Title: “Role of Carotenoids in an In Vitro Model of Age-Related Macular Degeneration”
Supervisory Committee:
Dr. Neelam Khaper (Supervisor)
Dr. Kam T. Leung
Dr. Zach Suntres
Please join Elizabeth in ATAC 3006 or contact Heather at biology@lakeheadu.ca for the Zoom link.
EPID@Work is excited to invite you to our IDEA@Work event, taking place on June 22nd, 2026 from 1 to 4 p.m. EST at Lakehead University, Faculty Lounge.
This event is supported through an Inclusive Research Excellence Grant and is designed to strengthen conversations and knowledge around inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility across our workplaces, research, and communities.
Join us for an engaging afternoon featuring booth displays, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and complimentary food!
Whether you are a student, researcher, professional, or community member, IDEA@Work offers a space to learn and connect.
Active Commute Challenge (ACC) is a community initiative taking place June 1–30! It’s a great way to stay active, reduce your environmental impact, and have some fun.
A few quick things to know:
In today’s world, long hours of sitting have become the norm—but your commute is one of the easiest places to reintroduce activity. Whether you walk, bike, roll, jog, carpool, or combine transit with short walks, replacing car trips with active options can have a meaningful impact on your health, energy, and the environment.
With nearly half of rush-hour trips under 5 km in Thunder Bay, many of us have simple opportunities to swap short drives for active travel. Even one active commute a week can help reduce sedentary time, boost focus, and support both physical and mental well-being.
By joining the challenge this June, you’ll be part of a workplace team competing with others across your community—tracking your trips, following your team’s progress, and climbing the leaderboard for a chance to win prizes. Build healthier habits, support a more sustainable environment, and be part of a growing movement toward active living, all while staying motivated and making every commute count.
The Lakehead Town + Gown brings Orillia faculty together with members of the surrounding community. Meetings occur monthly to discuss topics of broad interest—such as AI, education, loneliness, and citizenship—and have easy but engaged conversation.
This month's topic is "Hospitals as Anchor Institutions."
What's a fireside chat?
It's an opportunity any students, staff or faculty to connect with the Orillia International staff to share your input, reflections, and ask questions about programming that the Orillia International office offers. Join us on Zoom!
What's a fireside chat?
It's an opportunity any students, staff or faculty to connect with the Orillia International staff to share your input, reflections, and ask questions about programming that the Orillia International office offers. Join us on Zoom!
TEDxLakeheadU 2026: The Global Stage, Locally Grounded
TEDxLakeheadU is returning to Thunder Bay to bridge the gap between our local community and the global frontier of ideas. This isn’t just a series of talks; it is a meticulously curated experience designed to empower students, alumni, and residents to see themselves as part of a world-class intellectual movement. We are bringing international perspectives directly to our doorstep, proving that groundbreaking innovation doesn’t just happen in tech hubs—it starts right here.
Event Logistics
When: May 23, 2026
Where: Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario.
The Experience: 7 Global TEDx Talks, 2 Hands-on Workshops, 1 Expert Panel Discussion, and an exclusive Networking Session to connect one-on-one with the visionaries.
Visit our website : https://www.tedxlakeheadu.ca/
Book your tickets at : https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/tedx-lakeheadu-2026-growth
The Visionary Lineup
Arron Lin (Toronto, ON): A VP of Innovation at RBCx who works at the intersection of finance and human behavior.
Talk: The Myth of the Frictionless Experience
James McCormack(Thunder Bay, ON): A Thunder Bay-born CEO and applied AI practitioner focused on healthcare transformation.
Talk: From Assistant to Agent: The Human Cost of AI in Healthcare
Bean Gill(Calgary, AB): A fearless advocate and co-founder of ReYu Paralysis Recovery Centre challenging the stigma of disability.
Talk: The Myth of Permanence: Harnessing Neuroplasticity to Rewire the Impossible
Ava Penney(Thunder Bay, ON): A student author and researcher investigating how digital patterns cause “Social Erosion.”
Talk: Social Erosion: The Weathering of the Human Identity
Dr. Chitra Anand(Toronto, ON): A transformation strategist, author, and advisor specializing in systems thinking and intrapreneurship.
Talk: The Mechanics of Intrapreneurship
Stephen Ritz(South Bronx, NY): An award-winning educator and founder of Green Bronx Machine who pioneered the edible classroom.
Talk: Urban Agriculture as a Public Health Tool
Brian Lenahan(Hamilton, ON): The Founder and Chair of the Quantum Strategy Institute and a prominent strategist in emerging tech.
Talk: When One Door Closes: The Transition from AI to Quantum
Why It Matters
Our mission is to foster radical collaboration. By bringing together world-class experts we are providing Thunder Bay community with the tools, networks, and inspiration to lead. This event is the spark for local initiatives that will grow into global solutions.
You are invited to attend the Biotechnology PhD Dissertation Defense of Brant Muir, Biotechnology Doctoral Candidate
on Wednesday May 20, 2026 at 9:30 am in ATAC 1007 and zoom
Title: Bioretention for Fish Habitat Protection: Treatment Performance and Spatial Prioritization in a Cold Climate
Rainwater and snowmelt flowing off roads and urban areas carry pollutants into urban streams, where they can harm fish and other aquatic life. This dissertation examined whether bioretention systems, also known as rain gardens, can help protect fish habitat in two urban Lake Superior tributaries by capturing and filtering stormwater before it enters nearby streams. The research also proposed an integrated approach to urban stream restoration that combines stream habitat restoration, stormwater management, and urban planning. Field studies in Thunder Bay, Ontario, showed that bioretention systems reduced runoff volumes, and concentrations of sediment, and sediment-bound pollutants during both rainfall and spring snowmelt events. Winter monitoring also showed that roadside snowbanks contained much higher concentrations of pollutants than nearby undisturbed snow, highlighting the impacts of winter road maintenance on urban runoff quality. While the bioretention systems were effective at reducing sediment concentrations and runoff volumes during both rainfall events and the spring melt, they were less effective at removing road salt and nutrients, suggesting that additional practices, such as reduced salt and fertilizer applications, are also needed. This research also developed a practical framework that combines stormwater quality information with stream habitat assessments to identify locations where stormwater treatment systems would provide the greatest benefit to sensitive fish habitats. Overall, this dissertation demonstrates how combining stormwater engineering, fish habitat considerations, and watershed planning can improve the health and resilience of northern urban streams that support cold-water fish species such as brook and rainbow trout.
Committee Members:
Dr. Robert Stewart (supervisor), Dr. Michael Rennie, Dr. Jennifer Drake, Dr. Randall Kolka and Dr. Usman Khan (external)
Everyone is welcome.
Please contact Brenda Magajna at phd.ses@lakeheadu.ca form more information.
Are you graduating this June? If so, this event is for you!
Please join us on June 2 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Alumni Commons, and bring your family to join this celebration hosted by Lakehead International. Please RSVP using this link, or scan the QR in the poster below.
Questions? Please contact or.international@lakeheadu.ca.
Greenhouse vegetable plant sale! Tomato, pepper, basil, parsley, lettuce, eggplant.
May 26, 2026, from 11 am to 1 pm, in the Agora.
Proceeds go to support the greenhouse.
Sorry, cash only!
