UGRC 2025 Program

FINE ARTS - ARTIST STATEMENTS

Group 1: Identity

Bryan, Emma, “My Friends”

Stuffed animals can’t get sick. Stuffed animals never leave you. Being 13 and isolated in my childhood home due to the Covid 19 pandemic changed my perspective on friendship. My piece “My Friends” is an intaglio print on BFK paper. I created this piece to invoke a shared experience of pandemic loneliness. With my gentle linework I feel safe in my bed with my stuffed animals but their expressionless bodies leave something to be desired… human connection. This work shows the balance between the comfort of inanimate objects and lifeless loneliness that comes with being a child and losing friendships.

Bujas, Madalyn, “Self Reflection”

The graphite drawing "Self Reflection" is an abstracted interpretation of what sense of self means. The artwork depicts a vase in many different reflections, illustrating the disconnection between your own interpretation of yourself compared to those around you. The center vase, the only one in full rendered view, represents your interpretation of yourself. The vases around the center image progressively get less rendered and visible, symbolizing how others' interpretations of you become less accurate the further they are from your life. The composition is purposely off center to mimic the uncomfortable and uneasy feelings associated with self discovery and reflection.

Corbeil, Dakota, “Expiration (Birth)Date”

“Expiration (Birth)Date” is an intaglio print on paper completed as coursework with the theme/prompt “darkness and light.” It speaks to the wave of depression that sometimes comes with celebrating one’s birthday. Specifically, it speaks to the performative nature of the act of blowing out one’s birthday candles. Additionally, the work contains feminist ideas, speaking to how it feels to age as a woman in a patriarchal society, since much of a woman’s self-worth is intrinsically tied to her youth. The style of the print take notes from the German expressionist printmakers to complement the dark and chaotic concept.

Joseph, Vanessa, “Innu-aimun mak Innu-aitun (Innu language and way of life)”

The prints I wish to present are about language revitalization. My language is endangered and I wanted to make aesthetically pleasing signs and pictures with words attached to them so it is possible for my people to see their language everyday.

Leighton, Hannah, “Dark Side of My Mind/ Invisable”

I am submitting two pieces of fine art. One is a multi media piece (charcoal, acrylic, relief printing ink, Japanese paper) entitle Dark Side of My Mind and the second one is a multi media sculpture Invisable (plaster, liquid latex and acrylic paint). 

Paquette-Anderson, Kelby, ““Bionic Bodies — Exploring ‘Moist Media’ at the Intersection of Psychedelic States, Technology and Queer Perspectives through Print Media Practises.””

This research explores the convergence of ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ modalities in visual and material processes to reimagine the ‘bionic’ body as a site of syncretic and transformative potential. Rooted in Roy Ascott’s theory of syncretism—finding unity between unlike things—and Legacy Russell’s glitch theory, the work positions non-binary and queer identities as active agents of disruption, remapping physical and virtual forms. These frameworks intersect with McKenzie Wark’s concept of hacking as a mode of creating new relational planes, where seemingly disparate elements converge to unlock new possibilities for identity and representation. Through the integration of serigraph prints (‘wet’ processes) with digital editing techniques (‘dry’ spaces) and their iterative translation back into tangible outputs, the resulting giclée prints embody “fuzzy ambiguities” and “darting associations” that challenge fixed binaries. This process reflects a syncretic approach that mirrors the experiential overlap of psychedelics and digital interfaces, both of which mediate altered states of consciousness and modes of engagement. By visualizing and activating a ‘moist’ framework—an interstitial space between wet and dry—the research situates the body as a fluid site of innovation and resistance, negotiating tensions between materiality and immateriality. It invites critical engagement with systems of power, proposes reconciliations with ancestral and queer ways of knowing, and celebrates the inherent intelligences within glitch and disruption. This research bridges art, technology, and philosophy, offering a speculative vision of bodies as sites of continuous reformation and collective transformation.

Group 2: The Environment

Dixon, Josiah-Deren, “Gone”

My directed studies and research on the environmental and geographical impacts of the James Bay Hydroelectric Dam inspire my artwork. The art piece features a devasted landscape with missing elements such as people, trees and water, implying that there has been some force that impacted the region. I title my work "Gone," symbolizing that the culture and localized resources have been stripped away as a direct impact of the development of a dam in a regional area.

Fraser, Meaghan, “Turning the Page toward Extinction”

This piece is a plaster sculpture of an encyclopedia-style book laying open depicting Ontario species at risk on the pages. The species that are closest to extinction (categorized as endangered) are portrayed in low-relief because they are close to only remaining within the pages of our books rather than in life, whereas the species who are special concerns are portrayed in high-relief (coming to life from the pages of the book). The contrast in the relief's depth showcases the constant tension that these flora and fauna face, where their status of existing only in our writing and books vs. real life is in a constant state of uncertainty. Altogether, this piece forces the viewer to confront how many of our beloved species are struggling and are close to only existing in our memory.

Jenner, Erin, “Croaking Shadow”

My introduction to the Fine Arts program at Nipissing and early art career was through the art of printmaking. Croaking Shadow was my first professional engraving created by hand, printed by ink and a plexiglass plate. Much of my work involving depictions of nature touch on themes of change, adjustments, lessons and discovery. A scene inspired by Monastery Hall and my experiences in North Bay; Ravens are recurring figures in my work as I so rarely see them but in times of conflict and challenge in my life. I hope to continue using traditional printmaking to share stories.

Kozuskanich, Ross, “Sundown Scrap Pier (Look Around)”

Set against radiant yellow skies, an old crane and rickety brick building rest on some old docks, weathered from the spray of azure waves below. This slice of maritime life is the Sundown Scrap Pier, an old docking post in the middle of the ocean. This work engages with nostalgia through the reworking of my childhood memories exploring the shores of Lake Nipissing. The piece is inspired by Walter Wick’s I SPY series, using a ‘2.5D’ collage of paper, cardboard, and found objects to create a fun, playful scene rich with life and detail for the viewer to “look around.”

Stoddart, Rebekah, “Monkeybars and Climber”

Monkeybars and Climber come from a suite of prints that are focused on reproducing scenes from my memory of childhood, childhood as closely associated with the outdoors, the setting of winter as associated with warmth and storytelling. Winter is often a time for gathering with other individuals, curling up and transmitting stories from one to another. The blue paper influences every colour printed on top, just as everyone present in my childhood has built who I am today.

Group 3: Interrogating Social Structures

Adams, Katelyn, “Alongside Nature and Time”

This work is inspired by the short story The Very Old Man With Enormous Wings by Gabriel Garcia Marquiez. I want to bring this old man to life, so to speak, to comment on the human need to categorize and the desire we have to understand something, instead of sitting with our feelings of awe and allowing that to be enough. Even though the sculpture will seemingly have stereotypical white ‘angel’ wings, I will discolour the wings to look more like a bird, so as to distance him from religious interpretations. The old man is wearing casual layered clothes that are visibly worn and has a solemn expression on his bearded face. He will wear a flat-cap that protects his face, as his wings will provide shelter for people who sit with him and he himself is evidently exposed to the weather conditions. This piece is also derived as a challenge of anti-homeless benches that have become popular outdoor architecture today. I would like to raise awareness for the conditions that people are exposed to when they are homeless, inspiring empathic responses. The old man is a stranger to us, but the combination of wings and sheltering pose of an elder, invokes a sense of safety and wisdom.

Christie, Jessica, “The Rise and Fall of Mona Lisa”

My work centres LGBTQIA+ women; exploring our identity and places within our culture. I aim to have the women in my work take centre stage and make the viewer think of them – not just look at them. This piece was inspired by Kehinde Wiley’s works where he places Black people in famous poses of Western art. Her iconic down-the-barrel stare and tired pageant queen persona directly contradicts the classic Mona Lisa’s demure passivity. Roan is unabashedly feminine in contradiction to how patriarchal society wants femininity to be performed. My use of colour allows the work to lean into the camp influences of Roan, as well as the satirization of popular Western figures by drag performers.

Derochie, Emma, “Must be the Hysteria", "Catastrophize with Flair Darling", "In all Her Glory"

Three prints that interrogate male gaze and relation to the body as a woman.

Johnstone, Anna, “Me Too 'Bronze'”

A miniature "bronze" statue, polished in places from the touch of strangers. In response to the boundaries crossed, the statue's plinth is littered with letters and signs of true stories being shared, as if left after a Me Too march or protest.

Johnstone, Anna, “The Patches Sisters”

Two sculpted dolls, one from polymer clay and the other from paper clay, that are a progression of experimentation with the materials and the human form. One doll is joined with wire and the other has limbs strung through with elastic, both are adorned with trims of mane hair from Patches, a pony that the artist grew up riding.

Maville, Emily, “War Burger”

"War Burger" consists of a multimedia sculpted burger, fries, napkin, and ketchup packet. A figure lies hunched in the meat of the burger. The bun is littered with “sesame seed” bullet shrapnel. Bullet shells create curved tips of french fries, and disgusting feelings lurk around a hamburger meal. Themes of cannibalism exist in this burger meal through the lens of the genocide of Palestine's people- declared "over." However, Palestinians are still killed aimlessly. This piece parodies McDonalds- a worldwide corporation that has fuelled this genocide through their Israeli franchise's donation of foodstuffs to the Israeli Defense Force. In "War Burger," the viewer confronts their "innocent" consumption of other human beings.

Teel, Aylea, “to be consumed (After Hoch)”

Heavily inspired by the composition of Hannah Hoch's “Untitled (From an Ethnographic Museum),” 1930, this piece relates women to livestock. Meat eating can be read as a masculine trait, automatically casting the figures in this piece into something that is intended for the male gaze. The consumption of meat and the removal of individuality and identity from the animals being consumed can also be compared to the way women are sexualized and depersonalized when viewed in a misogynistic, patriarchal manner. As well, this piece utilizes collaged paintings by Paul Gaugin, a Post-Impressionist painter who profited off of the sexualization of Indigenous minors.

ABSTRACTS - POSTERS

Group 1 – Health

Daniw, Schyler, “Current Landscape of Support for Indigenous Families Affected by Rare and Young Onset Dementia”

This literature review, part of the CIHR-funded project “A Realist Evaluation of Rare Dementia Support: Peoples, Spaces, and Places,” examines experiences and support access for Indigenous individuals, families, and communities affected by different dementias. Drawing from PubMed, EBSCO, and Cambridge Core databases, using keywords “dementia,” “rare dementia,” “young onset dementia,” “Indigenous,” “First Nations,” “Inuit,” and “Metis”, 20 peer-reviewed and grey sources were reviewed. Themes of cultural perceptions of dementia, care inequities, and community-based cultural support needs were identified. This poster highlights culturally appropriate care practices, healthcare barriers, integration of culturally sensitive care differences, and traditional practices into support resources.

Lebel, Isabelle, "Health care experiences for Francophone Families Affected by Rare and Young Onset Dementia"

This literature review, part of the CIHR funded project “A Realist Evaluation of Rare Dementia Support: Peoples, Spaces and Places” aimed to explore experiences (access, support and culturally relevant care) of Canadian Francophones affected by dementia diagnoses. We searched relevant databases using the English and French keywords, ‘French Canadian,’ ‘Francophone,’ ‘dementia,’ ‘supports,’ and ‘services’. Ten peer-reviewed papers were identified. A significant gap in the literature is identified regarding experiences for Francophone Canadians with a dementia diagnosis. Initial findings demonstrate consistent Francophone services, primarily in rural Anglophone communities, lacking. Recommendations are shared for culturally relevant dementia support for Francophone Canadians.

Lloyd, Hayden, “Key Mechanisms in Building Successful Community-Based Initiatives for People affected by Rare Dementia”

Community-based initiatives are essential in addressing health and social challenges by fostering local engagement, empowerment, and sustainability. This research examines key theoretical frameworks and best practices that contribute to the success of community-based participatory research (CBPR). This appraisal of the literature includes studies on co-production, structural governance, and collective empowerment, identifying key factors for successful community-driven initiatives. The findings highlight the importance of trust-building, power-sharing, cultural relevance, and iterative adaptation in ensuring meaningful and successful community involvement. Additionally, structural governance mechanisms and community-academic partnerships emerged as crucial factors in sustaining long-term impact and success. This literature review is part of the CIHR funded project "Peoples, Spaces, Places" to evaluate and further develop Rare Dementia Support (RDS) Canada. These insights provide a strategic foundation for RDS Canada to develop and implement future initiatives that are participatory and community-led, evidence-based, and culturally sensitive. 

Peever, Emma, “Perceived influencers on teacher-coach engagement in school-based physical activity opportunities: a rural, northern Ontario perspective”

This research investigated the perceived facilitators and barriers on rural, northern Ontario teachers-coaches to champion interschool sports programming. Employing a qualitative approach, face-to-face interviews captured 10 teacher-coaches beliefs that were transcribed into thematic categories. Key takeaways showed that school-based and community resources, individualized motivation and confidence, administrative support, teacher incentivization, coaching certification, and family dynamics influenced participants’ decisions to coach school sports teams.  Projected actions to minimize the teacher/coach role conflict include early career, teacher-coach mentorship, online and/or in-service coach certification programs, and course release and/or reduced academic commitments for teacher coaches.

Williams, Taylor, “Illuminating Social Exclusion as a determinant of health among military spouses”

This literature review aimed at illuminating social exclusion as a determinant of health among military spouses. A review of relevant data bases was done using key words such as ‘military spouses’ ‘social isolation’, ‘employment’, ‘psychosocial stressors’ AND ‘health behaviour’. The poster is an amalgamation of peer reviewed and grey literature articles, documents, and books. Our search highlighted a dearth of literature, indicating a gap in studies on military spouses. Initial findings demonstrate that military spouses face social isolation across Canada leading to a risk for chronic stressors. Recommendations are made for a revision of current governmental and institutional policies.

Group 2 – Environment & Sustainability

Chaudhari, Khyatiben, “Change detection project”

A change detection project in remote sensing analyzes satellite or aerial imagery to identify environmental or land-use changes over time. It involves data collection from sources like landsat or sentinel, preprocessing (radiometric and geometric corrections), and applying methods such as image differencing, post-classification comparison, or AI-based models. Change detection is crucial for monitoring deforestation, urban expansion, climate change, and disaster impacts. Validation using ground truth data ensures accuracy. The final outputs, such as change maps and statistical analyses, help policymakers, researchers, and conservationists make informed decisions for sustainable environmental management and urban planning.

Chandana Parambath, Gokul Krishna, “Flooding of Coastal Wetland in Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary, Tamilnadu, India due to Dilapidated Checkdam using Sentinel 2 Data (2020-2024)”

The objective of this study is to use remote sensing tools to identify changes on the costal wetland ecosystem of Kazhuveli wildlife sanctuary, Tamilnadu, India due to the construction of Dilapidated check dams using Sentinel-2 satellite data between the years 2020 to 2024. Two satellite imagery from 2020 and 2024 was collected from Sentinel-2 satellite was processed using Catalyst software and the region was classified and assessed. This study will let us understand the extend of loss of coastal wetland ecosystem due to human involvement.

Landry, Josh, “Determining Forest Fire Impact of Temagami-North Bay 069 Using Multispectral Aerial Imagery from 2016 and 2021”

Two separate multispectral aerial images were acquired from the Central Ontario Orthophotography Project (COOP) which was flown by the Ministry of Resources and Forestry (MNRF) in 2016 and 2021. The area that was imaged included the 2018 forest fire that occurred just south of the town of Temagami, Ontario, and, given its location within North Bay’s wildlife jurisdiction, designated as North Bay 069. The purpose of this investigation was to calculate the true extent of damage incurred from this forest fire as well as gain further understanding of fires within boreal forest environments. The imagery downloaded included four spectral bands (Red, Green, Blue, and NIR) at 20 cm ground resolution. Pre-processing including mosaicking several images for each year and cropping out any unnecessary areas of the scene not considered necessary. A Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was then applied to the imagery to better visualize the burned areas using a Write Function Memory Insertion (WFMI) change detection algorithm. Lastly, an unsupervised classification was conducted for both 2016 and 2021 imagery at a resampled ground resolution of 5 meters. The classified ground cover images were then utilized to determine the extent of damage to the forests using a post-classification change detection approach. The results of this investigation indicate an approximate loss of 175 hectares, which is much less than what was previously reported.

Mascarenhas, Aldrin, “Change in infrastructure due to large scale projects”

Infrastructure planning in metropolitan cities is highly complex. In my research, I aim to analyze the infrastructural transformations resulting from the construction of the New Mumbai International Airport in the Ulwe region of Maharashtra, India. Utilizing Sentinel-2 satellite imagery from two distinct dates, I applied the Write Function Memory Insertion (WFMI) method to identify areas of significant change. This technique integrates images from both time periods into a single composite file, highlighting regions where notable alterations occurred. The next phase of my research involves mapping these changes through post-classification methodologies. This approach will enhance the visualization of urban development and land-use shifts over the nine-year timeframe, providing a clearer understanding of the airport’s impact on the region’s infrastructure.

Sharma, Honey, “Analysing the change in the Satluj river in the Northern India water level during summer 2019 and 2024”

In one of the tributaries of the Satluj river in Punjab in India, Government extract gravel and sand during summer and winter months because of the less water in the river which makes the extraction easy. The extraction of sand and gravel changes the landscape of tributary river and the water flow in the Satluj river itself. So, I have used the Sentinel-2 satellite imagery from two different years in the period of 5 years and applied the Write Function Memory Insertion (WFMI) method to analyse the changes in the water level on the same date of two different years. This method integrates images from both years into a single composite layer. The result from this method has highlighted the changes in the Satluj river. The next step is to enhance the visualization of changes in the water level by mapping the changes through post-classification methodology.

Group 3 – Biology & Environmental Science

Belowos, Christina, “Assessing the land cover changes associated with a new solar farm constructed in Capreol, ON, Canada, using Landsat 8 and 9 satellite Imagery dated 2013 and 2024”

This research project involves using Landsat 8 and 9 satellite imagery to determine the land use cover changes associated with the High Light solar project, recently constructed in Capreol, Ontario, Canada. The satellite imagery was first atmospherically corrected, then a simple WFMI (write function memory insertion) change detection algorithm, using the NIR spectral bands from both dates was then applied to visualize the extent of change associated with the construction of the solar plant. To determine what type of land cover/land use change resulted from the construction, a post-classification change detection was then applied using both datasets.

Landis, Rayna, “Analysis of glutathione synthetase deficiency inhibition in Drosophila melanogaster as a model for glutathione synthetase deficiency in humans”

Our laboratory is investigating a complex neurological syndrome resulting from depletion of the antioxidant molecule glutathione (GSH) in the genetic model organism Drosophila melanogaster. The phenotypes of this syndrome include ataxia, myasthenia, and reduced longevity, precisely mirroring symptoms occurring in human glutathione synthetase deficiency (GSSD). The most common therapeutic treatment of human GSSD is administration of bicarbonate to alleviate metabolic acidosis believed to arise from the breakdown of accumulating metabolic intermediates, rather than from the depletion of GSH itself. To further elucidate the biochemical basis of this disorder, here we assess the consequences of bicarbonate treatment on GSH-depleted Drosophila.

Russell, Sierra, “Aldol-type condensation between isatin and indole-2-thione: an interesting building block for the synthesis of complex organic molecules”

Aldol condensation is a fundamental reaction in organic chemistry, valued for its ability to form carbon-carbon bonds and its wide application in creating complex molecules in drug discovery, material science, and industrial chemistry. The reaction is typically carried out by the addition of an enolate ion to a carbonyl compound to form a β-hydroxy carbonyl compound, which, upon dehydration, results in an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound or aldol condensation product. The electrophilic nature of α,β-unsaturated carbonyls makes them highly amenable to a reaction with a variety of nucleophiles, thus making them highly attractive building blocks in the synthesis of complex organic molecules. In our pursuit of synthesizing novel heterocyclic molecules with interesting biological and medicinal properties, we have recently discovered a hitherto unknown aldol-type condensation of isatins with indoline-2-thiones. The details of our findings will be presented.

Schroeder, Eve, “The hydro physical properties of regenerated Sphagnum moss in metal contaminated peatlands”

Sphagnum moss is a keystone peatland species and its recovery in industrially contaminated peatlands is seen as a critical ecosystem indicator of recovery after decades of toxic metal deposition around Sudbury, ON. While some Sphagnum is returning to less contaminated peatlands further from smelting activities, its unknown if structure, thus water dynamics, in naturally regenerated Sphagnum moss is similar to Sphagnum growth in the absence of pollution. We show that the naturally regenerating Sphagnum in the most polluted peatlands has significantly different water flow dynamics than unpolluted Sphagnum but these differences decreased as time since Sphagnum regeneration increased.

Group 4 – Psychology

Armstrong, Paige, “The Bilingual Disadvantage for an Advantage in Implicit Memory”

Previously we demonstrated that bilingual younger adults ignore irrelevant auditory information better than monolingual younger adults.  In the present study we attempted to determine if bilingual older adults would demonstrate a similar selective attention advantage.  For this research, participants will complete two priming phases, in the ignored priming condition participants will count asterisks (*) on the computer screen while ignoring sentences.  In the attending priming condition participants will identify the first letter of target word in sentences.  Priming will be assessed by participants identifying the final word of degraded sentences, with some presented earlier as attended or ignored sentences.

Matthews, Tess, “Language Proficiency and Lie Detection”

In an increasingly multicultural society, people are becoming harder to read, and deceit is flying under the radar. The current paper evaluates how language barriers interact with the ability to accurately detect deception, especially in real-world settings such as job interviews and police interrogations. We examine the effects of language proficiency, especially with second language speakers, on the use cues generally associated with deception. These cues may reflect higher cognitive load from speaking in a second language rather than the demands of lying. In summary, second language speakers are more likely to be detected when lying, while being more likely to be falsely accused.

Mayer, Brandon, “Emotional Speech and Distractibility: Age-Related Differences in Cognitive Task Performance”

This study examines the extent to which emotional speech distracts individuals during a visual cognitive task. Participants perform a star-counting task while ignoring both numerical cues and emotional speech (happy, fearful, angry) or silence. Preliminary findings suggest that anger is most distracting for older adults, while happiness is more disruptive for younger adults. However, the small sample size for older adults limits generalizability. Further research is needed to better understand the age-related differences of completing primary visual tasks amid auditory distractions and to determine which type of emotional prosody is most disruptive.

Tichbourne, Julia, “Does Emotional Intelligence Moderate the Relationship Between Testosterone and Aggression?”

This experiment aims to investigate whether emotional intelligence moderates the relationship between testosterone levels and aggressive behaviors. Participants first completed a self-report measure of emotional intelligence, followed by a saliva sample collection and the Point Subtraction Aggression Paradigm (PSAP) task to assess baseline testosterone and aggression levels. Participants were then administered either a placebo or testosterone intranasally. Afterward, they completed the PSAP task again and provided another saliva sample to measure changes in aggression and testosterone levels. We hypothesize that individuals with higher testosterone levels will exhibit more aggressive behaviours, but this effect will only be present for those who score low on emotional intelligence.

Group 5 – Psychology & Archaeology

LeBoeuf, Gabrielle, “New Perspectives on Ancient History: Experiential Learning through the Study of Material Culture”

The purpose of my discussion is to explore the value of hands-on experiential learning in the reconstruction of ancient history through the study of material culture, which I undertook while on an archaeological dig at Emporion Pistiros (2023) and Tell Yunatsite (2024) with the Balkan Heritage Field School. I aim to demonstrate how my hands-on work experiences framed my understanding of pre-historic peoples, as well as how literary perspectives of ancient civilizations can be reshaped through the study of material culture. I will thus be discussing the importance of studying material culture in order to, both, shed a new light or perhaps challenge views on ancient and prehistoric peoples.

Parsons, Sadiya, “Age Differences in Visual Processing: Investigating Reaction Time and Binocular Suppression in Younger and Older Adults”

This study examines the interaction between priming and binocular suppression in younger (18–29) and older adults (60+). Participants identified target words using sequential priming and binocular suppression tasks while ignoring distractors. Reaction times were measured to assess cognitive processing efficiency and inhibitory control. The study hypothesizes that younger adults will demonstrate faster reaction times and more significant suppression of irrelevant stimuli than older adults, who are expected to experience cognitive slowing. Findings will contribute to understanding age-related changes in visual processing and inhibition, offering potential insights for cognitive training interventions in aging populations.

Shantz, Ella, “The effects of temporal delay on auditory integration in older and younger adults”

Our study tested older and younger adults’ ability to understand sentences that have been filtered to remove all but a narrow one-octave band of spectral information. Participants were asked to listen to filtered sentences and repeat the final word of each sentence. In all trials, a sentence filtered using a low-frequency passband was presented in one ear, while the same sentence filtered with a high-frequency passband was presented in the other ear. Over the course of the experiment, the time between the presentation of the sentence in one ear and the sentence in the other ear varied to determine how a temporal offset affects the ability to hear such filtered speech and if age influences this ability.

Sidhu, Diljan, “Investigating the Social Transmission of Face Preferences using Eye-tracking and Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy”

Previous research found that after observing a female face smiling at a male face, women rate the male as more attractive, while men rate him as less attractive (Jones et al., 2007). The authors attributed this to the mate-choice copying effect in women and sexual competition in men. We aim to test these explanations by replicating the prior study with the addition of neuroimaging and eye-tracking. If the neural and ocular correlates of attraction and sexual competition align with attractiveness ratings (e.g., decreased ratings by males correlate with neural activity related to sexual competition), these explanations would be supported.

ABSTRACTS - RESEARCH PAPERS

Aasman, Caitlyn, “The Social Determinants of Health and Addiction: Examining Substance Use as a Public Health Issue Rather Than a Moral-Failing”

My project, The Social Determinants of Health and Addiction: Examining Substance-Use as a Public Health Issue Rather Than a Moral-Failing, explores how structural forces of systemic racism and colonialism influence substance-use amongst BIPOC communities. My research question is: Why should substance-use be examined as a public health issue rather than a moral-failing, and how can approaching addiction through an intersectional lens of harm reduction save lives? I will use a qualitative methodology, analyzing existing literature, case studies, and historic policies. The anticipated conclusion of my research is that addiction should be recognized as a public health issue rooted in structural forces like colonialism and systemic racism, and that policy reform focused on culturally relevant harm reduction, social equity, and human dignity, rather than stigma and punishment, is essential to fostering social connection and saving lives.

Adams, Katelyn, “Exposed and Erased: The Politics of Censorship and the Reclamation of Sexual Autonomy in Feminist Art.”

I will be analyzing two case studies through which I will examine the politics of censorship in relation to the representation of the female body in feminist and queer art. Through an analysis of Dayna Danger’s photograph Adrianne and its censorship on the cover of the Canadian Art magazine, this study investigates how Danger’s intersectional exploration of Indigenous queer sexuality and BDSM imagery challenges societal discomfort with female sexual autonomy. Alongside this evaluation, Carolee Schneemann’s Interior Scroll, will be discussed to examine how feminist artists navigate the history of shame and censorship while simultaneously confronting interconnected systems of patriarchal oppression.

Bezeau, Emma, “Remember Who You Are: The Use of Memory in The Sense of An Ending and Clifford to Create Personal Meaning”

The present study investigates the use of memory in both Julian Barnes’s novel The Sense of an Ending and Harold R. Johnson’s novel Clifford. In this paper, I explore the use of memory-making and storytelling through philosophical and English studies lenses to demonstrate how the main character’s in both novels use memory to shape their identity. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate how the use of memory reflects the authenticity of the self, according to the philosophies of Martin Heidegger and Jean-Paul Sartre, and how humans must use memories to come to terms with who they are.

Boissonneault, Breanna, “Symptomatic Capitalism- Marx’s analysis of capitalism; Critiques, Shortcomings, Revolution, Utopia”

Karl Marx provides foundational critiques of capitalist systems. Despite his classical approach, this analysis will explore the maintenance of relevance that these thinkers continue to bring today. Whether we are looking at economic inequality, social alienation, ecological degradation, feelings of anomie, labor exploitation, political disempowerment, rationalization, market over human values, among much else. That being said, the following analysis aims to critically engage with Marx’s, alongside modern thinkers in order to guide the explanation and understanding of the social, economic, and political crises faced by globalized capitalist societies. Concluding thoughts on the modern relevance of their critiques will be included.

Bond, Kennedy, “Reforming the Olympics: A Review of Current Problems and Remediation Strategies”

This paper examines the Olympics, while a global spectacle of athletic excellence, face significant financial, social, infrastructural, and tourism-related challenges. The IOC profits while host countries cover cost overruns and wasteful spending. Socially, the Games prioritize tourists over residents, worsening inequalities. Infrastructure often fails to provide lasting benefits and harms the environment. Tourism gains are short-lived, with little long-term impact. Despite these issues, reforms—such as restructuring the IOC, refining host city selection, and improving infrastructure planning—could make the Olympics more sustainable and equitable. Without meaningful change, the Games risk becoming more harmful than beneficial, raising doubts about their future viability.

Brown, Kydmen, “Unending History: Nostalgia For When the World Was Colder”

The collapse of the USSR ended the Cold War and the bipolar system of international relations. In its temporary position as the sole superpower, the USA sought to promote and enforce a New World Order. The failure of the USA to bring about the New World Order came not from the conflict of civilizations, failure to maintain American economic or military hegemony, nor the resurrection of an ended history. Rather, the success of fragmentary forces was compelled by the failed policies of integration administered by American neoliberalism and neoconservatism. In these two policies, the USA failed to enact a New World Order as it sought only the entrenchment of its own hegemony through economic neoliberal domination and moralistic military hegemony.

Cucksey, Blaze, “Deafening Silence As Heard Through Magic: Trauma Response in The House of the Spirits and Encanto”

Not a single word needs to be spoken in order to testify to the trauma one lives with. If anything, verbal language often fails to fully encapsulate everything that a trauma survivor endures. In The House of the Spirits and Encanto, both of the magic realism genre, silence emphasizes this sobering reality among female trauma survivors. So much emphasis is centered on women having to verbalize their trauma for it to be validated when, in actuality, said trauma is not contingent on its vocalization. Magic is therefore utilized so as to demonstrate how trauma is a transcendent reality that is intergenerational, physically ever-present, and speaks volumes within the silence.

Darling, Rileigh, “'What Have I Done?': Shame and Guilt in The Lord of the Rings”

In my essay "'What Have I Done?': Shame and Guilt in The Lord of the Rings," I address the use of shame and guilt in J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy world. I draw a connection between shame and internal morality, as well as guilt and patriotism to explore the different manifestations of these emotions in The Lord of the Rings. I analyze how the etymology of these terms plays into Tolkien's employment of them in his work to consider which characters portray these emotions as well as to investigate the causes behind shame and guilt. With an understanding of these concepts, I consider the possibility of redemption within The Lord of the Rings.

Dean, Mitchell, “The Religious Marketplace: The Role of Discourse in the Emergence of Christianity”

This paper explores the circumstances and critical context surrounding the emergence of Christianity in the Roman Empire. The research question asks “How did Christianity emerge as distinct in the ‘religious marketplace’ that was the Roman Empire; more specifically, how did it emerge as distinct to Greco-Roman philosophy (and other predominant religions) while catering to specific elements of this philosophical tradition?” The methodology of this paper employs historical and textual analysis of early Christian writings, Greco-Roman philosophy, and the application of the “religious marketplace” theory coined by historian John North. The anticipated conclusion of this work indicates that Christianity's early growth stemmed from its strategic interactions with discourse, inclusivity, and doctrinal canonization to establish itself as distinct within the Roman religious landscape.

Dewar, Kaelin, “'This Cup' as a Reflection of Gethsemane”

This paper is an analysis of my original painting “This Cup,” inspired by the story of Gethsemane from my English course on The Gospels.  The painting depicts Jesus' agony in Gethsemane, with his impending suffering and death represented through an apparition of a cup. Through the use of such symbolic representations, this paper invites further reflection on the biblical story, emphasizing the emotional and theological dimensions of Jesus’ suffering. My goal was not only to visualize the scene, but to enrich it with further symbolic meaning through artistic interpretation.

Dixon, Josiah-Deren, “Paradox of Hydroelectric Dams: Environmental and Geographical Analysis of the James Bay Hydroelectric Project”

The project investigates the environmental and ecological impacts of the James Bay Hydroelectric Project, explicitly examining how its implementation has affected Indigenous communities and local ecosystems. The research question centers on the paradox of renewable energy generation versus ecological disruption. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines literature reviews, environmental impact assessments, remote sensing, and documented community interviews while analyzing changes in water flow, quality, and biodiversity. The anticipated conclusion emphasizes the need for sustainable practices that balance energy development with environmental stewardship, highlighting the importance of Indigenous knowledge in addressing ecological challenges and promoting resilience in affected communities.

Dowless, Jessica, “An Alternate Perspective: “The Gardener” as a Creative Response to Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden”

My poem “The Gardener” responds to The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett—predominantly using allusions to the imagery of growth and rebirth, while echoing the claim that “two things cannot be in one place” (339). Through wordplay, with some uses of polysemy, the underlying meanings of the poem are tied together more seamlessly. This creative approach not only allowed for the illumination of an alternative perspective through the lens of a secondary character from the novel but also for an academic opportunity to be assessed through creativity in literary interpretation.

Dowless, Jessica, “Integrating Pedagogical Approaches to Outdoor Education: Norwegian and Indigenous Canadian”

This research presentation will guide listeners through the evolution of my research, outlining its scope, methodology, and findings, while also addressing its limitations. Through this exploration, I aim to contribute to a much broader conversation surrounding integrating diverse cultural frameworks into outdoor education to promote more wholly inclusive, environmentally just, and culturally holistic learning experiences for all students in Canada. Through conveying the culmination of my background research, observational research while in Norway, and reflections throughout the course SWLF3916: Environmental Justice and Access to Nature, I will highlight my comprehensive takeaway from a profoundly transformative experience—both academically and personally.

Forest, Pamela, “Addressing Gender Based Violence Support Needs for Indigenous Women with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities”

This presentation is based on an academic and gray literature review conducted as part of the Healthy Egalitarian Relationships (HER) project; an initiative funded by the Canadian Women's Foundation. The project aims to develop an accessible, culturally supportive service model tailored specifically for Indigenous women with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who experience gender-based violence (GBV). Our literature review is guided by three key questions: (1) What are the current support needs of Indigenous women with IDD experiencing gender-based violence? (2) What barriers and gaps do these women face when accessing GBV-related services and support? (3) What examples of "wise practices" exist that combine both accessibility and cultural responsiveness in supporting Indigenous women with IDD experiencing GBV? The literature scan reveals a critical gap in research and resources, highlighting the lack of understanding about the unique and complex support needs of Indigenous women with IDD. Additionally, it underscores a deficiency in identifying culturally responsive and accessible practices for this vulnerable group. This gap demands urgent attention to inform the development of effective and inclusive interventions.

Gifford, Atlas, “Beyond the Status Quo: A Grassroots Community Organizing Toolkit for Northern Ontario”

This presentation explores the development and creation of a published toolkit for grassroots community organizers and activist-scholars in Northern Ontario, with a particular focus on North Bay. This is Indigenous-specific and disability justice-informed, applying the Seven Grandfather Teachings and Sins Invalid's 10 Principles of Disability Justice to provide an intersectional, decolonial, and feminist praxis (putting learning into practice). The purpose of this toolkit is to break down the colonial and disableist barriers within grassroots community organizing - in general, and within this region.

Hodgins, Zaphrin, “The Rule of the Ring: Exploring Desire and the One Ring in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of The Rings”

My paper considers the implications of societal expectations and how they act upon individuals throughout J. R. R. Tolkien’s secondary world Middle Earth, and how these structures are both influenced and threatened by the One Ring of The Lord of The Rings. Within my work, I explore philosophical perspectives, desire, what the natural state of creatures (human and otherwise) may be, and the enigmas present within Tolkien’s stories, in order to attempt an understanding of the fundamental component of Tolkien’s series: the One Ring.

Hornby, Greg, “The Major Oak - Exploring Sites of Folklore and Social Justice”

The paper explores how folklore surrounding Sherwood Forest and Robin Hood characters shaped notions of social justice in English society and how these notions often contrast with the processes of colonization and the commerce of enslaved people by the Parliament and Crown.

Horsman, Jonah, “Memory, Nostalgia, and Forgetfulness: Nietzsche’s Analysis of Time and Amor Fati”

My research paper tackles the issue of accepting one's fate and coming to terms with one's past through the lens of Nietzsche's numerous philosophical concepts. These existentialist ideas will be analyzed through Samuel Beckett’s "Krapp's Last Tape" and Julien Barnes’ "The Sense of an Ending" which both focus on the struggle of accepting one's past choices as not something to change, but elements of one's essence and building blocks of one’s character. These concepts range from active forgetfulness, amor fati, and more, each pulled from Nietzsche’s numerous essays and works, such as “The Genealogy of Morals” or “Thus Spoke Zarathustra”.

Johnstone, Anna, “Ojibwe Spirit Ponies: The Spirits of Hope”

Written for Dr. Sal Renshaw's Age of Extinction class, this paper looks into the idea of de-extinction in the context of the Lac La Croix Indigenous Ponies, also known as Ojibway Spirit Ponies. These incredible horses were targets for destruction during the days of early colonization as integral parts of the communities in which they lived. This paper looks into what it has taken to keep this breed alive, the challenges, limitations, and possibilities for the future; work  that has been almost exclusively undertaken by members Indigenous communities to which these creatures are an integral part of culture and healing.

Konadu, Hilda Danquah, “Discrimination”

Discrimination strikes at the very heart of being human. It is harming someone’s rights simply because of who they are or what they believe. Discrimination is harming and perpetuates inequality. We all have the right to be treated equally, regardless of our race, ethnicity, class, caste, religion, belief, sex, gender, language, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex characteristics, age, health or other status. Yet all too often we hear heartbreaking stories of people who suffer cruelty simply for belonging to a different group from those in positions of privilege or power. Discrimination occurs when a person is unable to enjoy his or her human rights or other legal rights on an equal basis with others because of an unjustified distinction made in policy, law or treatment.

McFatridge, McKenna, “Talking 'bout the Midnight Rambler: Reflections on "The Stranger" as a Response to Charles Perrault's "Little Red Riding Hood"”

Despite having been first published in 1697, Charles Perrault’s version of “Little Red Riding Hood” possesses a moral that has prevailed time. “The Stranger”, a short horror comic I wrote in response to Perrault’s text, investigates paranoia and its influence on the actions and identity of young women. Set against the backdrop of Highway 11 North, in a car with a crackly radio playing seventies music, “The Stranger” acts not as a retelling of the fairy tale, but instead uses “Little Red Riding Hood” as a lens to explore the experience of being a young woman alone.

McMaster, Ames, “Spirited Away: Examining the Intersections of Youth Exploitation Through Film”

This arts-based analysis is in consideration of the role of media in anti-trafficking.   It merges the ideas of Joseph Nye and Michel Foucault in order to examine how youth representation in the media, and youth empowerment through the media, are relevant to anti-trafficking discourses.  Using the work of filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki as an example, I argue that youth, including Indigenous Youth, who are overrepresented in Canadian trafficking data, are better served by media portrayals of empowerment and agency that move beyond cliché narratives of innocence and kidnappings, to those which challenge expectations of femininity and youth fragility.

Michaud, Ella, “The Utilization of Respite Services and Percieved Mental Health of Informal Caregivers in Canada”

My primary reserach question asks: How is the mental health of informal caregivers changed by the sole use of a respite service? To answer this question, I will conduct a bivariate analysis and a multivariate statistical analysis with data collected from the GSS 2018 cycle 32 on Caregiving and Care Receiving. Based on the literature review, the result is expected to show a negative directional relationship between informal caregivers percieved mental health (dependent variable) and the use of a single respite service (indepdent variable).

Miles, Noah, “Irrational, Nonlinear, Contradictory: Magic Realism and Trauma in Encanto and "The Faery Handbag"”

Trauma is a confusing, difficult experience that is filled with contradictions. It comes from a variety of sources, and may affect the traumatized individual as well as their friends, family, and wider community. Magic Realism, as a genre, is composed of contradictions; it allows for the expression of the irrational, the non-linear, and the incongruous, and is therefore well-suited to telling stories of trauma. This paper explores the potential of both expressing and healing from trauma through Magic Realism, with a focus on Disney's Encanto and “The Faery Handbag” by Kelly Link.

O'Brien, Trent, “Assessing the extent of the 2019/20 bushfires on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, using multidate Sentinel-2 imagery.”

The purpose of this investigation is to assess the scale of damage to Kangaroo Island (Australia) following a massive fire that lasted from 20th of December 2019 to the 6th of February. Pre- and post-fire Sentinel-2 satellite imagery at 10m ground resolution were acquired from the Copernicus portal. The imagery was first radiometrically corrected and then a preliminary Write Function Memory Insertion technique was applied, using the near-infrared band from both dates. These initial results indicated the massive extent of damage. In order to assess the extent of damage, a post classification change detection technique was then employed. First the 2019 image was classified into land cover types including forest, agriculture, urban and grassland. The same scheme was applied to the 2020 image, with an additional class for burnt land. The results of the change detection indicated approximately 38-42% of the land mass was burnt. This result is similar to the estimate provided by the Australian government; however, the results of this study provides additional details regarding the land cover types that were most impacted by the fire.

Paczay, Desiree, “Analyzing Short Texts using Wordscores”

Wordscores is a text analysis method used in political analysis to quantify party position. Though widely used in political research, other uses of Wordscores have not been investigated. Here, we test the ability of Wordscores to classify short texts based on the words contained within them. Using Wordscores, we analyze a set of hotel reviews, and compare to the reviewers’ ratings to assess validity.  We implement a modification to the algorithm proposed by Martin and Vanberg (2007), and compare it to Laver, Benoit and Garry’s (2003) in terms of predicting the rating of the reviews, and demonstrate its effectiveness. Additionally, we show that this method is comparable to that of state-of-the-art natural language processing model BERT.

Parkes, Darwin, “The Body Is a Temple, and I Choose to Deface It: Queer and Disabled Autonomy Through Tattooing”

Tattoos, disability, and queerness have something in common: deviance. My Body is a Temple and I Choose to Deface It is an autoethnographical account of tattooing in disabled and queer circles which attempts to understand why tattoos are so prevalent amongst the marginalized. Connecting the suppressed history of tattooing to the erasure of transgender bodies under colonialism and the complicated relationship disabled people have with our bodies, this paper resists the temptation to normalize deviant practices and instead chooses to celebrate the strange while expanding on diverse forms of power and care.

Parkes, Darwin, “The Industry of Incarceration and the Construction of Crime”

Under Doug Ford’s government, Ontarian healthcare has experienced a hard shove towards privatization. Simultaneously, Ford has chosen to reduce funding towards preventative measures such as supervised injection sites, public hospitals, and mutual aid. The Industry of Incarceration investigates how the proliferation of the opioid crisis, systematic underfunding of public hospitals, and the push towards privatizing “care” homes all serves to turn a profit in private sectors at the expense of disabled lives and proposes other pathways forward.

Parkes, Darwin, “Where Oh Where Did the Elders Go: Queer Erasure and the AIDs Crisis”

In 1995, John S. Boskovich returned to the flat he shared with his partner, Stephen Earabino, who had recently passed from AIDs. The apartment had been cleaned of any and all possessions but a box fan by Earabino’s family, who wanted there to be no evidence that their deceased son was gay. The loss of queer eldership that has arisen from the mishandling of the AIDs crisis has left a generation of queer people adrift and has exposed the community to a new wave of marginalization and violence. This paper explores how the AIDs crisis was buried, and how we might prevent Donald Trump from burying us again.

Pinkerton, Gail, “How the Arian Creed Contributed to the Rise of Martyr Cults During the Fourth Century”

The Eastern Roman Empire witnessed the rise of Christian martyr worship in the early fourth century. Martyr worship revolved around the relocation and veneration of relics, i.e., corpses of martyrs from both the Diocletianic Persecution (c. 303-311 CE) and ones before such. The presbyter Arius and his followers influenced this phenomenon with their doctrine of the importance of embodied divine presence. Csordas and Lambek’s theories on the experience of ‘otherness’ in the body with collective memory as moral practice are used to examine how the fourth-century Arian Creed was founded upon reflections on having endured state-sponsored massacres of Christians.

Rushston, Jehna, “The Legacy of the Nipissing Homemakers Club as Role Models and Community Leaders”

We will share this community-driven project in the form of a website focusing on the Nipissing Homemakers Club and its impact on the Nipissing community. Our website includes a look at the key themes of the Nipissing Homemakers Club, profiles of some of the key Homemakers, and a timeline of the Nipissing Homemakers Club. Working in partnership with Nipissing First Nation, we used their newspapers, photographs, minute books, interviews, and the Library Archives of Canada (LAC) RG10 records to explore the club's impact, document its legacy, and celebrate cultural identity and leadership. We have submitted a NUREB application and are awaiting approval.

Sanders, Emily, “Essence and Self-Loathing: Existentialism in The Sense of an Ending and Krapp’s Last Tape”

My research paper aims to analyze the existentialist themes in Julian Barnes' novel The Sense of an Ending and Samuel Beckett's play Krapp's Last Tape through the lens of Jean Paul Sartre's and Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical theories. The main theories I will be referencing include Sartre's assertion that existence precedes essence, which he explores in his play No Exit and Nietzsche's deconstruction and re-evaluation of values, which he discusses in multiple essays. Through the analysis of these texts, I hope to lay out the steps one must take in order to go from loathing one’s existence to creating one’s essence.

Sego, Cheyenne, “(Re)Matriating Leadership: Healing Our Relations and Addressing Lateral Violence Among Indigenous Women”

Lateral violence among Indigenous women is a direct result of colonial systems that have disrupted traditional governance, kinship, and community cohesion. This research explores how healing our relations through (re)matriation and collective action can strengthen Indigenous communities and leadership. Grounded in the Seven Grandfather Teachings and Indigenous knowledge systems, this study employs storytelling, oral histories, and community-based research to examine pathways for healing and unity. By reclaiming Indigenous women's roles as leaders and caretakers of the land, this research argues that addressing lateral violence through relational governance fosters self-determination, strengthens community resilience, and restores balance within Indigenous nations.

Shelley, Sophia, “Type One Diabetes Connections: Global Networks from Beta Cells to Looping”

This project explores the gap between disability theory and praxis, specifically in the context of type 1 diabetes and “DIY diabetes.” Due to misinformation and slow regulatory approval of Health Canada compared to the F.D.A., many diabetics take self-management into their own hands. The research question focuses on how DIY technologies, like Loop, address these challenges. Using technography as a methodology, the study examines how these technologies function within the diabetes community. The anticipated conclusion highlights how DIY diabetes improves management despite institutional barriers, and how the community’s ingenuity fosters progress in the face of regulatory delays and stigma.

Small, Madison, “The Maids of Kent: How Communal Changes Marked the Reformation for Ordinary Women in Kent County, England.”

My Master's research paper analyzes the process of change to community involvement in the parish. My focus is on the county of Kent, England, where my grandparents were raised in the town of Broadstairs. Considering the confessional changes within the county and England, changes within the parish affected women and men alike. Many of these changes displaced women from aspects of parish life and maintenance and removed celebrations which previously formed community rapport. Using primary sources such as wills and churchwardens' accounts alongside other parish documents, I aim to further investigate how the Reformation transformed parish life and community in the sixteenth century.

Stoddart, Rebekah, “These Are Not Distinct”

These Are Not Distinct curates an exhibition focused on elevating screen-printed ephemera to the status of fine art, placing it on a level playing field with other well-respected media like drawing and painting. It accomplishes this through use of traditional gallery techniques and directly confronting the viewer with the labour involved in screen-print. This confrontation also informs viewers with the technical expertise required, confronting notions of ease compared to drawing or painting often experienced.

Vyas, Prisha, “The Influence of Communication Mode on Deception Strategies”

This paper examines how deception strategies vary between face-to-face (FtF) and computer-mediated communication (CMC). The paper hypothesizes that liars use more verifiable details in FtF and more unverifiable details in CMC to avoid detection. The method consisted of an analysis of cognitive load, truth bias, and verifiability influence deception using a review of empirical studies. The empirical studies include deception detection experiments and neuroimaging research. Anticipated findings suggest that liars adapt their strategies based on accountability and feedback. This research has implications for forensic investigations, online security, and professional communication. It highlights how deception operates in different modes of interaction.