Science Talks Webinars

    
Science Talks: Mathematical & Statistical Sciences: Can Influenza forecasts be more reliable than weather forecasts?

Cold and flu season is upon us and as individuals and families feel the effects of viruses on our communities, researchers use modelling to understand the dynamics of transmission and spread of respiratory viral infections in Alberta during influenza seasons. Modelling can be used to support public health decisions from community spread to improving hospital capacity planning.

Hear from Michael Li (‘93 PhD) and Marie Betsy Varughese (‘17 PhD) of the Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences as they provide a glimpse into their work predicting the peak times of seasonal influenza and some common questions, challenges and misconceptions of mathematical modelling.

Michael Li (‘93 PhD), Professor of Mathematics & Statistical Sciences and Marie Betsy Varughese (‘17, PhD), Senior Principal Mathematical Modeler at the Institute of Health Economics and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences use mathematical modeling tools to study transmission dynamics of infectious diseases in populations and immune response dynamics to viral infections inside the human body. During the last 10 years, they have both been involved in providing peak time predictions of seasonal influenza for Alberta health authorities.

Date: Thursday, Nov. 27

Time: 12 - 1 p.m. MDT

Cost: Free via Zoom

Register

Material Chemistry: Designing the next-generation materials of tech: Nanographene-based organic materials

Carbon-based materials like graphene have revolutionized electronics, energy storage and materials science. Organic synthesis can be used to build nanographenes — molecular fragments of graphene — with precise control over their size, shape, and curvature. By introducing structural features such as twists, bends, and chirality, we can tune their optical and electronic properties for potential use in next-generation technologies — with possible applications in creating flexible screens and more.

Join University of Alberta grad and professor in the Department of Chemistry, Wesley Chalifoux. This presentation will highlight his lab’s recent advances in the synthesis of these unique molecules, as well as the broader implications for materials design, photophysics, and carbon-based nanotechnology.

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Science Talks: Urban planning: Building climate-resilient communities through adaptation planning

While climate change is a global issue, impacts are felt locally. Local governments (municipalities) are well situated to lead climate adaptation action, however a variety of challenges slow adaptation implementation in practice. Hear from Jeff Birchall, assistant professor in the Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, as he highlights some of the localized impacts associated with climate change, and the way local government decision-makers cope with these impacts, whether through ad-hoc planning, strategic long-term policy, or in some instances, no action at all. Showcasing examples from across Canada, this presentation demonstrates that action isn’t always straightforward, and buy-in for action isn’t always a guarantee, even when extreme events take place on a regular basis, and even when these impacts have a cost on the community. 
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Science Talks: Human-Centred Privacy in a Digital Society
Data isn't just a collection of numbers—it's something deeply connected to real people, whose lives can be affected by how companies use their information. Privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) are designed to mitigate privacy risks in digital systems. When applied to data analysis, PETs can help strike a balance between protecting individual privacy rights and supporting companies' economic interests. However, for PETs to truly improve the landscape of corporate data-sharing practices, they must also foster trust among those whose data is being shared.  Hear from Bailey Kacsmar on the development of privacy enhanced data analysis techniques, the implications on user perspectives of the space, and the ongoing work towards the development of accessible human-centred private data analysis techniques and protocols.

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May: Sleep to remember with Clayton Dickson
April: The Evolution of Ethics in AI with Eleni Stroulia and Nidhi Hegde
February:  COVID-19 modelling demystified with Marie (Betsy) Varughese and Michael Li
January: Fostering coexistence over conflict with urban coyotes through evidence-based methods with Colleen Cassady St. Clair
December: Taking Control of the Quantum World: Developing new technologies using ultracold atoms with Lindsay LeBlanc
November: Data permutations: How to understand human speech, the spread of COVID-19, and the Alberta electorate with Adam Kashlak
October: Searching for life outside of Earth: NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Mission with Chris Herd
September: Eavesdropping on communication in wild bats and mice with Matina Kalcounis-Rueppell
August: Community Approaches to Housing Affordability with Joshua Evans
July: The science of Rock, Paper, Scissors with Ben Dyson
June: Perspectives from new Canadian Arctic Ice Cores with Alison Criscitiello
May: Cretaceous Dinosaurs in Northern Alberta with Corwin Sullivan
April: Glycomics- Sugars and Human Health with Lara Mahal