Program
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
All times given in Mountain Daylight Time
10:00 - 10:15
Introduction and Welcome from Karen Keiller, Dean, MacEwan University Library
10:15 - 11:30
Keynote
Community integrated learning pedagogical models for training the next generation scientists with requisite posture for knowledge translation – Dr. Samuel Mugo, Department of Physical Sciences, MacEwan University
With the tectonic shifts in labour market due to globalization and the growing impacts of the emerging Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), there have been broad changes in the world of work and new systems of learning. This shift has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Drawing from Mugo's teaching and research initiatives of “bringing analytical chemistry to the masses”, this presentation will provide pedagogical insights which can be integrated in science curricular programs towards setting the trend of training scientists who are grounded and connected with requisite professional skills to thrive in the disrupted world of work. Evidenced by case studies, the presentation will opine: i) Integration of the practice of community based work integrated learning (WIL) activities as integral parts of science programs, with the goal of inextricably linking theory and practical skills to industry practice and experience, thereby priming the alignment of universities knowledge production to community needs; ii) Integrating discovery based research and innovation projects focused on 21st century global societal needs outlined by United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs); iii) Integration of international WIL forms that foster broad based thinking, interculturality and diversity outlook, all critical to sustainable open innovation that can secure global equity and harmonious mutual interdependence through knowledge sharing; iv) Integration of knowledge translation to enterprises as a pedagogical approach towards producing learners infused with the vital knowledge on technology entrepreneurship, thus catalyzing universities as producers of employers rather than job-seekers; v) Universities' librarians can play critical roles in catalyzing the operationalization of the proposed community-facing integrated pedagogical science learning approach.
About the speaker
Dr. Samuel Mugo is a professor of analytical chemistry in the Physical Sciences Department. He holds a PhD in analytical chemistry from Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada in 2006. He took a two-year postdoctoral position at Queens University, Ontario, Canada (2007-2008) where he worked on portable sensors for clinical diagnosis. He joined MacEwan in 2008, where he has excelled as both a passionate teacher and researcher. Dr. Mugo has been successful in developing a multifaceted tri-council funded innovative interdisciplinary research program that strongly engages many MacEwan undergraduate students, many of whom are thriving science professionals in various industries. Mugo strongly believes research impacts are most enhanced if they intentionally ‘inform’ pedagogy, while also being translated for community use.
Dr. Mugo was one of the inaugural MacEwan Board of Governors Research Chairs. He is also a past recipient of MacEwan Distinguished Teaching Award (2020), MacEwan Distinguished Research Award (2021), and the 2014 winner of the DOW Canada Western Canada Technical Excellence Conference Award (WesTEC) for leadership and commitment to effective students training on innovation. Dr. Mugo is the current interim chair of the Physical Sciences department.
11:30 - 11:50
How are STEM librarians using academic profile websites? – Li Zhang and Maha Kumaran, University of Saskatchewan
Academic profile websites (APWs) are online platforms that allow researchers to create professional profiles and organize and showcase their research works. Some examples of APWs include ORCID, Google Scholar Citations, ResearchGate and academia.edu. In recent years, APWs have gained popularity among researchers as alternative channels for scholarly communication, and academic libraries have begun to offer services to support and educate researchers on the use of APWs. Like other researchers, librarians themselves use APWs to manage and promote their own research. This presentation will report the results from a study that investigated how STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) librarians at American and Canadian research universities are using APWs.
About the speakers
Li Zhang is a Science Librarian at the University of Saskatchewan Library, with liaison areas in computer science, mathematics & statistics, and physics. Her research interests include bibliometrics, altmetrics and their application in research assessment.
Maha Kumaran is the Librarian in the Education & Music Library at the University of Saskatchewan. Her major research interests are in various aspects of diversity and inclusion in librarianship and academia.
11:50 - 12:30
Break
Learn more about MacEwan University and the John L. Haar Library
John L. Haar Library Renovation - This short video provides an overview of renovations recently completed in our library.
MacEwan 50 Digital Timeline - The 2021/2022 academic year marks MacEwan University's 50th anniversary. Explore this digital timeline to learn more out our institution and its history.
12:30 - 13:30
Like moths around a distant porchlight – Dr. Stefan Cartledge, Department of Physical Sciences, MacEwan University
Dr. Stefan Cartledge will describe the techniques related to his current research into the detection and characterisation of exoplanets. Specifically, he’ll discuss the underlying theory, the instruments he uses, and how he brings the research into the classroom – giving senior students the opportunity to observe exoplanets for themselves, using robotic telescopes.
About the speaker
Dr. Stefan Cartledge has worked in astronomy education, public outreach, and research throughout his career. He earned a BSc in Astronomy (Honours, Co-op) from the University of Victoria, an MSc in Astrophysics from the University of Alberta, and a PhD in Astrophysics from Northwestern University. He’s taken visitors on tours of the heavens at the Telus World of Science Edmonton and the Dearborn Observatory (Chicago), worked on images from the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (Hawai’i) and Dominion Astrophysical Observatory (Victoria), observed at the Kitt Peak National Observatory (Arizona) and the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (Chile), and acquired spectra using the Far-Ultraviolet-Spectroscopic-Explorer (Earth orbit) and the Hubble Space Telescope (Earth orbit). Dr. Cartledge’s research has led from studying interstellar gas-phase abundances in the Interstellar Medium (ISM), to investigating the composition of dust in the ISM, to exoplanets – the results of interstellar gas and dust forming planetary systems. In the latter pursuit, he uses/plans-to-use telescopes at the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta (Augustana), and Athabasca University.
13:30 - 14:30
Bridging the gap: Connecting community with the tools to create and innovate – Dr Jeff Davis, Department of Computer Science, MacEwan University
The design process consists of several stages including ideation, research and development. As teams move throughout this process their needs for different types of space, tools, and supports change. In this talk, I will look back on past design projects involving technology (e.g. internet of things, robotics, extended reality), discuss the common themes found for project success, and provide guidelines and a road-map to meet these needs.
About the speaker
Dr. Jeff Davis is an Assistant Professor at MacEwan University where he has taught courses in both Engineering and Computer Science. In addition to teaching, he has held workshops focusing on innovating using technology. His research interests are focused around the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in terms of problem solving and active learning with applications to internet of things, robotics, and extended reality.
19:00 - 20:00
Trivia Night
Test your reference librarian skills. Join us for an evening of trivia and quick Google searchers. There will be prizes!