will be playing two of these events.  This is the second installment. For the first seminar (the loss of trust from green energy prospecting in Ontario, presented by Stephen Hill; approaches to improving sustainability of crop production systems in Ontario, presented by Mehdi Sharif), please see: http://trenttalks.podbean.com/e/trent-university-school-of-the-environment-seminar-series-part-1/.

In this episode:

Poisoning a lake: The fate and effects of nanosilver added to a natural lake ecosystem, presented by Chris Metcalfe. Sketching a global history of ecology and environmental conservation, presented by Stephen Bocking.

Chatelaine Magazine recently named Athena

Reich the “World’s Top Lady Gaga Impersonator.” 

But to label her an impersonator would tell only a fraction of the

story.  Reich, a talented artist in her

own right, subverts Gaga with her own unique brand of feminist and queer music

and drama – going so far as to incorporate her own pregnancy into a show called

#ARTBIRTH, where Gaga delivers a baby live on stage.

 

How Gaga is Reich?

 

Billboard Magazine once printed a photo of

her, mistakenly thinking it was Gaga.  Then

there’s the fact that Gaga herself tweeted in support of Reich’s work.

 

In 2015 she starred as Lady Gaga in

#ARTBIRTH at the Laurie Beechman Theater in NYC, which received multiple run

extensions and a Time Out Critic's pick.

 

Reich is hardly limited to her impersonator

role.  As a singer/songwriter, she has

released 5 full-length albums and numerous singles. Her music videos have

charted #1 on MTV LOGO and her song "Love is Love" won Best Pop Song

at the Outmusic Awards.

 

As an actress, her credits include While

Collar, The Perfect Murder, "An Evening with Donald Kempinski"

(Little Fella Films), "Hush: Inside the Waiting Womb" (LA / NY).

 

Her music can be bought on iTunes or

streamed on Spotify.

Trent University Chancellor Dr. Don Tapscott’s latest book has just been published by Penguin Random House.  BLOCKCHAIN REVOLUTION: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin is Changing Money, Business, and the World is co-authored by his son Alex Tapscott.

It is the first book to explain why blockchain technology – a truly open, distributed, global platform – will fundamentally change what we can achieve online, how we do it,and who can participate.

It is a fascinating follow-up to several groundbreaking works in which Dr. Tapscott explores the economic and social impact of technology, including Macrowikinomics; New Solutions for a Connected Planet (2010); the bestseller Paradigm Shift (1992); and Radical Openness: Four Unexpected Principles for Success (2013). His book Wikinomics was the best selling management book in the United States in 2007. In 2014, the 20th Anniversary Edition of Dr. Tapscott’s hit The Digital Economy was released with a new foreword by Eric Schmidt, Chairman of Google, and 12 new essays addressing the original topics of the book.

#TrentVoices sat down with Tapscott at the Rotman Centre School of Management at the University of Toronto for a special interview that focused on Blockchain Revolution, the bisecting futures of technology and the global economy, as well as on his ongoing relationship with Trent University.

Dr. Tapscott is one of the world’s leading authorities on innovation, media, and the economic and social impact of technology and advises business and government leaders around the world.  He is an Adjunct Professor of Management at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, and the inaugural Fellow at the Martin Prosperity Institute. In2013,he was appointed Chancellor of Trent University.  This month, his position of Chancellor was renewed for a further 3 years.

"There is a lot of amazing environmental research going on at Trent

University that people may not be aware of," says Dr. Stephen Bocking,

director of the Trent School of the Environment, as he speaks about the

School's inaugural seminar series which kicked off on March 28, 2016.

The four-part series showcases the breadth of research undertaken by scholars and scientists associated with the School of the Environment,

which launched in September 2015 and brings together experts from a

variety of disciplines who are teaching or studying environmental

topics.

"Each meeting features two short presentations, one by a scientist

and one by an arts or policy person, so that every session captures a

bit of the diversity of scholarship that goes on here," explains

Professor Bocking, who is also chair of the Environmental and Resources

Studies Program.  "It's a way for researchers at the School to gain a

better understanding of what everyone else is doing and to encourage

collaboration and sharing."

Trent Voices will be playing two of these events.

In this episode:

Power brokers: The loss of trust from green energy prospecting

in Ontario, presented by Stephen Hill. Approaches to improving

sustainability of crop production systems in Ontario, presented by Mehdi

Sharifi.

The Last Lecture offers graduating students an opportunity to come

together and reflect upon their experiences at Trent University, bring

closure to the time that they have spent here, and celebrate their many

accomplishments both inside and outside of the classroom.

This annual event features an address by a graduating student, a

distinguished alumna/us and a faculty member who will offer their words

of inspiration to the Convocation Class. Each lecturer speaks under one

theme, offering their personal reflections, stories and words of wisdom

to the graduating class. The Last Lecture helps to signify the beginning

of the next step on your journey.

Unlike convocation where you sit by program and alphabetical order,

at the Last Lecture you may choose to sit next to the person you sat

beside in your first year lecture, and that same person might be your

best friend today. Gather together a group of close friends and

celebrate your last Trent lecture together. 

2016 Speakers:

Opening Remarks delivered by the Dean of Arts and Science (Humanities), Dr. Moira Howes

Graduating Class – Lexie Houghton, Otonabee College

Alumni – Stephen Brown ‘86

Faculty – Dr. David Beresford, Biology and Environmental Resource Studies

 

For full bios and more information, please visit http://trentu.ca/colleges/events.php#TheLastLecture

A short anecdote from Bill Kimball about his "Billy K's Grab Bag of 45's" show from the 1980's.  To listen to the full interview, please visit http://trenttalks.podbean.com/e/trent-voices-radio-show-episode-26-bill-kimball/

Jim Maxwell has been making waves in the field of Hollywood matte painting – the painted background that allows filmmakers to create the illusion of an environment that is nonexistent in real life or would otherwise be too expensive or impossible to build or visit. And he has made some very prominent ones in his career: from recreating the Vatican in The Borgias to sweeping panoramas of floating armadas in Vikings.

Maxwell has received no shortage of recognition from the entertainment industry for his work, with a nod from the Emmy Awards for The Borgias in 2012, then two more nominations for his work on Vikings in 2013 and2014. He won Canadian Screen Awards in 2014 and 2015, also for his work on Vikings.

During his time at Trent, Maxwell was a member of The Spleen Bishops – whose Celtic music stylings made them household and “pubhold” names around these parts. 

In this episode, we talk about his experience creating movie effects magic, the changing technology behind the new Star Wars movie, as well as what it’s like to attend black-tie Hollywood award shows.  We then go back in time and remember The Spleen Bishops, how Celtic music became a phenomenon in Peterborough, and the gig that broke beer sales at the legendary Underdog pub (underneath the Red Dog).

A short anecdote from Bill Kimball about his "Billy K's Grab Bag of 45's" show from the 1980's.  To listen to the full interview, please visit http://trenttalks.podbean.com/e/trent-voices-radio-show-episode-26-bill-kimball/

Yuwa Hedrick-Wong is the Chief Economist and Chair of the Academic Advisory Council at MasterCard Center for Inclusive Growth – a group that just might make you doubt what you think you know about multinational financial organizations.  He’s also the Global Economic Advisor for MasterCard Worldwide. Prior to his global role, he was Economic Advisor to MasterCard in Asia/Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. He has served as economic strategist and advisor to over fifty leading multinational companies, advised executives and boards of directors for over 100 leading international businesses, and has delivered key note addresses at various prestigious business conferences around the world.  He is a regular commentator interviewed on CNBC, BBC World, CNN, CCTV (China), CBN (Shanghai), BTV (Beijing), Channel News Asia, Bloomberg Forum and many others.

Hedrick-Wong believes that economic growth drives shared prosperity – that it is not just limited to a single class or group of individuals. The Center for Inclusive Growth works to expand the middle class—in both developing and developed nations —in order for a better sharing of the benefits of economic development. According to Hedrick Wong, “in this situation, there is large-scale betterment—a boost to the common good—and growth for MasterCard’s business as well: a win-win process.”

He stresses the importance of taking this a step further. “We work with governments to create a deeper understanding of the importance of inclusive growth—and of equity,” he explains. “The impact of this can lead to being a win-win-win situation.”

It’s a revolutionary approach to economic development.  And one we delve into during this extended interview.