Saturday Scholars Series

Rolf Vinebrooke

Professor, Faculty of Science - Biological Sciences

12 - 1 p.m.

Cumulative Impacts of Exotic Sportfish on Alpine Lakes Under a Changing Climate

Speaker Bio

Dr. Rolf Vinebrooke's research of mountain lakes here in Alberta dates back to 1994. After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Winnipeg, a Bachelor of Science and Master’s of Science from the University of Toronto, and a PhD from the University of Regina, Rolf completed an NSERC/Honorary Killam postdoctoral fellowship with the late Dr. David Schindler here at the University of Alberta. His research focuses on the cumulative impacts of multiple environmental stressors on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in mountain, boreal, prairie, and arctic lakes.

Lonnie Zwaigenbaum

Professor, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Pediatrics

12 - 1 p.m.

Supporting Autistic and Other Neurodivergent Youth in Hospital Settings

Autistic and other youth with neurodevelopmental conditions have higher rates of co-occurring physical and mental health conditions compared to their peers. This presentation will highlight what is currently known about the challenges that these youth and their families experience in the health system, as well as approaches that can be helpful, especially in hospital settings. Case examples will be used to illustrate how hospital teams can provide support, better care experiences, and better health outcomes.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Zwaigenbaum is a developmental pediatrician at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, where he directs the Autism Research Centre, supported by the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation Chair in Autism. He is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and the Associate Director of the Women’s and Children’s Health Research Institute at the University of Alberta.

His current research focuses on improving diagnostic pathways and health care related to autism. Dr. Zwaigenbaum has also supported translating research to practice and supporting evidence-based policy. He chaired the Canadian Pediatric Society Task Force that issued practice statements on autism assessment and ongoing pediatric care in 2019, and the 2022 Canadian Academy of Health Sciences Autism Assessment Report that is guiding the federal government’s National Autism Strategy.

Kelvin Jones

Associate Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation - Academic Programs
Director of Graduate Studies, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - Neuroscience & Mental Health Institute (NMHI)

1 - 2 p.m.

Making Muscles Twitch for Science: What Nerves Can Tell Us About Neurodegenerative Disease

Every movement we make depends on electrical communication between nerves and muscles. When that system begins to fail, as it does in conditions such as ALS, those electrical signals can provide important clues about what is happening beneath the surface.

In his presentation, Dr. Kelvin Jones will introduce how neurophysiologists measure nerve and muscle responses, what those signals can tell us about disease progression, and how computational tools can help distinguish expected variation from meaningful change. This session will use simple demonstrations and examples to show how measuring tiny electrical signals may help researchers develop better biomarkers and evaluate new treatments.

Speaker Bio

Kelvin Jones is a neurophysiologist specializing in neuromuscular physiology, electrodiagnostic methods and biomarkers for neurodegenerative disease. Dr. Jones’ research program is focused on neurophysiology of the motor and sensory systems using both experimental electrophysiological methods and computer simulations. He is also a clinical intraoperative neurophysiologist for Alberta Health Services.

Allan Wright, '20 PhD

Assistant Lecturer, Faculty of Arts - History, Classics & Religion

1 - 2 p.m.

Witchcraft, Occultism, and Monsters: What Can We Learn From Them

Why are thousands of U of A students desperate to register for a course on witchcraft every semester? It turns out that our obsession with the supernatural isn't just about horror movies and spooky folklore—it is a mirror reflecting the deepest anxieties, power struggles, and cultural shifts of human history.

This discussion will review the concepts of Witchcraft, Occultism, and Monsters. Specifically, how one can approach and engage with these subjects from an academic perspective and what can we learn from these examinations. Topics will include the problems of definition, unfamiliar ritual, and the issue of constructed legitimate and illegitimate magic users and its social ramifications.

Speaker Bio

Allan Wright is an Associate Lecturer at the University of Alberta in the Department of History, Classics, and Religion. His work and research interests include early Christianity, Witchcraft, Occultism, and Monster studies. He is the author of "Exile, Identity, and Reconstructing Belonging in the Gospel of Mark" and "Better to Reign in Hell, Than Serve in Heaven:" Satan's Metamorphosis From a Heavenly Council Member to the Ruler of Pandaemonium."

Candace Nykiforuk, '97 BA

Vice-dean and Professor, School of Public Health
Scientific Director, Centre for Healthy Communities, School of Public Health

2 - 3 p.m.

Designing for Happiness: How Your Neighbourhood Shapes Your Health

What if the places where we live could do more than meet our basic needs? What if they could help us thrive?

Speaker Bio

Candace Nykiforuk is a professor and the vice dean in the School of Public Health and holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Community Environments and Public Policy for Well-being. She also serves as the Scientific Director for the Centre for Healthy Communities in the School of Public Health. Candace is an applied public health researcher with strong interests in the role of community (built and social) environments and public policies in health and wellbeing, health promotion, and health equity. She is also the Principal Investigator of the Policy, Location and Access in Community Environments (PLACE) Research Lab.

Tonya Simpson, ‘16 BSc (AU), ‘21 MA

Professor, Faculty of Arts - Anthropology

2 - 3 p.m.

Spelling and Being Spellbound : A Humble Approach to Poetry

Based on the premise that language holds metaphysical potential, this workshop introduces a flexible poetic writing process. Through brief moments of focused writing exercises and personal reflection, participants will begin to understand their own poetic voice.

Throughout this workshop, Tonya will share her own philosophy on poetry and demonstrate how this understanding is rooted in spirituality and reflected in her own creative framework. Participants will leave with an understanding as to how their own creative voice is key to developing their own poetic process that will help guide writers through generating ideas to polishing a focused, intentional, and captivating poem.

Please note that this is an interactive writing workshop involving guest participation. All tools required for the workshop will be provided.

Speaker Bio

Tonya Simpson, a member of Pasqua First Nation, is an anthropologist living by Pigeon Lake, Alberta. With deep reverence for Canadian landscapes and teachings from her Scottish and Cree heritage, she writes to demystify the entanglements of morality, connection, relationality, and belonging.

She is humbled to have recently received the honour of being named a co-recipient of The Governor General’s Literary Award (GGBooks) in the Young People’s Literature (Illustrated Books) category and the R. Ross Annett Award for Children’s Literature (Alberta Literary Association). While her passion for writing has always been strong, motherhood brings a renewed perspective to her work.