Click here to access the Spring 2023 Newsletter focusing on Change. 

This is a time of year for change – change of pace, change in focus of activities, and (hopefully!!) change in weather. During the winter term, there has been a great deal of change at Lakehead with an entire migration to the cloud and from MyInfo to MyPortal – and even changes to D2L. This is a lot of change!

As Dr. Jacoba so honestly points out in her Faculty Spotlight, while some may embrace change, others find it overwhelming. We decided that, in our spring newsletter, we would focus on change as our theme to share some changes that are happening at the Teaching Commons and to highlight that change is constant within reflective teaching.

The wonderful thing is sometimes small changes in our practice can have enormous impacts both for us as instructors and for our students. We hope that this edition of the newsletter will both support and inspire you during this time of change.

The R&I Bulletin is distributed every Tuesday by the Office of Research Services and includes information on research funding opportunities, events, workshops and news/updates from our funding partners.

The latest version of the R&I Bulletin (as well as past issues) can be accessed by clicking here.

Dr. Peter Hollings

April 26, 2023 – Thunder Bay, Ont.

The Institute on Lake Superior Geology presented a Lakehead University professor with the Goldich Medal Award for his outstanding contributions to the geology of the Lake Superior region. 

Dr. Peter Hollings is the NOHFC Industrial Research Chair in Mineral Exploration and Director of Lakehead University’s Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Mining and Exploration, known as CESME. 

The medal was presented at a gala on Monday, April 24 at the annual meeting in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. 

“I am deeply honoured to receive the prestigious Goldich Medal from the Institute on Lake Superior Geology,” Dr. Hollings said. 

“Since starting at Lakehead University over 20 years ago, I have been fascinated by the geology of the Midcontinent Rift and have been working with colleagues and students to better understand how it formed. 

“To see my research recognized in this way is truly humbling. However, none of this would have been possible without the hard work of my students, the support of funding agencies like NSERC and industry partners including Impala Canada Ltd. and Clean Air Metals, and the love of my amazing wife,” he said. 

The ongoing contributions to understanding Lake Superior geology and to the Institute on Lake Superior Geology make Dr. Hollings a worthy recipient of the Goldich Medal.  

He has extensively conducted research on the geology of the Lake Superior region and the broader Superior Province. Dr. Hollings has focused on both the Midcontinent Rift System (MRS) and Archean greenstone belts and their mineral resources.

He has a significant number of publications and presentations relevant to the discovery and utilization of natural resources in the Lake Superior region. Some of his numerous economic geology publications and presentations on topics outside of the Lake Superior region are also applicable to regional geology.

An area of emphasis in his research is the application of geochemistry and petrology to explore for ore deposits, including at Lac des Iles Mine and the Thunder Bay North igneous complex, working with a wide range of industry partners such as Wesdome, Goldshore, Nighthawk Gold, and Evolution.

As the Director of CESME, Dr. Hollings provides leadership in promoting the discovery of and environmentally sustainable exploration for natural resources.

He has also made contributions to understanding the natural history and environment of the Lake Superior region as demonstrated by numerous publications and presentations focused on the timing and evolution of local rocks and mineral deposits.

His research is firmly rooted in field work and uses geochemical and other data to test existing ideas and concepts and to develop new ones.

He has successfully used local and regional geochemical data to provide evidence and/or implications for broader geological questions, such as the nature of Archean tectonic processes, continental growth and lithospheric recycling, the Superior Province cratonic keel, and the earliest phases of Midcontinent Rift development.

In addition to data-driven new ideas and concepts, Dr. Hollings’ research efforts have resulted in the development of new analytical approaches that can be applied to the Lake Superior region and beyond.

As a Professor at Lakehead University, Dr. Hollings is actively involved in the education of geoscientists through classroom teaching and thesis supervision.

He is committed to training and mentoring as evidenced by the large role students play in his research.

Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Lakehead’s Vice-President, Research and Innovation, congratulated Dr. Hollings for receiving this prestigious award.

“Dr. Hollings is a leading researcher in the geoscience of the region around Lake Superior. He has made significant fundamental advances in research, training of the next generation of geologists and researchers, and working with mining and exploration companies. 

“As the director of CESME, Dr. Hollings established the research centre as an expert knowledge source in geology and mineral exploration in Canada,” Dr. Dean said. 

The first award was made by the Institute to Sam Goldich in 1979 for his many contributions to the geology of the region extending over approximately 50 years. 

The Institute on Lake Superior Geology is a non-profit professional society with the objectives of providing a forum for exchange of geological ideas and scientific data and promoting better understanding of the geology of the Lake Superior region.

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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8110 ext. 8372 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 nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 10,000 students in THE’s 2022 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

April 25, 2023 – Thunder Bay and Barrie, Ont.

Two professors from Lakehead University were selected by the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC) to be inducted as EIC Fellows for their excellence in engineering, and services to the profession and society. 

Professors Abdelhamid Tayebi and Mohammad Uddin were inducted as Fellows at the 2023 EIC Awards Gala in Ottawa on Saturday, April 22. 

 Dr. Tayebi is a Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and is the founder and director of Lakehead University’s Robotics and Automatic Control Laboratory. His current research interests are in the areas of control systems, cooperative control, iterative learning control, and unmanned aerial vehicles. 

“I am humbled and honored to be recognized by this prestigious EIC Fellowship. For this recognition, I’m grateful to the support from my graduate students and research collaborators, my colleagues, and research sponsors,” Dr. Tayebi said. 

“Over the last 23 years at Lakehead University, I have had the privilege of mentoring a large number of young engineers and graduate students who have moved on to successful academic and industrial careers. I’m proud of all of them and I’m sure that many will one day be recognized with this Fellowship.” 

Dr. Uddin is also a member of the Department of Electrical Engineering and serves as Coordinator of the Electrical Engineering program with the Lakehead-Georgian Partnership. He is the Director of the Renewable Energy, Power Systems and Drive Research Lab located in Barrie, Ont. 

“I’m really pleased to receive this award. I am grateful to Lakehead University for providing me the opportunity to continue my research. I’m also thankful to the EIC Fellow selection committee members for choosing me for the award,” Dr. Uddin said. 

Dr. Janusz Koziński, Lakehead’s Dean of Engineering, said Dr. Tayebi and Dr. Uddin are both world-class researchers and teachers – who represent the very best of Lakehead University. 

“They thoroughly deserve this prestigious national recognition for their academic achievements and their contributions to advancing the engineering profession in Canada,” Dr. Koziński added. 

Founded in 1887, the EIC is the oldest engineering association in the country and is a federation of 12 engineering societies, representing more than 160,000 engineers across Canada.

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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8110 ext. 8372 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 nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 10,000 students in THE’s 2022 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

April 18, 2023 – Thunder Bay, Ont. 

Today, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) announced an investment of $1.65 million to build a six-year program that will train and mentor the next generation of Indigenous science researchers working in the north.

University of Manitoba Principal Investigator, Professor Stéphane McLachlan, is partnering with academic experts at Lakehead University and University College of the North to develop and operate a program aimed at providing Indigenous students more opportunities for experiential learning in science research and the workforce.

The program goal is to address the severe under-representation of Indigenous trainees and cultures in the natural sciences and engineering fields with mentorship in research and employment skills.

It will also fund cultural supports for Indigenous trainees to conduct environmental research through both traditional Indigenous ways of knowing and western science. At the same time, it will encourage cross-cultural understanding for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students interested in community-led environmental research. Lastly, the program will provide work-study training opportunities in collaboration with private, public and non-profit partners to connect Indigenous students with potential employers.

Funding for this initiative is provided through a federal government NSERC Collaborative Research and Training Experience (CREATE) grant. It supports the development of innovative training programs to address Canada’s research priorities and transition new researchers and trainees into the workforce.

Quotes

“This program will provide meaningful supports for Indigenous students interested in pursuing research in natural sciences while fostering employment opportunities in the north. We are pleased to host this project here at UM as it aligns with our key institutional priorities of creating pathways to Indigenous achievement and driving discovery and insight through excellence in research.” – Dr. Mario Pinto, Vice-President, Research and International, University of Manitoba

“Our intent is to recognize and affirm the many existing strengths of Indigenous students interested in environmental and community-led research in ways that are simultaneously grounded in both western and Indigenous science. This will occur on campus but also by building an effective network of support in collaboration with potential employers from government, community, business, and not-for-profit organizations.” - Professor Stéphane McLauchlan, Principal Investigator, University of Manitoba

“Lakehead University is thrilled to be collaborating with Indigenous communities, private sectors and other post-secondary institutions in the Indigenous CREATE; Mentoring and Training the Next Generation of Environmental Researchers Working in the Indigenous North project. Our relationship with the environment is central to our belief system as Indigenous peoples. This grant will provide opportunities to collaborate and create meaningful and culturally grounded experiences for Indigenous youth and post-secondary students as they attain skills in the environmental technology fields.” - Denise Baxter, Vice-Provost, Indigenous Initiatives, Lakehead University

“This funding helps to build on two-eyed seeing approaches and indigenous-led research across the prairie provinces and Ontario, with an emphasis on Indigenous training opportunities. This work builds off existing relationships across this region between First Nations and participating institutions, and helping to found new lines of investigations aimed at bringing together community-based monitoring with traditional knowledge to inform environmental policies that explicitly address information and needs of communities that have relied on these resources long before European settlement.” – Dr. Michael Rennie, Associate Professor, Biology, Lakehead University, and Canada Research Chair in Freshwater and Fisheries

“This ground-breaking initiative will empower Indigenous students to pursue their passion for science and engineering. It also bridges the gap between traditional Indigenous knowledge and Western science. By fostering cross-cultural understanding, providing valuable mentorship, and connecting students with future employers, we ensure a brighter and more inclusive future for Canada's research landscape and workforce.” - Dr. Ramona Neckoway, Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Initiatives and Reconciliation, University College of the North 

“I think it is time that we started developing our own experts, to train our own professionals that can monitor these environmental changes for us. To go into school and encourage kids to go into the environmental sciences. This project is an opportunity to work with postsecondary and allies to establish some form of training programmes. And to work with youth who are familiar with our own culture and the land. And who have the ability to speak their own language and to work with our Elders.” - Dave Swanson, Band Councillor, Norway House Cree Nation and retired Superintendent, Frontier School Division

“Since time immemorial, the Matawa member First Nations have taken care of the lands and waters within their traditional territories and ancestral homelands. There have been limited opportunities for Indigenous peoples to lead western science research projects that place the values, priorities and Traditional Knowledge of our communities at the forefront. This exciting partnership expands on our network of research partners across Canada, both in academia and in fellow Nations, as we work together to build capacity in our youth and inspire the next generation of science and environmental professionals for the betterment of all.” - David Paul Achneepineskum, Chief Executive Officer, Matawa First Nations

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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8110 ext. 8372 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 nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 10,000 students in THE’s 2022 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Click here to access the April 2023 newsletter focusing on Environmental Wellness.

If you are interested in contributing to our future newsletters, we would like to hear from you! Upcoming topics include:

• Cultural Wellness
• Emotional Wellness
• Financial Wellness

To subscribe to the Our Trail to Wellness newsletter, please sign up here.

Contact Information:
Christina Groulx, Wellness Strategy Coordinator
wellnesscoordinator@lakeheadu.ca

Check out the CERAH E-Blast for May 2023 here.

May-May-Quish #2 by Paul McKay is one of the works of art on display at Lakehead University. 

May 8, 2023 – Thunder Bay, Ont. 

To the delight of students, faculty, and staff, Lakehead University recently added paintings by Indigenous artists to the Olga Merz School of Nursing Building. 

Some of the artists of the 10 paintings on display include Carrianne Agawa, Ringo Fiddler, Paul McKay, and Lloyd Kakekapetum. 

“The paintings were selected from the Chief Roy Michano Art Collection to complement the spaces,” said Dr. Kristen Jones-Bonofiglio, Director of Lakehead University’s School of Nursing. 

There are a variety of paintings, with each showing a unique style and theme – adding points of interest along the halls for students in Nursing and Psychology. 

This is a collaboration between Lakehead’s Visual Arts Department, the School of Nursing, the Department of Psychology, and Physical Plant, which helped with transporting the artwork and putting it on display. 

The art was added over spring break to go along with one of Agawa’s paintings that was already on display. 

“Upon their return, students were overheard in the hallways making positive comments. They toured the halls to find their favourite piece of art,” Dr. Jones-Bonofiglio said. 

The display highlights the commitment of the School of Nursing and the Department of Psychology to support and acknowledge Indigenous contributions in diverse and creative ways. 

“Indigenous ways of knowing and being are part of the context of the land that we live, work, love, and play on since time immemorial,” she said. 

Dr. Rupert Klein, Chair of Psychology, said this display allows students to consider and reflect on their ongoing learning and growth at Lakehead University, beyond Western academic standards.  

“The art is a welcome addition to our shared space. It brings a new energy and source of discussion and exploration,” Dr. Klein said, adding that faculty and staff have said the art enhances the workplace where they spend so much time. 

“Students have commented that they talk with their peers about the meaning of the art to them personally and what meaning or purpose the artist may have intended,” Dr. Jones-Bonofiglio said. 

Prof. Roland Martin from Lakehead’s Department of Visual Arts led the project. His insight and expertise helped Dr. Jones-Bonofiglio and Dr. Klein to plan and finalize the details. 

“His kind and open demeanour allowed for the needs and wishes of the respective departments to lead the selection of art pieces and final installation decisions,” Dr. Jones-Bonofiglio said.

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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8110 ext. 8372 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 nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 10,000 students in THE’s 2022 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

The new book edited by Dr. Sonja Grover, a Professor in Education, explores the range of meanings attributed to the terms ‘judicial activism’ and ‘populism’ in contemporary times and examines the potential interplay between these two phenomena. 

Drawing upon various political examples, it discusses the implication of populist movements for democratic institutions, policies, and processes.

The chapters in this volume in addition examine the impact of populism on judicial decision-making in various socio-cultural contexts. The contributing authors explore the implications of populist beliefs, including those which promote anti-democratic perspectives, on the integrity, independence, and the role of the judiciary in a democratic society. This volume offers unique international perspectives on the concern that certain populist initiatives may be and continue to be a threat to democratic foundational values and principles.

Judicial Activism in an Age of Populism will be a beneficial read for students of Politics, Sociology, Public Administration and Management, Human Rights and Law and Society.

For more information on this volume please visit this page. 

From Left: Dr. Yanglin Gong, Kriss Patel, Will Neufeld, Matthew Boustani, Josh Fiegehen, Cameron Nash, Stephen Gonzales, and Technologist Cory Hubbard.

A Lakehead Engineering delegation including the Steel Bridge Team and four other Civil Engineering students earned several top prizes at the 2023 ASCE Western Great Lakes Student Symposium hosted by the University of Minnesota Duluth from April 13-15. 

The Lakehead University Steel Bridge Team – comprised of captain Josh Fiegehen, co-captain Cameron Nash, Will Neufeld, Matthew Boustani, Stephen Gonzales, and Kriss Patel – won three awards at the event that featured students from 13 universities. The team achieved second place in aesthetics, third place in structural efficiency, and third place in stiffness. 

Students were challenged to design and fabricate a 23-foot steel bridge, and then assemble it as quickly as possible at the competition while navigating a seven-foot-wide river. The bridge was then load tested to confirm its strength and stiffness. 

“The bridge competition was a true test of our engineering skill and mental toughness,” Fiegehen said. 

“The team really pushed themselves to get the bridge ready for competition, but it was worth it for the once-in-a-lifetime project that we’ll never get to experience again. Our success in the stiffness and structural efficiency categories is a testament to the strength and durability of our design, while our second-place finish in aesthetics shows that we were able to create a bridge that was both functional and visually appealing.” 

In addition, Civil Engineering students Zachary Morgan and Harshit Garg won second place in the Concrete Frisbee Golf competition, where they built five frisbees made out of only concrete without additives or reinforcement. 

Nadine Elmehriki and Matt Scott, also Civil Engineering students, participated in the Concrete Cornhole competition, where they designed and built a cornhole board with the help of two other students, Kailyn Clouthier and Alexander Randall. 

The Lakehead delegation included faculty advisor Dr. Yanglin Gong and support from technologist Cory Hubbard, who also served as the advisor for the concrete competitions. 

“The bridge competition is a perfect example of integrating fun and excitement with learning at Lakehead Engineering. Observing the failure of bridges of our competitors during the load tests gave our students an unforgettable lesson about structural behaviours,” Dr. Gong said. 

Lakehead technologist Cory Hubbard said he is very proud of the students and impressed by their hard work. 

“This is the first time we have competed in the concrete cornhole and concrete frisbee contests. They did very well by placing second, and both teams are looking forward to next year for these awesome competitions.” 

Professor Janusz Kozinski, Dean of Engineering at Lakehead University, said this was a superb performance the Lakehead Engineering students, who competed against some of the top universities in the United States. 

“They did an outstanding job representing us and we are very proud of their achievements,” he said.

From left: Dr. Yanglin Gong, Will Neufeld, Stephen Gonzales, Josh Fiegehen, Cameron Nash, Matthew Boustani, Kriss Patel, and Technologist Cory Hubbard.