From October 7 to 10, our lab members attended the 4S 2026 conference in Toronto, Canada. Professor Gita Ghiasi, Yi Wang, Katherine Xiangwen Zhao, Acassia May Arnaud, and Rabeeh Parhizkari presented their recent research. Professor Ghiasi explored how perspectives on peace differ by gender and discipline in scientific publications. Other topics included access to AI for people with invisible disabilities, patents and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), AI policy, and the priorities of defense- and Indigenous-funded research. The conference was a great opportunity to share our work and receive valuable feedback. We also connected with researchers from around the world and exchanged ideas about science, technology, and society.

At STI ENID 2026 in Antwerp, Belgium, we had the opportunity to share two of our recent research projects. We presented a poster on Characterizing Peace Through Scientific Keywords, examining how concepts of peace differ across disciplines and countries, and delivered an oral presentation on Patterns of Research Funding Across Research Subjects: The Case of NSERC, exploring how funding priorities have shifted across research fields over the past two decades. The conference provided a great opportunity to share our work, receive valuable feedback, and connect with researchers from around the world.

Members of the Parallel Science Lab participated in the DTI Student Symposium, a graduate research event bringing together students working across digital transformation, innovation, policy, society, and technology. Master’s students Acassia May Arnaud, Rabi Parhizkari, and Ata IzakShiri presented their ongoing research and contributed to interdisciplinary discussions within the DTI community. Their participation highlighted the lab’s growing research engagement and shared commitment to critical inquiry, collaboration, and socially engaged scholarship. The lab is also pleased to celebrate Acassia May Arnaud’s recognition with the Early Stage Award in the Master’s category.

Our first off-campus gathering as a lab marked an important moment in building our research community beyond the structure of regular meetings. In a relaxed and welcoming environment, members had the opportunity to share their research interests, introduce ongoing projects, and reflect on the questions and challenges that are currently shaping their work. The discussion revealed the breadth of inquiry across the lab while also underscoring a shared commitment to critical thinking, collaboration, and intellectual exchange. By creating space for conversation outside the usual academic routine, the gathering strengthened connections among members and reaffirmed the value of an engaged, supportive, and interdisciplinary research environment.