UNews - PUBlic Professor Series

PUBlic Professor Series talk to focus on the challenges facing modern agri-food business

trevor.kenney — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 19:30:10 +0000

The business of farming and ranching has never been so complex. Financial pressures, environmental concerns, technological change, shifting consumer preferences, infrastructure limitations and government interventionism are just some of the challenges inherent in today’s agri-food business.

Dr. Danny Le Roy will delve into the role economic science plays in the agri-food business.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Dr. Danny Le Roy will delve into the role economic science plays in helping navigate these complexities during his PUBlic Professor Series talk, Cockwombles, Cornucopias and the Curious Task of Economics, on Thursday, Oct. 30, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Lethbridge Trade & Convention Centre.

“My talk involves the economics of government interference in agriculture and agri-food markets,” says Le Roy, an associate professor of economics. “The first part involves understanding what economic science is really about and the second part involves applying economic principles to better understand government interference in agriculture and agri-food markets — things like tariffs, regulations and other impediments to the creation of wealth in agriculture and agri-food.”

Le Roy says that agri-entrepreneurs and producers operate at an intersection of scarcity, uncertainty, natural resource stewardship and business efficiency — a balance that seems increasingly difficult to maintain or even achieve. By utilizing economic science, a clearer picture can emerge.

“Economic science enables us to better grasp the source, the nature and the consequences of these issues,” he says. “It helps guide decision making and informs what the implications of those choices are, both intended and unintended. Economics is not about money, being able to predict the future, or what the level of something should be. It is about people; it is who we are and the omnipresent trade-offs we each face.”

In addition to his role at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Le Roy is a Senior Fellow with the Fraser Institute. He teaches courses in agricultural systems modeling, commodity marketing, agricultural policy and microeconomics, and has served as the coordinator of the ULethbridge Agricultural Studies Program since 2010. He has received the Agricultural Students’ Association Distinguished Teaching Award on two occasions and was the Prairie Baseball Academy’s Professor of the Year in 2018. He received his BA (Honours) in Economics from Carleton ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and his MSc and PhD in Agricultural Economics and Business from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Guelph.

Le Roy’s research focuses on production, marketing and trade of agricultural commodities. He is particularly interested in the effects of government interventionism.

The 2025-2026 PUBlic Professor Series has been generously supported by Knud Petersen, Dr. Dennis Connolly (LLD ’17), Dave and Kathy Greenwood, Dr. Michelle Helstein, Dr. Digvir and Manju Jayas, Deborah Lucas, and Dr. Dena McMartin.

The annual PUBlic Professor Series lectures spark thought-provoking discussions on the most relevant topics of the day, bringing together a diverse group of experts and researchers from across campus and into the community. Every talk is free of charge. For a look at the full series, visit ulethbridge.ca/research/public-professor.

2025-26 PUBlic Professor Series (remaining schedule)

Cockwombles, Cornucopias and the Curious Task of Economics — Dr. Danny Le Roy, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 — Lethbridge Trade & Convention Centre

Has AI Made Teachers Obsolete? — Dr. Richelle Marynowski — Thursday, November 27, 2025 — Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge

Playing Telephone with Eyewitness Evidence — Dr. Jamal Mansour, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026 — The Owl Acoustic Lounge

Indigenous Childhood Stories Transform Worlds – Want Some? — Dr. Don McIntyre, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 — Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge

Legalized Gambling in Canada: Winners and Losers — Dr. Robert Williams — Thursday, March 26, 2026 — Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge

Discover how governments have used art as a means of diplomacy at opening PUBlic Professor series talk

trevor.kenney — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 15:32:43 +0000

Visiting an art gallery or museum can be awe-inspiring and educational, but did you ever expect it could also be political?

Dr. Anne Dymond, art historian and Chair of the Department of Art at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, will explore the mobilization of Canada’s art and museums for political purposes during the first PUBlic Professor Series lecture of the 2025-26 season on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Galt Museum & Archives. A presentation for Calgary audiences has also been scheduled Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, at the Esker Foundation.

Art historian Dr. Anne Dymond will present talks in both Lethbridge and Calgary.

Dymond’s talk, From a Communist Doctor to Madonna’s Cone Bra: Museums and Cultural Diplomacy in Troubled Times, will examine how governments have used art as a means of diplomacy, acting as a bridge that connects nations across challenging divides.

“Of course, museums are for displaying and preserving our cultural heritage, but they’ve also always been political tools for the governments that fund them,” says Dymond. “In this talk I’m going to look at Canada’s use of art and art exhibitions to forge an international identity, particularly in the 1970s when the country was taking a new place on the world stage.”

Dymond notes that Canada was one of the world’s first countries to recognize the People’s Republic of China in 1970, and art exhibitions between the two nations played a big role in bridging cultural and political divides.

“From Inuit prints to the creation of new museums, Canada was very active in using cultural diplomacy as a form of soft power,” she says. “More recently the federal government has pulled back from supporting this type of cultural diplomacy, but certain provincial governments have stepped up and, in particular, Quebec has been promoting a Francophone identity abroad by using art and art exhibitions.”

Dymond is a dedicated teacher who has been a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors Teaching Chair and has served on the Board of Governors. Her ongoing work supporting refugees garnered her both the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Senate Volunteer Award and the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award. Her book, Diversity Counts: Gender, Race, and Representation in Canadian Art Galleries, is the first large-scale quantitative assessment of gender and ethnicity in Canadian art galleries and was described as “a path-breaking study and an invaluable contribution to our understanding of the contemporary art scene in Canada.”

2025-26 PUBlic Professor Series

From a Communist Doctor to Madonna’s Cone Bra: Museums and Cultural Diplomacy in Troubled Times — Dr. Anne Dymond, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025 — Galt Museum & Archives

Cockwombles, Cornucopias and the Curious Task of Economics — Dr. Danny Le Roy, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 — Agri-Food Hub & Trade Centre

Has AI Made Teachers Obsolete? — Dr. Richelle Marynowski — Thursday, November 27, 2025 — Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge

Playing Telephone with Eyewitness Evidence — Dr. Jamal Mansour, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026 — The Owl Acoustic Lounge

Indigenous Childhood Stories Transform Worlds – Want Some? — Dr. Don McIntyre, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 — Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge

Legalized Gambling in Canada: Winners and Losers — Dr. Robert Williams — Thursday, March 26, 2026 — Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge

Faculty expertise showcased in lineup of 2025-26 PUBlic Professor Series speakers

trevor.kenney — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 20:29:34 +0000

From legalized gambling to AI in the classroom, testing confidence in eye-witness testimony and more, the 2025-26 lineup of PUBlic Professor Series lecture topics have been finalized, with six intriguing and engaging talks planned for the season.

Initiated in 2014 by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Arts & Science, the PUBlic Professor Series lectures have grown to include the breadth of research expertise on campus, including representation from all its Faculties and Schools.

“The PUBlic Professor Series is one of our key opportunities to showcase the excellent work being done by our faculty members to the external community. It’s really an important example of the research activities taking place throughout campus and how impactful that work is on everyone’s daily lives,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, ULethbridge’s vice-president (research).

The 2025-26 season kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, when Faculty of Fine Arts professor Dr. Anne Dymond presents, From a Communist Doctor to Madonna’s Cone Bra: Museums and Cultural Diplomacy in Troubled Times. Her presentation will take place in a community location to be finalized as the PUBlic Professor Series continues to visit new venues to connect with more community members.

“We started moving the talks around this past year, using venues that opened the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ up to new audiences, and found it to be very successful,” adds McMartin. “PUBlic Professor is for the public, we want to meet them where they frequent, especially when topics lend themselves to specific locations.”

Ensuing talks will take place in October and November, and then January, February and March 2026 and include speakers from the Faculty of Arts & Science, Faculty of Education, Faculty of Health Sciences and Dhillon School of Business. As has always been the case, all PUBlic Professor Series events are free and open to the public and available for viewing on the ULethbridge YouTube channel the following week.

Working with local venues and bringing research activities into the community also creates partnership opportunities. Corporate sponsors and community partners seeking to support creating connections and promoting activities that benefit and inform society are encouraged to connect with External Relations at external.relations@uleth.ca to learn more.

This season’s PUBlic Professor Series talks conclude with Dr. Robin Bright’s presentation, Does Reading even Matter Anymore?, 7 p.m. at the Sandman Signature Lodge.

The PUBlic Professor Series is an example of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Strategic Plan in action under the strategic direction to Challenge Boundaries and Inspire Curiosity. We value courageous conversation, learning from each other’s knowledge and experiences, and actively promote the safe, respectful, open and accessible exchange of ideas.

The series lineup is as follows:

2025-26 PUBlic Professor Series

From a Communist Doctor to Madonna’s Cone Bra: Museums and Cultural Diplomacy in Troubled Times — Dr. Anne Dymond, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025

Cockwombles, Cornucopias and the Curious Task of Economics — Dr. Danny Le Roy — Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025

Has AI Made Teachers Obsolete? — Dr. Richelle Marynowski (BEd ’94) — Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025

Playing Telephone with Eyewitness Evidence — Dr. Jamal Mansour — Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026

Indigenous Childhood Stories Transform Worlds – Want Some? — Dr. Don McIntyre — Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

Legalized Gambling in Canada: Winners and Losers — Dr. Rob Williams — Thursday, March 26, 2026

Final PUBlic Professor Series talk of season examines whether reading even matters in today’s world

trevor.kenney — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 17:53:11 +0000

Dr. Robin Bright (BA '79, BEd '82, MEd '88) has a provocative question — one that belies her standing as an educator and researcher in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Faculty of Education — Does Reading Even Matter?

The query is, in fact, the title of this month’s PUBlic Professor Series talk, which Bright will deliver on Thursday, March 27, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge (free event, cash bar, light appetizers, open to everyone).

Dr. Robin Bright says the benefits of reading include enhanced brain health and easing stress and anxiety.

“In today’s increasingly fast-paced environment, we tend to consume and create information and entertainment online,” says Bright. “We use Instagram, TikTok, X, Facebook, YouTube, and many others to read. And when we read on those platforms we tend to skim read, look for headlines, stumble upon content, but we seldom read deeply or critically.”

She explains how she has learned through her research that the act of reading a book is not only much more satisfying than the online experience, but also incredibly beneficial with respect to brain health and development.

“In this talk, I will share my research and statistics about reading, how it develops, how it’s taught and all the benefits that reading brings,” she says. “This includes benefits in areas like achievement in school and beyond, brain health, addressing mental health issues like stress and anxiety, and helping to develop empathy.”

Bright’s passion for how children develop as readers and writers began when she was a modern languages undergraduate student and as a student teacher in the Faculty of Education. These experiences led her to a 10-year teaching career, mostly at the grade-one level, and then to choose a life as a researcher, writer and teacher educator working with preservice teachers, practicing teachers, parents, children and colleagues. She is the author of several books on language and literacy development including, most recently, Sometimes Reading is Hard: Using Decoding, Vocabulary, and Comprehension Strategies to Inspire Fluent, Passionate, Lifelong Readers (2021).

This is the last of the six-talk PUBlic Professor Series lectures which feature thought-provoking discussions on the most relevant topics of the day, bringing together a diverse group of experts and researchers from across the ULethbridge campus and into the community. Every talk is free of charge, but registration is required. For those who cannot attend, the talk will be available on the ULethbridge YouTube channel following the presentation.

See more at ulethbridge.ca/research/public-professor.

Exploring our attachment to sentimental songs the focus of upcoming PUBlic Professor Series presentation

trevor.kenney — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 20:24:28 +0000

**This event is at capacity**

We all have them, those emotional connections to pop songs from the soundtrack of our past. They invoke real feelings when you catch them on the radio or are featured in TV and movie productions. You might even feel a little guilty admitting they still tug at your emotions — why?

Dr. Emily Gale, an assistant professor of musicology/ethnomusicology in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Department of Music, will examine these sentimental songs and why we should take our sounded feelings seriously in her PUBlic Professor Series talk, Sentimental Songs for Sentimental People, Thursday, Feb. 27, 7 p.m., at The Owl Acoustic Lounge (free event, cash bar, everyone welcome).

Dr. Emily Gale's PUBlic Professor talk will take place at the Owl Acoustic Lounge.

“Feeling remains critical to how and why most listeners engage with popular song,” says Gale. “However, these same songs might be ones you are embarrassed to admit liking or connecting with, a guilty pleasure if you will. Why do we have these ideas and where do these judgments come from?”

Gale’s talk will look at the history of English language sentimental songs over the last 250 years, then focus on two examples of songs from the 1850s and 1960s and their unexpected political histories.

“What are the consequences of relegating sentimental songs to a denigrated status,” she asks. “I’ll then discuss why we should take these sounded feelings seriously.”

Gale’s book in progress, Sentimental Songs for Sentimental People: An Unheard History of US Popular Music, analyzes the politics of affect and sentimentality within US popular music from the late 18th century to the present. Chapters on love, youth, death, tears, home and feels tune in to the counter public reverberations of a repertory long-considered trite, and even embarrassing, revealing unlikely entanglements. She has been broadcasting radio shows about this research since 2019 (on SUB_ʇXƎʇ and on UCC98.3FM) and her voice appears as a pop commentator on NPR’s All Things Considered and in the Los Angeles Times.

This is the fifth of six talks in the annual PUBlic Professor Series lectures which feature thought-provoking discussions on the most relevant topics of the day, bringing together a diverse group of experts and researchers from across the ULethbridge campus and into the community. Every talk is free of charge, but registration is required. For those who cannot attend, the talk will be available on the ULethbridge YouTube channel following the presentation.

See more at ulethbridge.ca/research/public-professor.

PUBlic Professor Series talk to examine the complexities of public policy and why it does and does not change

trevor.kenney — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 17:54:26 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge political scientist Dr. Lars Hallstrom is never lacking for material when studying the Alberta political landscape. Facing policy challenges that are increasingly recognized as complex and difficult to manage, many governments, at all levels, struggle with the demands such challenges may place upon them as institutions — and Alberta is no different.

Dr. Lars Hallstrom

On Thursday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m. at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge, Hallstrom will discuss why Alberta politics and policy are the way they are and why things change or why they stay the same in his PUBlic Professor Series talk — Political and Policy Innovation in Alberta: The More Things Change . . .?

Hallstrom says that long-standing patterns of single-party governments, tensions with other governments and perceptions of both who Albertans “are”, and what they “want” are not always aligned with more empirical realities. His talk examines that reality, and the implications for political and policy-based change in the province.

“I’ll be looking at these questions specifically in the context of Alberta and Albertan politics,” says Hallstrom. “We will discuss a combination of factors like culture, leadership, history and the role of Alberta in Canadian Confederation to try and understand why public policies in Alberta change and sometimes why they don’t.”

Hallstrom has held faculty positions at St. Francis Xavier ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta, and since 2021, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. He is currently the director of the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy, and teaches courses on public policy, Albertan politics and research methods. He has a 25-plus year history of externally funded research and currently holds grants for projects that look at rural and Albertan populism, the political economy of rural development, rural refugees and immigration, and rural entrepreneurialism.

Hallstrom says policy innovation can be difficult for governments to implement.

“I’ll examine how and why Alberta struggles to create truly innovative policy, why “anti-politics” is a common refrain within the province, and how many “big” issues frustrate both policy-makers and the public.”

This is the fourth of six talks in the annual PUBlic Professor Series lectures which feature thought-provoking discussions on the most relevant topics of the day, bringing together a diverse group of experts and researchers from across the ULethbridge campus and into the community. Every talk is free of charge but registration is required. For those who cannot attend, the talk will be available on the ULethbridge YouTube channel following the presentation.

See more at ulethbridge.ca/research/public-professor.

Examining the world of Generative AI the focus of next PUBlic Professor Series event at Slice Bar and Grill

trevor.kenney — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 18:06:40 +0000

*This event has reached capacity*

Generative AI wasn’t slowly introduced to society, rather it burst onto the scene and is already impacting our daily lives, from personalized recommendations to automated customer service and more — and its influence will only grow as technology advances.

Generative AI is a frontier technology that promises to transform industries and reshape our daily lives.

Amid the current hype and craze, it's essential to understand its potential and its practical challenges. How does it work, why does it work, and does it actually make sense? Dr. Sidney Shapiro, assistant professor of business analytics in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Dhillon School of Business, will explore the current state of Generative AI, its future possibilities and critically examine the impacts it could have on society at the next PUBlic Professor Series event — Will Generative AI Change the World? — on Thursday, Nov. 28, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Slice Bar and Grill. Coffee and tea will be available.

“Lately, AI has completely taken over and everybody’s talking about it,” says Shapiro. “I’m very excited to examine how AI is going to shape the future and the massive social change that are happening in every aspect of our lives because of AI.”

Generative AI is a frontier technology that promises to transform industries and reshape our daily lives. The potential applications are vast and varied, from creative content generation to advanced problem-solving capabilities. However, as with many technological advancements, it comes with ethical, social, environmental and practical challenges.

“It’s making huge societal changes, and people are worried about losing their jobs, how it could possibly change the workforce by unplugging people and plugging AI in,” says Shapiro. “I think there’s a lot to be hesitant about, based on how the technology works and what we can learn about it. In my talk, we will discuss how businesses and individuals can harness this technology responsibly and the implications for our future.”

Shapiro, who is also an adjunct assistant professor of computer science, has a wealth of experience in data science and business analytics. With over a decade of expertise in developing and automating data, he has worked extensively at the intersection of AI, data engineering and business intelligence. Formerly a data science manager in the occupational health and safety sector, Shapiro focuses on advancing theoretical and practical applications of data and business analytics. His research spans AI adoption trends, data privacy and the transformative potential of emerging technologies in business and education.

This is the third of six talks in the annual PUBlic Professor Series lectures which feature thought-provoking discussions on the most relevant topics of the day, bringing together a diverse group of experts and researchers from across the ULethbridge campus and into the community. Every talk is free of charge but registration is required as space is limited, specifically for this event, and few tickets remain. For those who cannot attend, the talk will be available on the ULethbridge YouTube channel following the presentation.

See more at ulethbridge.ca/research/public-professor.

Dr. Shelley Hoover explores the wonders of the honey bee at the next PUBlic Professor Series event

trevor.kenney — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 20:23:25 +0000

The honey bee is one of the most intriguing species on the planet — and one of the most important. From increasing the amount and nutritive value of our food crops to literally producing light, they are enthralling creatures that have been studied throughout history.

Dr. Shelley Hoover is one of Canada’s foremost bee researchers.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Dr. Shelley Hoover, one of Canada’s foremost bee researchers, will unlock some of the mysteries surrounding the incomparable honey bee at the next PUBlic Professor Series lecture, Fiat Lux (or, why honey bees are practically magic) on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Agri-Food Hub & Trade Centre. Note this is a new venue and new night for a PUBlic Professor Series event.

“Everybody has a story about bees, whether they’re a gardener and they like bees to pollinate their garden, or maybe they have a beekeeper in their family or they love to eat honey, or they’ve been stung by a bee — bees have been captivating people for thousands of years,” says Hoover, an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. “In my talk, I’ll discuss what it is about bees that captivates us, how we use bees in our daily lives, and how research solutions in my lab are helping bees in Canada become healthier.”

Hoover studies bees, their interactions with one another, with other organisms, and with their environment. Her lab has ongoing research in diverse areas related to this theme, including how parasites alter bee behaviour, the honey bee microbiome, the breeding and management of honey bees, the role of pheromones in social structure, pollination and how environmental change affects the interactions between plants and pollinators.

Honey bees can live nearly anywhere on Earth, they are integral to food crops, and they make hive products that are eaten, used in medicine, cosmetics, dentistry, waterproofing, lubricants, polishes, ornamentation and art, cooking, sewing, metal casting, sealing documents, and yes, literally to produce light. With their complex social structure, behaviours and communication, it is no wonder they have fascinated people for centuries.

2024-25 PUBlic Professor Series

Fiat Lux (Or, why honey bees are practically magic) — Dr. Shelley Hoover, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 — Agri-Food Hub & Trade Centre

Will Generative AI Change the World? — Dr. Sidney Shapiro, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024 — Slice Bar and Grill

Political and Policy Innovation in Alberta: The More Things Change . . . ? — Dr. Lars Hallstrom, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 — Sandman Signature Lodge

Sentimental Songs for Sentimental People — Dr. Emily Gale, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 — The Owl

Does Reading Even Matter Anymore? — Dr. Robin Bright (BA ’79, BEd ’82, MEd ’88), Thursday, Mar. 27, 2025 — Sandman Signature Lodge

Ending homelessness the first topic of engaging 2024-2025 PUBlic Professor Series

trevor.kenney — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 15:33:05 +0000

Six topics, six issues and six opportunities to engage with the experts who are at the forefront of research and fostering understanding — the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge presents the lineup for the 2024-25 PUBlic Professor Series.

Dr. Rebecca Schiff says hope is not lost in the struggle to end homelessness.

The annual lecture series designed to spark thought-provoking discussions on the most relevant topics of the day brings together a diverse group of experts and researchers from across campus and into the community. Every talk is free of charge.

“At its core, PUBlic Professor has always been about community outreach and allowing the broader community the opportunity to engage with our faculty members and tap into their insight and expertise,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, ULethbridge’s vice-president (research). “This year’s lineup of speakers is diverse in subject matter, extremely topical and one I’m really excited about. We have some very difficult issues that will hit close to home for many people and others that are more light and extremely fascinating. I think it shows the breadth of study here at ULethbridge and the opportunities our students enjoy every day.”

The first talk of the series, on Thursday, Sept. 26, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge, features Dr. Rebecca Schiff discussing one of the most pressing issues of the day — Ending Homelessness.

The rate of homelessness has exploded across Canada, and Schiff has an important message: hope is not cancelled. For nearly two decades, Schiff has worked with individuals experiencing homelessness, as well as homelessness agencies and organizations across the country on diverse homelessness research and action-research projects to understand how we can move towards a society where everyone is safely housed.

“Unfortunately, over the past two to three years, homelessness has doubled, tripled or more in most communities across our country,” says Schiff. “In my talk, I’ll share ideas, thoughts, solutions and actions that we can take to ensure that we can end homelessness in Canada.”

A transdisciplinary scholar and administrator whose research spans the fields of health sciences, social sciences, humanities and environmental sciences, Schiff began her role as deputy provost in May 2024. Her research work has included funding from a wide array of sources, including the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). She has been a principal or co-applicant on 50-plus research projects totaling over $13 million in grants and has authored/co-authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications. She has also produced three books, with her most recent — Pandemic preparedness and homelessness: International lessons from COVID-19 — released in September 2024.

Ensuing talks take place in October, November and January, February and March 2025. The series will also be held at some new venues, including the Agri-Food Hub & Trade Centre, The Slice Bar and Grill, and Owl Acoustic Lounge.

“Some of the topics lend themselves well to new venues and hopefully we will welcome some new community members and ULethbridge alumni who have never experienced a PUBlic Professor presentation before,” adds McMartin.

The series lineup is as follows:

2024-25 PUBlic Professor Series

Ending Homelessness — Dr. Rebecca Schiff, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 — Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge

Fiat Lux (Or, why honey bees are practically magic) — Dr. Shelley Hoover, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 — Lethbridge & District Exhibition Agri-Food Hub & Trade Centre

Will Generative AI Change the World? — Dr. Sidney Shapiro, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024 — The Slice Bar and Grill

Political and Policy Innovation in Alberta: The More Things Change . . . ? — Dr. Lars Hallstrom, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 — Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge

Sentimental Songs for Sentimental People — Dr. Emily Gale, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 — Owl Acoustic Lounge

Does Reading Even Matter Anymore? — Dr. Robin Bright (BA ’79, BEd ’82, MEd ’88), Thursday, Mar. 27, 2025 — Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge

Facing an epidemic of dementia, PUBlic Professor Series explores, Why is the Brain Important?

trevor.kenney — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 16:24:32 +0000

It’s a simple question, and yet the answers are a lifetime’s work, and more.

Dr. Robert Sutherland says the the brain is central to many of the problems we are facing in health and society.

Dr. Robert Sutherland, chair of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Department of Neuroscience and director of the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, will present the final PUBlic Professor Series talk of the 2023-24 season when he discusses Why is the Brain important? on Thursday, March 28, 7 p.m. at the Sandman Signature Lodge.

While the query seems simple at first glance, it is one that has led Sutherland on a voyage of discovery over the course of a decorated 40-plus year career in neuroscience. Along the way, Sutherland has earned accolades as one of the world’s leading authorities in the study of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and recipient of the Donald O. Hebb Distinguished Contribution Award by the Canadian Society for Brain, Behaviour, and Cognitive Science, Sutherland and his team have had several breakthroughs which might someday help discover a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

“My talk is going to be all about the brain, and in particular why the brain is central to a lot of the problems in health and society that we’re experiencing now,” he says. “We’re about to witness an epidemic of dementia that will become the greatest single problem in society and human health.”

Sutherland will address what they know about the prevention and treatment of dementia and describe what he thinks is the future of the brain.

“I’ll also provide information about how to prevent dementia, how it can be treated and how we can avoid the disastrous public health effects that dementia will have,” he says.

A scientist through and through, Sutherland is also an inspiring teacher and mentor — a responsibility he is proud to shoulder.

“Part of what we are charged to do as scientists is to create that next generation of scientists who will carry on the work that still needs to be done,” says Sutherland. “So, the neuroscience torch has been passed — successfully.”

This is the last of the six-part PUBlic Professor Series of talks. Initiated in 2014, the monthly lecture series is designed to spark thought-provoking discussions and bring a diverse group of experts and researchers from the ULethbridge campus right into the community.

Check out the PUBlic Professor Series web page for the 2023/24 talk schedule (including links to videos of previous presentations), to register for priority seating or to join the series mailing list.

UNews - PUBlic Professor Series

PUBlic Professor Series talk to focus on the challenges facing modern agri-food business

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