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With increased demand for resources, the mining industry continues to search for new deposits, often in new places. These deposits are often much deeper underground than deposits that have historically been mined. However, mining in difficult landscapes (such as below 2.5km underground) has major challenges such rock stresses and stability, heat on the human body, ventilation, productivity, and energy consumption, to name a few. What innovative ways are people in the mining industry overcoming these challenges? What does the future of mining look like?

Speakers:

Charles Nyabeze, Vice President of Business Development CEMI

Dr. Tammy Eger, Full Professor in the School of Human Kinetics, Research Chair in Occupational Health and Safety with the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH) at Laurentian University

Patti Pegues, Manager of Mine Planning for the North Atlantic Technical Services Department, Vale.

Unfettered experimentation driven by pure curiosity is giving way to a debate over whether to establish “no-go” areas of science—such as using new gene-editing technologies to produce engineered babies, giving flu viruses and other pathogens new capabilities, and engineering microbes to produce illegal drugs. Should we establish no-go areas of research? Who decides and who enforces it? What are the risks of not establishing regulations? Do we limit our potential by limiting ourselves?

Speakers:

Barbara Ward-Dagnon, CEO Medicor Research Inc

Adam Pawluch, Clinical Research Coordinator, Medicor Research Inc.

Dr. Farukh Jabeen, Founder and CEO, Avecina MedCann Innovations

Dr. Michael Yeo, Full Professor, Department of Philosophy Laurentian University

The current rate of species loss on our planet is alarming, but scientists and conservationists are divided about the best response to this extinction crisis. Is it possible to save all species, and should we even try? What is the value of a species, and what is lost in extinction? If it is not possible to save all species, how should we make decisions about where to focus our conservation efforts? Do we have a responsibility to conserve as many species as possible... or even bring some back?

In partnership with Thinking extinction

Panelists included:

Brett BuchananAssociate Professor, Department of Philosophy, Laurentian University

Matt ChrulewAdjunct Researcher, School of Humanities, University of New South Wales

David LesbarreresAssociate Professor, Department of Biology, Laurentian University

Thomas NuddsProfessor Emeritus, Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph

Moderator: Dana MurchisonStaff Scientist, Science North

TV shows and movies about crime solving have exploded in popularity in recent years, but real-life forensic research is much more complicated, and much more diverse, than what we see on the screen. Is forensic science in the media actually affecting real-life court cases, and are criminals walking free because of junk science? Meet experts from Laurentian's Department of Forensic Science and hear some myths busted about forensics. Supported by NSERC.

Panelists included:

Dr. Scott FairgrieveFull Professor, Department of Forensic Science and Director, Forensic Osteology Laboratory, Laurentian University

Dr. Gerard M. CourtinProfessor Emeritus, Adjunct Professor, Department of Forensic Science, Laurentian University

Dr. James WattersonAssociate Professor and Chair, Department of Forensic Science, Laurentian University

Moderator: Dana MurchisonStaff Scientist, Science North

The beginning of a new year brings with it a flood of new diet and exercise programs promising a new you in the new year. We all want to look better and be healthier, but with this information overload where does one start? Your everyday diet can have major effects on your health and resistance to rampant diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Advice on what constitutes a healthy diet is more prevalent and more inconsistent than ever. High fat? Low fat? High carb? Low carb? How can your diet act as a preventer of disease? What other factors can affect your health? Is there one perfect diet for all?

The uncertain future of Canada's Arctic is a matter of pressing public concern, but most Canadians will never experience this changing landscape firsthand. Most of us must rely instead on information sent back to us by researchers, traditional knowledge holders, and documentarians. But whose stories are being told, and what kinds of images, data, and stories have the greatest impact on motivating public concern? How are scientific and traditional knowledge about Canada's North being integrated? Who speaks for Canada's Arctic: researchers, traditional inhabitants, polar bears, or politicians?

This event was part of the Science in Canada's North Café Scientifique Series. Science North gratefully acknowledges the support of the W. Garfield Weston Foundation and the Canadian Association of Science Centres for their support of this event.

Panelists included:

Jeremy BrammerPh.D. Candidate, Department of Wildlife Biology, McGill University

Brandon LaforestPh.D. Candidate, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University

David F. LickleyFilmmaker, Wonders of the Arctic, Lickley Productions

Moderator: Dana MurchisonStaff Scientist, Science North

Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection was so revolutionary that it changed the whole field of natural history and the way we see ourselves. Will we ever see another discovery that shifts our paradigms so dramatically? How does evolutionary thought influence current research in molecular genetics? What historical conditions allowed Darwin to arrive at his discovery? In today's research environment, could a self-taught naturalist ever change the way we see our world?

Panelists included:

Thomas MerrittPhD, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Canada Research Chair in Genomics and Bioinformatics, Laurentian University

Peter NoskoPhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biology, Nipissing University

Anne ClendinningPhD, Associate Professor, Department of History, Nipissing University

David LegrosM.Sc., Natural Heritage Education Specialist, Algonquin Park

Moderator: Franco MariottiStaff Scientist, Science North