This year’s DARE recipients produced meaningful work across all disciplines offered in LA&PS. Over the summer, each student played an integral role in coordinating projects that added valuable scholarly inquiry to the social sciences, humanities, and professional studies.

Each recipient was awarded $5,000 and paired with faculty members to explore urgent research subjects, including health care, work policies during the COVID-19 pandemic, digital data collection practices, issues impacting diaspora communities and more.

To commemorate the experiences from this year’s competition, LA&PS developed a virtual gallery showcasing each student and the DARE Project descriptions of the instructor-led research objectives.

“DARE is a wonderful opportunity to nurture mentorship and collaboration between instructors and students,” says Ravi de Costa, associate dean of Research & Graduate Studies. “This year’s research projects demonstrate the range and quality of the work taking place in LA&PS. Our faculty is dedicated to supporting creative and impactful work across all of our disciplines, and the DARE competition continues to expand on these efforts.”

For the award recipients, the projects serve as key stepping stones to future endeavours – whether in their respective fields beyond the university setting or continued academic research. Through their reflections, many of this year’s winners cited the unique hands-on experience as their favourite aspect of the process.

Fourth-year political science student, Kiana Therrien-Tomas, was pleased with the practical skills she acquired.

Looking back on the time spent working with Department of Politics Professor��Simone Bohn��on a project titled, “Collaborating with the state: a double-edged sword? The Brazilian Women’s Movement under the Workers’ Party administrations,” Therrien-Tomas explains, “this experience has��been��a great addition to my learning and professional development. It is an��honour��to receive this award.��I can now��proudly��state that I have taken part in all stages of the research process, and apply��the knowledge gained from��this experience towards the completion of my undergraduate degree and my��endeavours��in law school.”

Fourth-year Disaster and Emergency Management student, Tiana Putric, echoed these positive sentiments when detailing the experience working with Department of Communication & Media Studies Professor Jonathan Obar on the DARE project, “The Future of Big Data: Understanding Digital Service Data Retention Policies and Implications for Online Privacy.”

“DARE��was a transformative experience that left me with several new skills and insights,” said Putric.��“I gained experience collecting, analyzing, and summarizing��data��retention policies and contracts from global digital service providers, learned how to evaluate policies against privacy laws and normative regulatory philosophies, and contributed to the��data��retention body of knowledge.”

In congratulating this year’s recipients, LA&PS Dean J.J. McMurtry was delighted to see how far the award has come.

“This competition offers an excellent opportunity for students to examine, discover, critique and create with leading researchers in their fields,” he said. “Over the past four years, DARE has exemplified the truly diverse and global scope of the research being done in LA&PS. Once again, our students have exceeded expectations.”

The 2021 DARE gallery can be viewed on the��LA&PS website.

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Awarded by the Government of Canada, the Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship is valued at $70,000 per year for two years, supporting postdoctoral researchers who will positively contribute to Canada’s social, economic and research-based growth. Following a highly competitive selection process, this esteemed award allows researchers the privilege of conducting ambitious work, while focusing entirely on advancing their respective fields.

Mohammad Naderi, biology

Naderi’s project investigates the impact of early-life exposure to environmental chemicals in the development of autism spectrum disorders. Identifying a dramatic increase in incidents of autism in Canada (from one in 94 children in 2008-10 to one in 66 children in 2018), Naderi’s research focuses on one of its possible causes, the chemical compound bisphenol, widely used in the production of plastic and packaging materials.

Titled "Understanding the role of environmental contaminants in the development of autism using the zebrafish model," Naderi’s study focuses on uncovering the mechanisms through which bisphenol may contribute to the pathogenesis of autism. Recognizing the high level of genetic and physiologic similarities between humans and zebrafish, Naderi’s work uses zebrafish as a means of modelling relevant autistic behavioural characteristics.

“This project can be a crucial step towards identifying the role of environmental contaminants in the etiology of this brain disorder,” says Naderi, thus offering both governments and private institutions a means of redefining regulations while searching for safer alternatives.

Vasily Panferov, chemistry

Panferov’s study proposes an innovative technology for the diagnosis of sepsis, one of the major causes of death in hospitals worldwide. Combining a test strip (similar to those used in home pregnancy tests) with a smartphone, Panferov’s research focuses on developing an inexpensive diagnostic tool that can be widely accessed, thus expanding the opportunities for prevention of this life-threatening condition across the globe.

Titled "Technology for Rapidly Diagnosing Sepsis at the Bedside," Panferov’s device monitors the blood levels of several inflammatory biomarkers capable of confirming a diagnosis of sepsis even before the onset of symptoms. In the form of a 10-minute test to be performed by nurses at the bedside, this technology would eliminate the current need for expensive laboratory equipment and time-consuming practices.

Privileging “early-stage diagnosis and long-term prognosis,” says Panferov, this reliable yet cost-effective tool will inevitably “benefit patients’ health worldwide.”

Courtesy of YFile.

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Valued at $50,000 per year for up to three years, this prestigious scholarship is presented by the Government of Canada to support doctoral students who are conducting world-class research. The scholarship recipients embody all of the rigorous selection criteria: academic excellence, research potential and leadership.

This year’s Vanier Scholars, Debbie Ebanks Schlums and Maureen Owino, are advancing knowledge in areas that can stimulate positive change on a global scale. Both of their research areas have a diverse reach, from addressing the issues around the underrepresentation of small diasporic communities in formal archives to tackling injustices of pandemic responses that often overlook vulnerable populations.

"91��ɫ and its community are proud to support these incredible scholars in the advancement of their groundbreaking research and empower them for long-term success," says Thomas Loebel, dean and associate vice-president of 91��ɫ's Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Debbie Ebanks Schlums, cinema and media studies/film

Ebanks Schlums acknowledges the important role small diasporic communities play in the constitution of the Canadian nation in her proposed dissertation titled "Community-Engaged Memory Preservation: Co-Creating an Audio-Visual Archive of the Jamaican Diaspora in the Greater Toronto Area."

“Small diasporic communities significantly impact the national fabric of Canada, yet their contributions are marginalized within official archival collections and, therefore, within the idea of the nation,” says Ebanks Schlums of her project.

This cutting-edge study challenges the work done by official archives through creating an alternative presentation of artifacts that does justice to preserving the cultural heritage of the Jamaican diaspora in the Greater Toronto Area. Ebanks Schlums underscores that there are portable and non-material forms of archiving that carry history on and through bodies of communities that have a migratory nature. This project will embody a creative and collective imagining of a diasporic archive by creating a variety of unique artifacts from musical compositions to cellphone portraits of people and places. This innovative type of archive will be shared in mainstream spaces to provide as much accessibility to these cultural artifacts as possible.

Through this research, new methods dedicated to the study of diasporas and under-examined archives will emerge through the creation of novel forms of artifact presentation. The project aims to support the Jamaican community in exploring their own identity and sense of belonging through creating connections to community members, their homeland and the society in which they reside.

In addition to the cutting-edge academic work that Ebanks Schlums performs, she is also an active leader in her community. She was a founding member of the Out of a War Zone and To Lemon Hill collectives, both addressing the Syrian refugee crisis.

Maureen Owino, environmental studies

Owino’s research, titled "When HIV and COVID-19 Pandemics Collide in Black Communities in Canada," confronts issues relating to pandemic responses that impact already vulnerable communities.

Through institutional ethnography, the research will examine the cumulative impacts of existing and emerging social and public health policies on Black people’s health and well-being in Canada. “It will do so by: 1. Tracking the rapidly changing health and public policy landscape in Canada; 2. Using critical feminist and race theories to analyze, compare and contrast COVID-19 and HIV containment and mitigation strategies; and 3. Examining how these policies address, reify, challenge, and uphold existing health inequities from the perspective of Black people living with and at risk of pandemics in Canada,” says Owino of her research.

This research is vital, as it exposes how pandemics reveal inequities in health outcomes for vulnerable communities who also face racism, sexism, homophobia and poverty, which create acute conditions for these vulnerable populations. The findings will be accessible to a diverse audience base through a collaboration with Black organizations, community members, researchers, activists and scholars.

“Whereas most Canadians are reeling from the impact of COVID-19, Black people also remain in an HIV pandemic zone and must deal with the impact of both pandemics simultaneously,” says Owino. “This structural inequities creates conditions of vulnerability that are increased by barriers to effective and timely health care, and increases the Black communities' risks to future pandemics.”

In addition to being a dedicated scholar who promotes these vital social causes, Owino also shows exemplary leadership skills. She is the director of the Committee for Accessible AIDS Treatment and a member of the Ontario Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS.

"Both Debbie Ebanks Schlums and Maureen Owino are outstanding examples of Vanier Scholars through their innovative research and dedication to the community," says Loebel.

Courtesy of YFile.

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The Gary Whitelaw Strength in Diversity Award commits $250,000 over 10 years in an annually awarded scholarship, and includes the consideration for a paid, 12-month internship at BGO following graduation.

The scholarship established by BGO is named after its former CEO, Gary Whitelaw, who will actively oversee the performance of the program and provide mentorship throughout its duration. Every year, $25,000 will be awarded to a Black, Indigenous or female student enrolled in Schulich’s Master of Real Estate and Infrastructure program or to a second-year MBA student specializing in real estate.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must also have a minimum GPA of 6.0 or a B+ average, demonstrate financial need, and submit a statement of interest demonstrating their leadership potential. Annual adjudication of the scholarship, one of the largest at Schulich, will be completed by the Schulich Financial Aid Office.

“Our mission towards a more equitable and inclusive future at BGO rests on the strong foundation that Gary Whitelaw helped to build over his more than two decades of leadership,” said Sonny Kalsi, CEO of BentallGreenOak. "This scholarship, in his name, represents a continuation of this important work, and we are looking forward to supporting Gary in his efforts to enable opportunities for young, diverse talent to bring strength and progress to our industry."

Detlev Zwick, interim dean of the Schulich School of Business, said the school is grateful for the support provided by BentallGreenOak. “BGO shares our school’s commitment to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive business community, and the Gary Whitelaw Strength in Diversity Award will help further our goal of providing increased funding in support of under-represented students. What is especially valuable about the BGO scholarship is the fact that, in addition to generous financial support, it removes additional barriers by providing students with the possibility to gain vital industry experience and networking opportunities,” he said.

Both 91��ɫ and BGO are signatories to the BlackNorth Initiative’s pledge, which acknowledges the need within the business community to create opportunities for Black people as well as ensure that businesses are representative of the communities they serve.

"This scholarship demonstrates both access and inclusion for those in the underrepresented BIPOC community,” said Dahabo Ahmed-Omer, executive director of the BlackNorth Initiative. “Supporting under-represented students to fully participate in their program of study without financial barriers ensures all students have equal opportunity to succeed, creating a more equitable, diverse future for all.”

The scholarship launches this year, with the first awardee to be named in Fall 2021. To learn more, visit .

About BentallGreenOak

 is a leading global real estate investment management advisor and a globally recognized provider of real estate services. BentallGreenOak serves the interests of more than 750 institutional clients with approximately $62 billion USD of assets under management (as of March 31) and expertise in the asset management of office, industrial, multi-residential, retail and hospitality property across the globe. BentallGreenOak has offices in 24 cities across 12 countries, with deep, local knowledge, experience, and extensive networks in the regions where it invests in and manages real estate assets on behalf of its clients in primary, secondary and co-investment markets. BentallGreenOak is a part of SLC Management, which is the alternatives asset management business of Sun Life.

The assets under management shown above include real estate equity and mortgage investments managed by the BentallGreenOak group of companies and their affiliates.

Courtesy of YFile.

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On the call, Sears learned she was among 20 Canadians chosen as inaugural McCall MacBain Scholars, recipients of the country’s first comprehensive leadership-based scholarship that supports master’s and professional studies.

The scholarship enables students to pursue a fully funded master’s or professional degree at McGill University while connecting with mentors and participating in an intensive leadership development program.

More than 735 people applied for the McCall MacBain Scholarships; 132 participated in regional interviews with local leaders in November and 50 were invited to final interviews in March. Scholars were chosen based on their character, community engagement, leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, academic strength and intellectual curiosity.

Sears graduated in 2020 with a bachelor of arts in political science and philosophy from 91��ɫ. She worked part-time throughout her studies as a barista, a server and a research assistant for two 91��ɫ professors. She is now working in Montréal and will pursue a master’s degree in bioethics.

“Being a part of this scholarship and its mission is so humbling – and so exciting,” she said. “I think what the scholarship offers students is a sort of freedom – the freedom to be intellectually curious and adventurous, in a way that not many of us can when we have to balance academics with finances, and when we are navigating academia on our own.”

While at 91��ɫ, Sears served as editor-in-chief of Pro Tem, Glendon’s bilingual student newspaper, managing a team of 13. She also helped edit the Glendon Journal of International Studies. A proud 91��ɫ Lion, she credits 91��ɫ with providing many opportunities to develop and empower her leadership skills. "Many of the strengths and skills that I brought to the application process were developed during my undergraduate degree. This is especially the case for my leadership experience, which grew significantly within the university environment – you can learn a lot by maximizing your campus involvement."

In addition to selecting 20 McCall MacBain Scholars, the McCall MacBain Scholarships program and McGill University offered 55 entrance awards to promising candidates. 91��ɫ graduates Christina Hoang, Betty Nwaogwugwu and Kaitlyn Smoke were offered McCall MacBain Finalist Awards ($10,000) for their studies at McGill, and Berta Kaisr was offered a McCall MacBain Regional Award ($5,000) for use at any public university in Canada.

Sears, Hoang, Nwaogwugwu and Smoke were among 46 Canadian peers from 28 universities that were called to take part in virtual final interviews in March. Each finalist participated in interviews with Canadian leaders from academia, business, government and the social sectors.

“The global challenges we face as a society need the energy and entrepreneurial spirit of these scholars,” said John McCall MacBain, who, together with his wife Marcy McCall MacBain, created these scholarships through a historic $200-million gift in February 2019, the single-largest gift in Canadian history at that time. “Through this scholarship program, they’ll have opportunities to deepen their knowledge, develop their leadership skills, and create meaningful connections that will enable them to bring about positive change. We want to congratulate these students and recognize the hundreds of candidates across Canada who were considered for this scholarship.”

Outreach is already underway for the second class of McCall MacBain Scholars, with the application period opening in June. Canadian students and alumni can visit mccallmacbainscholars.org to learn about applying for Fall 2022 admission. Current 91��ɫ students and new grads are invited to join a McCall McBain Scholarships Information Session on Tuesday, April 13 to learn more about the awards and how to apply.

Courtesy of YFile.

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91��ɫ graduate students Pierre-Yann Dubé Dolbec, Douglas Hunter and Juha Mikkonen are the 2012 recipients of Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships, Canada’s most prestigious awards for doctoral research. Each will receive��$50,000 per year for three years.

Vanier scholars are selected for their exceptional leadership skills and for realizing the highest standards of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in natural sciences, engineering, and the social sciences and humanities.

Pierre-Yann Dubé Dolbec (left) is a doctoral student in 91��ɫ’s Graduate Program in Administration, offered through the Schulich School of Business. A world traveller, Dubé Dolbec has conducted research, studied and fostered collaborations in more than 30 countries, including India, France and Denmark.

Dubé Dolbec has an��undergraduate degree in business administration from Laval University and a master’s of science in marketing from HEC Montréal. His previous research on brand experiences is set to be published in the coming year.

“Pierre-Yann is motivated, highly involved and enthusiastic,” said Allan Hutchinson, dean and associate vice-president graduate, “and he has an exemplary drive for research innovation.”

Dubé Dolbec's��research is aimed at helping��create public spaces that encourage more socially responsible behaviour when people come together in large groups, perhaps avoiding destructive riots and creating an environment that fosters more peaceful discussion.

Douglas Hunter (right) is completing his doctoral studies in 91��ɫ’s Graduate Program in History. A nationally known and award-winning author, public intellectual, popular historian, journalist and artist,��Hunter is dedicated to educating a national audience by making Canadian history accessible.

“With an unusual academic background for a doctoral student in history, Mr. Hunter’s work in historical nonfiction has been exceptional, incisive and richly informative,” said Hutchinson.

The winner of the National Business Book Award in 2002 for The Bubble and the Bear: How Nortel Burst the Canadian Dream��(Doubleday 2002) in which Hunter analyzed the��rise and fall of Nortel Networks, Hunter is also the��author of six history books on topics as diverse as hockey and North American exploration, and��numerous articles on historians and historical��artifacts. With an undergraduate degree in humanities from McMaster University and an advanced degree in securities, Hunter's career has included working as a journalist, editor, illustrator and graphic designer for newspapers, magazines and publishing houses, before he started his own business in 1993.

Now focused on his doctoral research at 91��ɫ,��Hunter is exploring “cryptohistory”, looking at how scholarly histories have influenced and been influenced by public prejudices. Similar to conventional histories, cryptohistorical ideas bolstered the celebration of the racial and cultural superiority of European colonists and later immigrant communities. Douglas is interested in particular in how cryptohistorians appropriated indigenous records, particularly in rock art, oral traditions and archaeological material, to support claims of pre-Columbian European visitors.

Juha Mikkonen (left) is working toward��a PhD in health policy and equity studies. Working in Finnish, French and English, Mikkonen joined 91��ɫ with impressive background in research. With��more than��50 professional and academic contributions geared towards linking academic and non-academic fields, he also has more than a decade working in health promotion in Helsinki and in poverty reduction in 27 European nations.

Mikkonen joined 91��ɫ`s Health Policy and Equity Studies Program with undergraduate and master’s degrees in social sciences from the University of Helsinki, Finland. As a visiting scholar at 91��ɫ, he co-authored a report, Social Determinants of Health: The Canadian Facts with��91��ɫ Professor Dennis Raphael. The report aims to educate the public and health advocates about social determinants of health and shifting thought processes surrounding well-being.

His doctoral research, a comparative analysis of Canadian and Finnish public health policy, will help in developing future policy in both countries and beyond.��“Creative motivated and thoughtful,��Mikkonen will provide many insights into current health policy debate in Canada,” said Hutchinson.

“We are, of course, incredibly proud of our Vanier scholars,” says Peter Mulvihill, associate dean, Graduate Studies at 91��ɫ. “They have each demonstrated their talents at bringing their research out into the world, and the world into their research. I look forward to seeing their progress and the evolution of their work over the next few years.”

Administered by Canada’s three federal granting agencies, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Vanier Canada scholarship program’s goal is to build world-class research capacity in Canada by recruiting and supporting top-tier doctoral students who will positively contribute to��Canada's economic, social and research-based growth.

The Vanier scholarship program is available online at .

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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The grants, part of $237 million in funding and awards recently announced, span across nine 91��ɫ Faculties and support research that improves the quality of life of Canadians, while advancing knowledge and building understanding of complex socio-cultural and economic issues.

“We are very pleased with ’s investment in humanities and social sciences research to support 91��ɫ’s researchers,” said Robert Haché, 91��ɫ’s vice-president research & innovation. “This funding will allow our researchers to make important contributions to our country’s knowledge base, while addressing key social issues facing Canadian society.”

��

Forty-three faculty members received more than $2.9 million in standard research grants.

Researchers��received more than $1.6 million in insight development grants, public outreach and dissemination grants, and research/creation grants in fine arts to support��fifteen projects.

91��ɫ��received more than $480,000 for research workshops and conferences. In the November competition in this category, SSHRC funded 100 per cent of��fourteen 91��ɫ projects, including:

• Modern Slavery, Human Rights and Human Development
• Museums, Film, Musealization in German culture
• Critical Issues in International Refugee Law Research
• Changing Frontiers of Ecological Knowledge:��A Critical Dialogue of Asian Ecologies on the Edge
• 3-D Cinema
• The Politics of Labour in Canada

At 91��ɫ, 179 graduate students also received more than $5 million in scholarships and fellowships. Altogether 2,500 graduate and postdoctoral projects across Canada received funding.

Eight 91��ɫ researchers also received more than $1.5 million in partnership development grants, which encourage collaboration in social sciences and humanities research. This funding supports national and international partnerships between 91��ɫ and other universities, non-governmental organizations and governments. In this competition, 91��ɫ’s success rate was 17 per cent higher than the national success rate. Seven out of the eight awards were associated with 91��ɫ’s research centres.

“The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of investing in research in order to keep Canada at the forefront of the global economy,” said Gary Goodyear, minister of state for science and technology, in announcing the awards. “We are supporting research that will improve the quality of life of Canadians, while helping our universities develop, attract and retain the world’s best researchers.”

“Social sciences and humanities research is about people – who we are as human beings, what we do and why. By deepening our understanding of ourselves and the world around us, and by sharing that knowledge with government, businesses and communities across the country, our researchers continue to make significant contributions to Canada’s prosperity and our quality of life,” said SSHRC president Chad Gaffield. “Through these investments, we ensure that Canada’s best scholars receive the support they need for their research and that they share their knowledge with those who can put it to use across society.”

Visit the website for a complete list of funded projects.

Republished courtesy of YFile – 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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There is one Vivienne Poy Asian Research Award available worth $1,500. It will be given to a graduate student who is enrolled at 91��ɫ and is a graduate associate of YCAR. Priority will be given to students who apply to do research in fulfilment of the fieldwork requirement of the Graduate Diploma in Asian Studies (GDAS). The award is open to local and international students who have a grade point average of at least B+ and can demonstrate how fieldwork in Asia will contribute to the completion of their program and to an understanding of Asia. Financial need will also be considered.

The criteria for selection will include the importance of fieldwork for the graduate student's program, the academic merit of the research proposal, the fit with YCAR's research mandate and active participation in YCAR, including enrollment in the GDAS. Academic merit will include the clarity of the proposal, the��potential contribution of proposed research to Asian studies and Asian communities, and the feasibility of the research.

There are up to��two YCAR Language Awards available to local and international graduate students enrolled at 91��ɫ and registered for the GDAS with a grade point average of at least B+.��Each award��will provide up to $1,500 to reimburse costs directly related to language study. Receipts will be required before related language training expenses are reimbursed. The awards are open to students with demonstrated need to learn a specific Asian language to appreciate and better understand the context and perspectives relating to their area of research study.

One Albert C.W. Chan Foundation Fellowship worth $1,000 is available. Established by the Albert C.W. Chan Foundation, the fellowship encourages and assists graduate students to carry out field research in East and/or Southeast Asia. Applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons, be Ontario residents and demonstrate financial need.

For more information, to obtain the application forms and for details on what to include in the application, visit the YCAR website or e-mail ycar@yorku.ca.

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin

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She accepted the Institute of Aging at the annual conference of the Canadian Association on Gerontology in Montreal. The prize, which augments major scholarship��funding she has already received,��included the money, an invitation to the conference and, best of all, a chance to adjudicate research posters.

“It’s perfect timing for me,” says the first-year doctoral student in the Faculty of Health's School of Kinesiology & Health Science. “I’ll be able to see what’s going on in my field. Winning this award has been very motivating."

Hawkins started work this fall developing and evaluating a clinical assessment tool to measure visuomotor integration (hand-eye coordination) that could lead to early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. For this, CIHR is funding her research to the tune of $35,000 a year – $30,000 in salary plus $5,000 research allowance – for each of the next three years. It’s the biggest scholarship Hawkins has ever received.

Left: Kara Hawkins

Sit down with Hawkins at her corner desk in the office she shares with other graduate students and you’ll notice only one image taped to the wall next to her computer. “That’s my brain,” says the 27-year-old of the vertical MRI scan taken this fall in 91��ɫ’s new Neuroimaging Laboratory, located in the Sherman Health Science Research Centre.

The brain. Hawkins became fascinated with it early in her undergraduate years.��"You can't understand behaviour without understanding the brain. That's what interested me most."��She started studying psychology then branched into kinesiology. It was a natural detour. “I’m an athlete,” says the former varsity goalie who now plays forward for the Aurora Panthers and for the Ice-O-Topes, an intramural team at 91��ɫ. “I wanted to learn how the brain controls movement.”

After graduating in 2006, she jumped at an offer to work as a neuropsychology assistant at Baycrest, a centre specializing in geriatric research and care. “I’ve always been interested in clinical applications,” says Hawkins. Baycrest sparked an interest in aging and two years later she returned to 91��ɫ to pursue��a master’s degree and neuroscience graduate diploma, delving deeper into the neurophysiology of complex motor control. She won three scholarships to do it and graduated last spring.

Now a doctoral student, she’s back in a clinical setting. At 91��ɫ Central Hospital, she is collaborating with the geriatric physician to diagnose aging patients who show signs of mental deterioration. Currently, doctors use language, cognition, memory and attention tests to score patients’ mental status out of 30. It’s an imprecise science, and Hawkins has developed and is testing a new measurement tool that could be more precise.

The tool looks like a laptop. There are two touch-sensitive screens, one vertical and the other horizontal (where the keyboard would normally be). The patient is instructed to reach for a target that appears on the vertical screen, at first directly with her hand and then more indirectly using the horizontal touch screen to��manipulate a cursor. The test is not educationally or language biased, and Hawkins can determine which part of the brain the patient is using and the level of dysfunction based by the accuracy and speed of the response.

The brain is a complex network of communicating parts. When someone has dementia, the lines of communication deteriorate and misfire. Hawkins’ test aims to detect the breakdown in the visual-motor and cognitive-motor communication lines. “These touch-screen tracking tests tap into that.”

Hawkins is currently trying to recruit 60 to 90 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and the same number who are aging normally. Over the next three years, she’ll test her diagnostic tool. She is particularly interested in finding out if it can detect early and more subtle stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Interested participants may contact her at karah@yorku.ca.

The earlier we can catch signs of mental deterioration, the more time there will be for intervention that could delay the onset, says Hawkins. Earlier and more precise diagnosis could lead to better education and better care for patients, she says.

Hawkins, now a member of the , is doing her research under the supervision of ��Prof. Lauren Sergio, an expert in hand-eye coordination and director of 91��ɫ’s Sensorimotor Neuroscience Laboratory. When she’s finished her PhD, she hopes to continue exploring diseases associated with��aging.

By Martha Tancock, YFile contributing writer

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Research grants cover most of these expenses, but��the geography graduate student��welcomes the $15,000 she won as this year’s master’s-level recipient of the Garfield Weston Award for Northern Research. The money��will��help cover her tuition fees, books and living expenses. "It was definitely nice to get it."

The award is one of many scholarships presented by the Canadian Northern Studies Trust on behalf of the .

Right: Liz Miller on a dig

Miller is the second 91��ɫ geography graduate student to win it in two years. Last year, Anna Abnizova (BSc Spec. Hons. '05, MSc '07) was the doctoral-level recipient.

Both students are researching northern wetlands under the supervision of Arctic hydrologist Kathy Young, a geography professor in 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.

Last week, Miller returned to Toronto after three months studying the water flow of two hill streams that drain into the Polar Bear Pass wetland. It was her third trip to the North, her first to conduct her own research.

In the summer of 2009, Abnizova��chose her as a field assistant to measure water levels, surface area and carbon fluxes��in wetland ponds fed by snowmelt in this protected wildlife sanctuary.

Left: Liz Miller out 'fishing'

Their research adds to a growing understanding of the effect of climate change on the North. Polar Bear Pass is an oasis of vegetation in the middle of a polar desert. Its plant life nourishes insects, migratory birds and mammals, from lemming and fox to muskox and caribou, not to mention the polar bears that migrate through this protected wildlife area. That plant life depends on the sustainability of the wetland ponds, on the snowmelt and water flow.

Miller’s love of nature began as a child growing up in rural New Brunswick. She helped her father garden and went on camping and hiking trips across Canada with her parents. Unsure what to study after high school in Toronto, she enrolled at 91��ɫ because the Environmental Science Program offered such variety. She could take biology, geography, ecology and conservation and learn about everything from soils and hydrology to plants and animals. Her first taste of the Arctic came after third year when she helped Professor Rick Bello measure carbon release from peatlands in Churchill, Manitoba.

But, until Abnizova invited her to be a field assistant last year, Miller never imagined returning to the Arctic. For three years after earning a bachelor of science in 2006, she had hopped from one government contract to another. She still hasn’t narrowed her interest to a single field, but can boast a wealth of experience in conservation��– assessing wetlands, mapping endangered-plant sites, doing surveys of red-shouldered hawks and forest inventories, evaluating the health of streams, restoring wetlands and planting trees.

Right: Rifle-totaing Liz Miller takes no chances in Polar Bear Pass

This week, Miller climbed aboard yet another plane to see Europe for the first time. In three weeks, she’ll return to finish her master’s degree and then decide whether to do a doctorate.

After witnessing the wildlife��– caribou in particular – in Polar Bear Pass, she may branch into a broader investigation of the relationship between��physical geography (land and water)��and the biological community. “I like figuring out why plants grow where they grow and animals are where they are.”

By Martha Tancock, YFile contributing writer

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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