Western Research Minutes

For Constanza Burucúa, capturing the spirit of the 1967 World Exhibition in Montreal – known simply as Expo 67 for the last half century – required something special. Burucúa’s documentary project, 1967: Canada Welcomes the World, is a visual ode to Expo 67 through a series of archival images and short documentaries focused on the national pavilions of the 60 participating countries. The project debuted last year at the Oakville and Elgin County museums as part of their sesquicentennial efforts. Learn more about Constanza Burucúa's research at: https://news.westernu.ca/2018/02/documentary-project-celebrates-legacy-expo-67/

Western Sociology professor Kate Choi is researching how international migration alters marriage choices in both origin and destination countries – pioneering ways of studying the consequences of international migration. Learn more about Kate Choi's research at: https://news.westernu.ca/2018/02/cross-border-love-complex-affair/

For her latest book, Masculinity and Dress in Roman Antiquity, Western Classical Studies professor Kelly Olson studies the fashion, jewelry and makeup of women in ancient Rome (753 BC-476 AD). In the process, Olson is pioneering the budding field of fashion in ancient times. Learn more about Kelly Olson's research at: https://news.westernu.ca/2018/03/fashion-offers-new-window-ancient-roman-society/

Education professor Nicole Neil is one of a handful of North American researchers to pioneer the use of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) for children with Down syndrome. Learn more about Nicole Neil's research at: https://news.westernu.ca/2018/01/pioneering-direction-syndrome-research/

Faculty of Information & Media Studies professor Paulette Rothbauer is one of the first researchers in Canada to explore and document – through conversational interviews with Canadian seniors between the ages of 75-90 – the value and meaning they place on reading. Learn more about Paulette Rothbauer's research at: https://news.westernu.ca/2018/04/old-friends-reading-reflects-key-chapters-seniors-lives/

In Sierra Leone’s capital city, amidst an uneasy peace in the bloody aftermath of the country’s civil war, sat a shipping container converted into a makeshift courtroom. And inside this metal box, a team of lawyers sought to bring justice to women and young girls of this strike-torn country. The lawyers were part of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) and Western Law professor Valerie Oosterveld – who can be credited in part with SCSL’s beginnings – is writing its story. Learn more about Valerie Oosterveld's research: https://news.westernu.ca/2018/04/revitalizing-indigenous-education-redefining-scholarship/

Modern Languages and Literatures professor Yasaman Rafat is developing the Canadian Multilingual Speech Database, a site that collects and documents speech samples of multilingual immigrants who speak both in their native languages and English. Learn more about Yasaman Rafat's research: https://news.westernu.ca/2018/02/database-lends-ear-language-evolution-multilingual-immigrants/

Working with the First Nations With Schools Collective (FNWSC) – a group of schools from eight First Nation communities in Ontario, Western Education professor Brent Debassige is helping the communities independently establish and run a properly funded First Nations education systems for their communities. Learn more about Brent Debassige's research: https://news.westernu.ca/2018/04/revitalizing-indigenous-education-redefining-scholarship/

Listen to Jana Luker, Associate Vice-President (Student Experience) at Western University talk about why its so important we engage in more conversations about mental health on campus.