Welcome back! As we return to campus for the 2023/24 academic year, I want to take time to reflect on the work of the FST IDEA Committee during the past year and look ahead to what we have planned for the upcoming year. The 2022/23 academic year marked the third year of the committee and the first year under a new name. The FST EDI Committee underwent a name change to the FST IDEA Committee to include ‘Accessibility’ in its name in early 2023. The committee members feel that this name better represents the mandate and goals of the committee and we are really excited to continue our work under our new name. For more information on this name change and what it means for the committee, please check out issue #2 of the committee’s newsletter, available on our website.
The inception of the newsletter (IDEAs) was a major achievement during the 2022/23 academic year, with the first issue published in August 2022 and the second issue published in February 2023. The newsletter team has done a fantastic job highlighting important issues related to inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility, as well as providing amazing resources, including book and podcast recommendations. Every issue of the newsletter includes a Spotlight Series highlighting students, staff, and faculty in FST. Please consider submitting your own spotlight to be featured in an upcoming issue of the newsletter!
In March, we welcomed Dr. Imogen Coe to MRU to give two talks – one for FST on ‘Embedding Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Faculty of Science and Technology’ and one for the larger university community on ‘EDI Strategies to Help Deal With Systemic (Racial) Discrimination in the University.’ Both of these talks were excellent and generated some important discussions.
For the upcoming academic year, the IDEA Committee is strongly focused on integrating IDEA in research and in the classroom. This will include creating IDEA-related course content that will be available for instructors to incorporate into their courses, advocating for issues relevant to student research assistants, and advocating for more awareness and accommodations around significant cultural events. Keep an eye out for our newsletter, which will be published once a semester, and check our website regularly for updates, including the significant dates calendar and announcements related to guest speakers. The committee will continue to present an IDEA Spotlight at the monthly Faculty Council meetings. If there is something you would like to see discussed at Faculty Council, please let us know!
This summer, the IDEA Committee was gifted a bulletin board outside the B Wing (thanks so much to Barb Lindsay in Chemistry and Physics!). The bulletin board currently features a display on Pride, including our recent ‘Battle of the Programs’ competition to create a Pride logo for the academic year. Keep an eye out for new displays every month, and if you would like to see something highlighted please let us know.
Finally, the committee plans to host IDEA coffee hours twice per semester to provide FST members with the opportunity to gather and discuss issues related to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. Each coffee hour will be centred on a particular theme, book, article, podcast, etc., and we hope to use this time to generate discussion, provide support, and contribute to a strong community within FST.
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to edifst@mtroyal.ca if you have any questions or concerns related to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility, if there is something you would like the committee to take on, or if you would like to join the committee or participate in any of our events. I look forward to seeing you all on campus this year!
Dr. Meg Stewart, FST IDEA Committee
Do you like to write, edit, and create? Are you interested in supporting inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA)? Looking for experience to support your resume, grad school applications, etc.? JOIN the FST IDEA Newsletter team!
We are looking for 1-2 student volunteers to join the FST IDEA committee’s newsletter team. Our primary purpose in making this call is to ensure the inclusion and representation of student perspectives, feedback, voices, and input. We value what you have to say and want our newsletter to reflect this!
Connect with Chelsey Schafer at cmschafer@mtroyal.ca to express your interest.
For thousands of years, people all around the world have been making bread. It's a staple food in every culture, and the basic ingredients needed are the same: flour, water, yeast, and salt. No matter where you go, bread is a part of rituals, traditions, and celebrations. Think of challah in Jewish cuisine, baguette in France, naan in India, or tortilla in Latin America.
Bread is not just food—it's also a symbol of togetherness and shared experiences. It brings people together at social gatherings and represents unity and hospitality. Throughout history, bread has evolved as a result of technological advancements, cultural exchanges, and trade routes. People's creativity and ingenuity have shaped different bread-making techniques, leading to unique regional specialties.
By sharing bread recipes, we can learn so much about different cultures. Recipes show us the diverse flavors, techniques, and ingredients used in various parts of the world. They also give us insights into the cultural values, customs, and histories of different communities. It's a way to appreciate and understand the richness of our global heritage. When we explore and share bread recipes, we create connections between cultures. We can learn from one another and develop a deeper appreciation for the traditions and adaptations that have shaped bread-making.
Flossie Wong-Staal, Ph.D.
Flossie Wong-Staal (1946 - 2020) was one of the most important scientists in AIDS research: she unlocked the connection between HIV and AIDS. Flossie established that HIV was the cause of AIDS by cloning the virus and laying the foundation for treatments. She was the most-cited female scientist of the 1980s and her accolades include one of the top 50 female scientists (2002), #32 of the "Top 100 Living Geniuses" (2007), and induction into the National Women's Hall of Fame (2019).
Gwen O'Sullivan (she/her)
Tell us a bit about yourself!
I moved, from Ireland, to Canada in 2007 and have worked in both industry and academia. I love puzzles, mysteries, and science and I get to combine all these in my field of research - environmental forensics. I have been really lucky to travel all over the world with my research - meeting new people, and experiencing different cultures and places has really enriched my life.
Growing up in Ireland I played a lot of sports e.g. Gaelic, soccer, golf, etc. When I moved to Canada I kept playing familiar sports that were accessible e.g. soccer and golf but I also decided I am never too old to try new things and I learned to ice skate and ski. As my kids grew older, I took up hockey and ringette and I now play on a league team. While I am playing a different sport from my youth the central essence is the same - playing sport to try new things and meet and make friends.
What is the best part about being in your position?
The people. I am so fortunate to be able to learning from and support students, staff, and faculty. The Department Chair job is a very busy role, with lots of moving parts, but the joy of the role is that it provide me with the opportunity to help people navigate their journeys at MRU and beyond. (at the time of submission Gwen held the EES dept. Chair role, at this time she is now our Vice Dean)
What is the most challenging part about being in your position?
The volume and diversity of my 'to do list'. I sometime marvel and the different types of work I will do in one day and other days I wish I could simply focus on one task at a time.
What's a little known fact about you?
Hard to think of one as I am an open book. Some people might not know that I am a twin - hard to believe there could be two of me.
What great EDI initiatives, podcasts, stories, ideas etc. would you recommend our MRU community hear about or engage with?
Shane Steininger (he/him)
Tell us a bit about yourself!
Grew up on a small family farm in rural Saskatchewan. From here I grew up hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and began growing a strong sense of conservation through volunteer work and events through Ducks Unlimited. Eventually ended up moving to Alberta where I finished high school and began exploring University options. It was not a stretch for the natural sciences to be of huge interest. After initially planning on being a Fish and Wildlife officer the science and the research was too big of a draw comparted to law enforcement, though I still have a strong passion for regulations, policy and advocating for change.
What is the best part about being in your position?
The sheer scope of work in the department. We cover so much ground as a faculty that there is truly something under our tent for any number of interests.
What is the most challenging part about being in your position?
The very large, very diverse cast. Lots of intersecting personalities. Both the good and the bad side of showing up for work everyday never knowing what new and exciting things are going to take off.
What's a little known fact about you?
My university colleagues may not know of my outdoorsy side, with the hunting and farming background, or on the total other side with my interests in Board and Video games.
What great EDI initiatives, podcasts, stories, ideas etc. would you recommend our MRU community hear about or engage with?
Ciara Spaan (she/her)
Tell us a bit about yourself!
I studied a Bachelor of Arts - majoring in Sociology and a double minor in Education and Indigenous Studies. Since I was a kid, I have been a little obsessed about TV and Films and the way they impact us. It wasn't till university that I realized how sociology played into all of it. Since then, I have a strong desire to return to academia for my MA and PHD to eventually become a professor and research in the Sociology of Film and TV Entertainment as well as mass communications.
I am a big traveler and fight off my travel bug many times a year just so I can be home with my doggo - Ellie. I am an abide collector of all things Geekdom- Lego, Film Fandoms, puzzles, and video games. Oh and I have a twin sister so there is that too.
What is the best part about being in your position?
The best part of my role is bridging the gap on what students need and what faculty know. Being close to the student experience and an academic, I get to translate the background noise of policies/procedures to students as well as be their advocate in the academic ecosystem.
What is the most challenging part about being in your position?
The most challenging part can be seeing and hearing all perspectives and not being emotional with the different inequities an advisor can see. We see the gaps but its not always within our power to correct them the way we think they should be corrected.
What's a little known fact about you?
I am a little too much of an open book for people to not know things about me, but I would want people to know that I identify as queer and a proud advocate for the LGBTQIA2S+ community.
What great EDI initiatives, podcasts, stories, ideas etc. would you recommend our MRU community hear about or engage with?
This week there are a number of daily events for our Journey to Indigenization (Sept 22 - Oct 4, 2023); in addition, the National Centre for Truth & Reconciliation is hosting lunch and learn presentations daily.
The Office of Indigenous Education at UBC is offering a free online course Reconciliation through Indigenous Education. The course is aimed at educators and the focus is to help improve educational outcomes of all students in our classrooms. The content of this course will help faculty understand the importance of Indigenous worldviews and cultures, and will support our work to create equitable and inclusive environments in our classes. The time commitment to complete this course is 2-4 hours of asynchronous learning per week, over a six-week period. The course starts on September 26 and finishes on November 6; after the conclusion of the course, you will no longer have access to the resources.
Our Science & Technology Indigenous Initiatives Committee is organizing a discussion group oriented around the (free) online course; the first meeting will be on October 2 (Rm B341) to talk about week one material (10:30-11:30 am). Thanksgiving Monday will be skipped, with week two and three content discussed at the October 16 meeting. Sign up for the course now! Please contact Melanie Rathburn, Associate Dean Academic, with any questions.
The Iniskim Centre offers programs and services to increase the engagement and success of Indigenous students while also raising awareness of Indigenous peoples and cultures.
Students - With any program you choose, the Iniskim Centre helps you prepare to succeed in your academic pursuits and future career. Our dedicated staff encourages you throughout your program of study, providing resources such as academic and cultural support, academic advising, writing support and scholarship information.
Your Mount Royal University experience will be as original as you are. With unique programs for Indigenous students, cultural experiences and an education that opens up a world of opportunities, you belong here.
Dr. Sarah Hewitt
Dr. Sarah Hewitt is an Associate Professor in Biology (focusing on neuroscience and physiology) and she is passionate about communicating science to students and the general public. In the last 12 months, Dr. Hewitt has been the recipient of three prestigious awards related to her exceptional contributions to teaching and learning. She was one of ten recipients from across Canada to receive the 2023 3M National Teaching Fellowship Award (April), was awarded the Distinguished Faculty Awards (DFA) at MRU celebrating outstanding performance (May), and received the Confederation of Alberta Faculty Associations' Distinguished Teaching Award (September). Dr. Hewitt incorporates IDEA aspects into her classroom by trying to ensure that everyone has a voice and a means of expressing what they know in a way that works for them. She also provides a variety of learning materials to make the content more accessible for different students.
Disability Visibility: First Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century edited by Alice Wong
One in five people in the United States live with a disability. While it is the only minority that anyone may find themselves in at some point in their life, disability is continually underrepresented in media and popular culture, so Alice Wong, a disabled activist herself, collected a wide variety of writers to introduce the reader to the incredibly complex worlds and lived experiences of disabled people within Disability Visibility. The anthology should serve as an important starting point into disability discourse, showcasing what it means to live in the modern world.
Content warnings are given at the beginning of each essay.
Ologies: Indigenous Fire Ecology
Indigenous Fire Ecology (GOOD FIRE) with Amy Christianson
Alie Ward is joined by Indigenous fire scientist Dr. Amy Christianson on this episode of Ologies to discuss Indigenous history, collaborations between Western science & First Nations elders, Aboriginal thoughts on cultural burns, evacuations, snowmelt, hunting strategies, land stewardship, happy trees, climate strategies, and the social science behind wildfire education. What is a “good fire”? You may also want to catch up on Dr. Christianson’s own podcast Good Fire with Matt Kristoff, or continue listening to Your Forest Podcast (also by Matt Kristoff), both of whom share excerpts in this episode.
Ring Shout by P. Djeli Clark
Ring Shout follows Maryse Boudreaux in an alternative 1922 Jim Crow American South, with an important caveat. The hatred of Klansmen allows for their possession by demonic monstrosities (Ku Kluxes), and Maryse and a band of Black Americans are doing their best to prevent these monstrous humans from making inroads into society. A number of real historical events are deftly woven into the narrative, bringing you along for the ride where the true monsters are people.
Content warning: racism, racial slurs, hate crimes, body horror, animal death, death of a parent, physical violence
Brought to you by the FST IDEAs Newsletter subcommittee: