Team of Canadian and Italian researchers breaking new ground in materials science

May 20, 2020 – Thunder Bay, Ont.

A team of researchers from Canada and Italy recently published a paper in Nature Materials journal that could usher in a revolutionary development in materials science, leading to big changes in the way companies create modern electronics.

The goal was to develop two-dimensional materials, which are a single atomic layer thick, with added functionality to extend the revolutionary developments in materials science that started with the discovery of graphene in 2004.

In total, 19 authors worked on this paper from INRS, McGill, Lakehead, and Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, the national research council in Italy.

“This work represents an exciting development in the realization of functional two-dimensional materials beyond graphene,” said Dr. Mark Gallagher, a Physics professor at Lakehead University.

“I found it particularly rewarding to participate in this collaboration, which allowed us to combine our expertise in organic chemistry, condensed matter physics, and materials science to achieve our goals.”

Dr. Dmytro Perepichka, a professor and chair of Chemistry at McGill University, said they have been working on this research for a long time.

“Structurally reconfigurable two-dimensional conjugated polymers can give a new breadth to applications of two-dimensional materials in electronics,” Dr. Perepichka said.

“We started dreaming of them more than 15 years ago. It’s only through this four-way collaboration, across the country and between the continents, that this dream has become the reality.”

Dr. Federico Rosei, a professor at the Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Research Centre of the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) in Varennes who holds the Canada Research Chair in Nanostructured Materials since 2016, said they are excited about the results of this collaboration.

“These results provide new insights into mechanisms of surface reactions at a fundamental level and simultaneously yield a novel material with outstanding properties, whose existence had only been predicted theoretically until now,” he said.

This work opens exciting new directions, both theoretical and experimental. The integration of this system into a device (e.g. transistors) may lead to outstanding performances. In addition, these results will foster more studies on a wide range of two-dimensional conjugated polymers with different lattice symmetries, thereby gaining further insights into the structure vs. properties of these systems.

The Italian/Canadian team demonstrated the synthesis of large-scale two-dimensional conjugated polymers, also thoroughly characterizing their electronic properties. They achieved success by combining the complementary expertise of organic chemists and surface scientists.

This research was partially supported by a project Grande Rilevanza Italy-Quebec of the Italian Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (MAECI), Direzione Generale per la Promozione del Sistema Paese, individual NSERC Discovery Grants (M.G., D.F.P. and F.R.), an FRQNT Team Grant (D.F.P. and F.R.) and by the US Army Research Office Single Investigator Grant (D.F.P.). Dr. Rosei is also grateful to the Canada Research Chairs program for funding and partial salary support.

To read the article visit this page: www.nature.com/articles/s41563-020-0682-z.

 

 

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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8177 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

 

For interviews with Dmytro Perepichka, please contact Justin Dupuis, Media Relations Office, McGill University, 514-298-8202, justin.dupuis@mcgill.ca.

For more information or interviews with Federico Rosei, please contact Audrey-Maude Vézina, Communications, INRS, 418-254-2156 (cell), audrey-maude.vezina@inrs.ca.

 

About McGill University

Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, McGill University is Canada’s top ranked medical doctoral university. McGill is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 40,000 students, including more than 10,200 graduate students. McGill attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,800 international students making up 31% of the student body. Over half of McGill students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 19% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.

About the INRS
The Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) is the only institution in Québec dedicated exclusively to graduate level university research and training. The impacts of its faculty and students are felt around the world. INRS proudly contributes to societal progress in partnership with industry and community stakeholders, both through its discoveries and by training new researchers and technicians to deliver scientific, social, and technological breakthroughs in the future.

 

Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has 10 faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. In 2019, Maclean’s 2020 University Rankings, once again, included Lakehead University among Canada’s Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities, while Research Infosource named Lakehead 'Research University of the Year' in its category for the fifth consecutive year. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Congratulations to Dr. Mushquash for being named a 2020 Champion of Mental Health

 

The Canadian Alliance of Mental Illness and Mental Health named Dr. Christopher Mushquash a Champion of Mental Health for the Innovation – Researcher or Clinician category.

Dr. Mushquash is a Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Mental Health and Addiction, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Lakehead University and the Division of Human Sciences at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and the Director of the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research at Lakehead University.

He is a registered clinical psychologist providing assessment, intervention and consultation services for First Nations children, adolescents and adults at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care.

Dr. Mushquash is Ojibway and a member of Pays Plat First Nation. He is a generous volunteer, frequently meeting with First Nations communities, organizations and students to discuss mental health and addiction.

Through his work, he champions culturally and contextually appropriate mental health and addiction services for First Nations peoples, and for individuals living in rural and northern communities.

Lakehead University student one of 25 finalists in SSHRC Storyteller competition

May 6, 2020 – Thunder Bay, Ont.

A Lakehead University graduate student is a finalist for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada’s Storyteller competition.

Robert Sanderson is a Master of Health Sciences student who received $3,000 for placing in the top 25 for his three-minute video describing strategies that organizations and governments can use to have more success communicating climate change to promote citizen engagement.

Dr. Lindsay Galway, associate professor in Health and Behavioural Sciences, led the two-year SSHRC-funded project that ended in March, which included a total of 4,000 surveys mailed to residents in Thunder Bay, Ont., and Prince George, BC and several in-person interviews to gather more information.

“When it comes down to it, climate change needs to be personal. We need to tailor our messages and communications in a way that targets the values of the people we're talking to,” Sanderson said in the video.

Sanderson decided to enter the SSHRC Storyteller competition as way of sharing information about the research project.

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have been involved with this project and to explore the complex challenges inherent with communicating and engaging with climate change,” he said in an interview.

“Having an opportunity to highlight the research through a somewhat less conventional, more creative means was incredibly appealing and presented an avenue to raise further awareness and understanding of the project,” he said.

“I feel strongly that this research has tremendous potential to spark meaningful conversation and enhance citizen engagement surrounding climate change action in Thunder Bay.”

Sanderson’s work on this project impressed Dr. Galway.

“The Storytellers contest challenges university students to communicate research in creative and inspiring ways,” Dr. Galway said.

“With this video, Rob has shown that he is one of Canada’s brightest young research storytellers,” she said.

“He did a fantastic job distilling our research project into three short minutes while clearly highlighting the value and impact of our work on climate change communication.

“Impressively, Rob has also put into practice some of the lessons that we are learning about climate change communication in our research, the importance of storytelling, acknowledging emotion, and weaving together urgency and hope for example.”

“This year’s 25 Storytellers competition finalists show exceptional creativity in communicating the relevance of social sciences and humanities research to the daily lives of Canadians,” said SSHRC President Ted Hewitt.

“I commend each of them for their outstanding talent and ability to convey concisely and with great impact, why such research matters. Congratulations to the finalists.”

Given the circumstances caused by COVID-19 and the nature of the Storytellers competition, where the finalists must learn to effectively communicate their research in front of an audience, SSHRC has postponed the Storytellers Showcasethat was to take place at the 2020 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences at Western University in London, Ont. 

The 2020 Storytellers finalists received their cash prize of $3,000 and SSHRC will invite them to participate in the Storytellers Showcase at the 2021 Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences, which will take place from May 29 to June 4, 2021 at the University of Alberta.

The Final Five winners chosen at that event will be featured at SSHRC’s Impact Awards ceremony, to be held in fall 2021.

To watch Sanderson’s video, visit this page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8177 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

 

 

Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has 10 faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. In 2019, Maclean’s 2020 University Rankings, once again, included Lakehead University among Canada’s Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities, while Research Infosource named Lakehead 'Research University of the Year' in its category for the fifth consecutive year. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Message for graduates from Julie Payette

Congratulations to the Lakehead University 2020 Graduating Class!

Graduation is one of the most exciting times in a student’s life. It is when it all comes together. When you can finally pat yourself on the back and say, “mission accomplished,” before heading into the next phase of your life.

But this year, things were different. The pandemic changed everything. Yet, despite the hardship and the uncertainty, you rose to the challenge, found creative ways to remain connected, finished your classes online and made the best of a difficult situation.

You should be very proud of yourselves.

No matter what path you decide to follow, I want you to know that the future of this country belongs to you. You are the ones who will shape the years to come. Get involved in your community and society. Stay open to new ideas, look after others, especially those less fortunate, and take care of the planet. Have passion, vision and opinions.

Believe me, you can accomplish anything with a bit of effort. So dare to dream!

Best of luck in your future endeavours!

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette

Governor General of Canada

Click here to view the letter.

Message for graduates from Minister Ross Romano

The Honourable Ross Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities, congratulates you and wishes you luck in your future career.

 

Pitch in for Orillia community clean-up days

June 16, 2020 – Orillia, ON

It's that time of year: spring into action and help clean up our city.

Join Lakehead University’s Office of Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning, Kids for Turtles, the City of Orillia, and Sustainable Orillia between June 19 and July 4, for Orillia’s annual community clean-up initiative.

A great way to pass this time of social distancing is to spend a little time cleaning up your neighbourhood and community. This activity doesn’t require a large group. However, recruiting family and friends within your established 10-person social circle is suggested! Just remember to maintain proper physical distancing of at least two metres (six feet) with anyone outside of your social circle.

Here’s how you can participate:

Step 1: Register your group at https://bit.ly/orillia-clean-up.

Step 2: Drop by Veterans’ Memorial Park (154 Elgin St. Orillia beside the Royal Canadian Legion) on Friday, June 19 between 12 and 4 p.m. or Saturday, June 20 between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. to pick up your pitch-in garbage bags and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Step 3: Between June 19 and July 4, collect garbage in your designated area, leaving your specially-marked bags at the curb on your regular garbage pick-up day, for free!

Post a picture of you getting involved by using #orilliacleansup2020 on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Your picture will be entered to win one of five prize packs.

Register today at https://bit.ly/orillia-clean-up.

For more information visit www.kidsforturtles.com.

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Media contact:  Jaclyn Bucik, Media, Communications & Marketing Associate,  jbucik@lakeheadu.ca

Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has 10 faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. In 2019, Maclean’s 2020 University Rankings, once again, included Lakehead University among Canada’s Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities, while Research Infosource named Lakehead 'Research University of the Year' in its category for the fifth consecutive year. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Congratulations to Dr. Sabah Mohammed for being named an Outstanding Associate Editor with IEEE Access

photo of Dr. Sabah Mohammed

Congratulations to Lakehead University’s Dr. Sabah Mohammed, a Computer Science professor who was recently recognized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers along with other outstanding associate editors for their contributions to Access, the organization’s flagship research journal.

“These associate editors have directly contributed to the tremendous growth of IEEE Access with their exceptional efforts, and assisted the journal in upholding high publication standards. Thank you all again for your hard work and dedication,” the announcement said.

For a complete list of Outstanding Associate Editors of 2019, please visit http://bit.ly/3cMcZA9.

Dr. Max Haiven publishes new book on Revenge Capitalism

Book image
We typically think of economic systems as dispassionate machines. But in Dr. Max Haiven's new book, Revenge Capitalism: The Ghosts of Empire, the Demons of Capital, and the Settling of Unpayable Debts, Lakehead's Canada Research Chair in Culture, Media and Social Justice asks us to recognize the vindictive dimensions to the global capitalist economy. 
 
Arguing that an economy can be vengeful even if no one intends it to be, he traces its structural and economic violence to its roots in colonialism, slavery and the immiseration of workers. With eclectic chapters on topics ranging from the ongoing prescription opioids epidemic to Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, from the scourge of aquatic dead zones to the reality TV series Revenge Body with Khloé Kardashian, this is a book that makes an urgent call for the radical imagination.
 
More information can be found, and books can be purchased, via the publisher, Pluto Press: https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745340562/revenge-capitalism/

Online Library Research Workshops

The Lakehead Library is offering online research workshops. Join us for a general overview of library research, including a tour of our Omni "search everything" system. The upcoming sessions are listed below. Workshop details will be provided after registration. 

Wednesday May 27 at 10:30 a.m.

Thursday June 4 at 7:00 p.m.

If you require one-to-one research assistance, please feel free to contact the the liaison librarian for your subject area.

Drop In (Virtually) to the Library's Spring / Summer Research Workshops!

Are you enrolled in spring / summer classes, and need an introduction, or a refresher, on how to find books, articles and other resources for your assignments?

If so, please join us on Thursday May 21, at 3:00 p.m. for a tour of the Lakehead Library website and an overview of the research tools available to you during your studies at Lakehead.

Look for announcements about subsequent workshops coming soon!

Register in advance for the May 21 workshop at https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMude6vpz8vGdFI2FP9uTXGrKk_m....

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Contact Chris Tomasini at ctomasin@lakeheadu.ca if you have any questions.

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