Research Week 2025 Abstracts

Tim Haltigin: Canadian Space Agency
March 17 at 11:00 a.m. at The Gait

Biography:
Tim Haltigin is a geomorphologist, in other words a scientist studying why landscapes look the way they do. Since the Osiris-Rex spacecraft launched towards asteroid Bennu in September 2016, he has managed the Canadian laser instrument that will map the asteroid to help identify the best place for the spacecraft to collect a sample for return to Earth.

Tim is the classic case of “follow your passion”. He first studied biochemistry, researching malaria at the Toronto General Hospital. He switched to geography and did his Master’s on Trout River habitat rehabilitation, hydraulics and fluid dynamics. After participating for fun with friends in a European Space Agency contest on how to find water on Mars, he was recruited by the professor supervising their contest team to do a Ph.D. on permafrost, comparing landscapes in the Canadian high Arctic with similar ones on Mars.

Abstract: Asteroids, Lasers, and Cookies: Canada’s Involvement in the OSIRIS-REx Mission
Launched in 2016, the OSIRIS-REx mission successfully collected a sample of an asteroid named Bennu and returned it safely to Earth in 2023. While the mission was led by NASA, Canada contributed scientists to the project team and provided the OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA) instrument: a laser scanner used to produce a very accurate 3D model of the asteroid. 

This presentation will tell the story of the mission, highlighting Canadian achievements and looking ahead to the future. Dr. Tim Haltigin is the Senior Mission Scientist in Planetary Exploration at the Canadian Space Agency, and was the Canadian program scientist and the OLA mission manager for OSIRIS-REx. 

Dr. Arnold Zageris
March 17 at 5:00 p.m. at Centennial Theatre

Biography:
Arnold Zageris is an acclaimed artist who has received numerous awards for his work and has exhibited in both public and private galleries across Canada. His impressive portfolio includes exhibitions at the Art Bank of Canada, the Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, the Canadian Museum of Nature, the Robert McLaughlin Gallery in Oshawa, and The Rooms in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. He is also the author of three critically praised books: On the Labrador (2013), Antarctica (2016), and Iceland: Born of Lava, Chiselled by Ice (2020). Arnold now resides in Peterborough with his wife, Joan. 

Abstract: Antarctica Photography Expedition
This presentation will offer a visual and anecdotal journey through a photographer’s experiences on five expeditions to the Antarctic continent. The discussion will cover notable events encountered during his ten crossings of the 900 km-wide Drake Passage, including encounters with rogue waves, the challenges of seasickness, and the unpredictable nature of Antarctic weather. Attention will also be given to the peninsula’s uniquely adapted wildlife, as well as its extraordinary geological and oceanic features. Additionally, lesser-known human stories will be shared, ranging from escaping unexpected volcanic eruptions to experiments gone awry, and the tragic loss of a young life. This vast and awe-inspiring continent continually demands respect, admiration, and offers endless surprises. 

Dr. Arthur B. McDonald Gray Chair, Emeritus, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
March 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Centennial Theatre

Biography:
Art McDonald, CC, O. Ont, O.N.S., FRS, FRSC is a native of Sydney, N.S. Canada. He has degrees in physics from Dalhousie University (BSc, MSc) and Caltech (PhD) and fifteen honorary degrees. From 1969-1982 he was a Research Officer at AECL Chalk River Laboratories; 1982-1989, Professor at Princeton University; 1989-2006 Professor at Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada; 2006-2013 Gray Chair in Particle Astrophysics, 2013- Gray Chair Emeritus. He was the Director of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) experiment, for which he received the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physics and the 2016 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics with the SNO Collaboration. He continues to be active in basic research on Neutrinos and Dark Matter.

Abstract: Understanding the Universe from 2 km Underground
By going deep underground to avoid cosmic rays and creating ultra-clean conditions, it is possible to address some very fundamental questions about our Universe: How does the Sun burn? What are the dark matter particles making up 26% of our Universe? What are the properties of neutrinos, elusive particles that are one of the fundamental building blocks of nature? How do these particles influence how our Universe evolves? Experiments using frontier techniques in photon detection and other technologies will be described that are taking place at underground labs internationally, such as SNOLAB, 2 km underground in Vale’s Creighton mine near Sudbury.

Lysandre Leduc Boudreau
March 19 at 11:30 a.m. at The Gait

Biography:
Originally from Lennoxville and a graduate in television from UQAM, Lysandre Leduc-Boudreau is a freelance documentary filmmaker and researcher. Following her notable journey at VICE-Quebec, she has engaged in fruitful collaborations with Pimiento (Les pêcheurs de l’Anse), PIXCOM (Meanwhile in the Kitchen), the UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, and SID LEE (For Tomorrow), as well as IMPACT TV (De Pied Ferme). In 2023, after seven years of filming, she released her first feature documentary, Jacques, portrait of a pioneer of Nordic expeditions in Quebec. The film has been showcased in twenty festivals worldwide and has received five awards, including the jury prize at the Ulju Mountain Film Festival in South Korea. As a mentor filmmaker for Wapikoni mobile, she encourages the expression of marginalized stories in Indigenous communities. Lysandre aims to continually push the boundaries of documentary filmmaking in order to inspire meaningful change. 

Abstract:  Multifaceted role of a researcher in documentary production
Drawing on concrete examples from a variety of projects she undertaken—spanning series, feature films, and pitches—She will share practical insights on developing an effective research package. We’ll go over the art of pre-interviews and examine different research mandates, including character research, location scouting, and content development. We will discover how documentary research harmonizes creativity with ethical standards to create impactful works. 

Marc-Antoine Kelertas
March 19 at 12:15 p.m. at The Gait

Biography:
Marc-Antoine Kelertas is a bilingual actor, director, and editor with a diverse background in theatre, television, and film. He completed his BA in Theatre Performance at Concordia University and further honed his craft by earning a Master’s degree from the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in England. Throughout his career, Marc-Antoine has showcased his versatility across various mediums. In television, he has appeared in series such as “Ghosts” (2021), portraying Crew Guy Gary, and “19-2” (2014–2017), where he played Jean-Michel Daviaux. His voice acting includes the role of Nikias in the video game “Assassin’s Creed: Origins” (2017). In addition to his onscreen work, Marc-Antoine is an accomplished stage performer. He has taken on roles such as Proteus in “The Two Gentlemen of Verona,” Odysseus in “The Odyssey,” and Brick in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” His dedication to storytelling extends beyond acting; he has directed plays and taught acting at the Kiwanis Performing Arts Centre. Marc-Antoine’s commitment to his craft is evident in his continuous pursuit of diverse roles and projects, reflecting his passion of storytelling and performance. For more information or to view his work, you can visit his IMDb profile.

Abstract: Research behind an acting role
Marc-Antoine Kelertas will share the story of how acting became his passion, providing an overview of the training and experiences that shaped his journey. He will discuss recent roles he’s undertaken and the preparation involved in bringing those characters to life. Marc-Antoine will explore the realities of choosing an artistic career—the challenges, sacrifices, and rewards. He will highlight the importance of mentors in his growth as an actor and conclude by reflecting on how acting has profoundly impacted his life, both personally and professionally.

Bishop’s University Faculty Presenters
March 20 at 11:20 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at The Gait

Dr. Juan Francisco Nunez and Dr. Bryan Dale 

Solidarity-based pricing policies between organizations: Balancing fair remuneration and food accessibility 
This presentation explores marketing strategies and pricing mechanisms that enable fair compensation for local producers while ensuring access to sustainable food for solidarity-based organizations. We present the general findings of a multi-case study conducted in the summer of 2024, focusing on business models that facilitate equitable remuneration for local producers. Participants in the study included vegetable growers, community organizations serving vulnerable populations, and the intermediaries involved in storage and distribution.The study identifies the obstacles and motivations for producers selling sustainable food, the applicability of various pricing models, and the customer demographics that support the sustainability of solidarity-driven food distribution. It also highlights the barriers and incentives influencing community organizations’ procurement of local food.This study was conducted in collaboration with Collectif Récolte, a social economy enterprise that leverages collective intelligence and community mobilization to address food insecurity and accessibility issues.The results provide empirical insights beneficial to stakeholders within Quebec’s food sector, particularly those in support and decision-making roles. We conclude by identifying avenues for research and intervention that could enhance equitable access to sustainable food resources, ultimately contributing to improved food security. 

Dr. Mebarka Allaoui

t-SNE-PSO: Optimizing t-SNE using particle swarm optimization
The research is about developing a new human-inspired approach that balances selfaltruism (cognitive exploration) and collective altruism (social cohesion) to solve complex problems effectively. This approach was integrated into the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm, significantly enhancing its efficiency and accuracy. By applying this concept to the renowned t-SNE algorithm, the enhanced tSNE-PSO achieves, in average, up to 7% improved accuracy and 23% faster performance, dynamically prioritizing cognitive or social factors during the iterative process. Extensively validated across benchmarks, the algorithm provides a powerful and scalable solution for dimensionality reduction and visualization. Its applications span diverse fields, including business (customer segmentation and sales forecasting), physics (classifying particle events), sports analytics (strategy optimization and injury prediction), genomics (genetic pattern analysis), natural language processing (word relationship visualization), and image analysis, to name a few.

Dr. Catherine Tracy 

Roman playwright Casina 
Catherine Tracy will talk about the translation and commentary she’s nearly finished writing on a comic play by the Roman playwright Plautus, written in the early 2nd century BCE. The play, called Casina, is interesting because of the hints it gives us about mid-republican Roman attitudes around slavery, gender, and sexuality. Plautus is one of the rare authors from ancient Rome that wrote for people of all classes, including the wealthy elite, the free poor, the enslaved, the formerly enslaved, and including women as well as men. In his plays, Plautus liked to make fun of authority figures, and often the hero of the play is an enslaved man who outwits the slave-owning old man who heads the household. The play Casina, however, is unusual in that the hero, who outwits and dominates the old man, is the old man’s similarly-aged wife. Rome was a very patriarchal society, but this play suggests that Roman audiences could find themselves enjoying, at least for an hour’s entertainment, the sight of a wife successfully outwitting her cheating husband. 

Dr. Calin Valsan 

Misreporting in the time of COVID 
We survey the literature on the use of Benford’s distribution digit analysis applied to COVID-19 case data reporting. We combine a bibliometric analysis of 32 articles with a survey of their content and findings. In spite of combined efforts from teams of researchers across multiple countries and universities, using large data samples from a multitude of sources, there is no emerging consensus on data misreporting. The evidence suggests that studies using very large, aggregate samples and a methodology based on hypothesis testing are marginally more likely to identify significant deviations from Benford’s distribution and to attribute this deviation to data tampering. Our results are far from conclusive and should be taken with a very healthy dose of skepticism. Academics and policymakers alike should remain mindful that the misreporting controversy is still far from being settled. 

Erika Gray

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Canadian National Sport Organizations
The purpose of this project was to assess the Canadian National Sport Organization (NSO) landscape through developing an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Matrix and to further understand how EDI could be embedded within an organization’s culture through a Management by Values (MBV) approach. Feminist methodologies guided the decisions made in this project from an intersectional lens. Website and supporting document information from 16 NSOs were gathered and analyzed. Thinking intersectionally, the NSOs were strategically chosen to ensure a diverse sample. The information was used to develop an EDI Matrix to measure EDI engagement (e.g., providing an EDI policy and statement) and consistency (e.g., NSOs’ presence of EDI engagement forward facing on the website and downloadable as supporting documentation). The information was also used to understand how the terms EDI were being used by NSOs. It was discovered that the terms EDI were being used to develop strategic management goals, to create opportunities for diverse participation in sport, and for elimination of barriers. From the EDI Matrix and developed themes, it appeared that NSOs are espousing EDI. However, inconsistencies were found between NSOs’ websites and their supporting documentation in the EDI Matrix. 

Next, the results were broaden upon. A mixed-methods approach was used to determine how engaged and included NSO full-time (FT) paid staff and members of the board (MOB) are in their NSO’s approach to being equitable diverse, and inclusive. As well, the existence of a leaky pipeline (LP; the process of leaving an organization due to structural and internal barriers, limiting advancement of a sport industry career) in NSOs was investigated. Participants who were at risk of the LP (0-5 years in their role) and disclosed equity-owed intersecting identities were analyzed separately in the data analysis process. The Diversity Engagement Survey (DES) was adapted to the sport context and distributed to FT paid staff and MOB of 64 (N = 117 surveys completed) Canadian NSOs. Included in the survey were qualitative questions that were designed to provide additional context to the responses of the DES on the element of belonging and to investigate the LP in NSOs. To ensure validity and reliability of the DES, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted. Men and women agreed on the three factors maintained from the EFA: organization’s culture operating diversity, inclusion of employees in strategic direction, and equitable organizational practices. Specifically, in regards to being able to work with diverse groups, being connected to the NSO’s mission, vision, and values, and the NSO having equitable organizational practices. Additionally, the qualitative responses highlighted that NSO FT paid staff and MOB felt they belonged in their organization when they were connected to the organization, and when the organization’s culture was inclusive. Furthermore, findings showed that FT paid staff and MOBs were more likely to leave their NSO due to personal reasons, organizational related processes, and the culture of the organization itself. People who had equity-owed intersecting identities (i.e., participants who identified as women, women of diverse races, and women who experience a disability) also experienced additional barriers that resulted in their intention to leave. 

Finally, nine FT paid staff and ten MOBs were interviewed to determine what they felt their NSO needed to support underrepresented employees. Participation from women and people who identified as an underrepresented group was prioritized in this phase while also incorporating people who identify as men. Participants stated that to support underrepresented employees and develop a culture that incorporates the values of EDI, NSOs require the following: (1) an EDI resource centre, (2) assistance to strategically invest in EDI, and (3) a values-based approach. Structural intersectionality was also used in this phase to investigate differences in the levels of analysis between FT paid staff and MOB. During the data analysis the only structural difference found was when participants discussed the NSO’s cultures. MOB did not feel they knew what the culture was like in the day-to-day of the NSO. NSO FT paid staff and MOB called upon additional support and assistance from stakeholders (e.g., Sport Canada) to support underrepresented employees. In this same study, the 4-I Values Framework (4-I VF) was considered. This framework helps to determine how informed a leaders’ practices are by their organizations’ values. The 4-I VF has four stages (i.e., inactive, intuitive, institutional, and inspirational) that NSOs can work through, and the use of this framework can help determine how strategically leveraged values (i.e., EDI) are in an organization. Through analyzing EDI as values in this project, it appears the values of EDI are leadership dependent (intuitive) and not always embedded within the organization’s culture (inspirational). Although NSOs display a commitment to EDI through espousing EDI as values on their websites and in supporting documentation, the findings of this project suggest that to implement EDI as values within the NSO’s culture, further support is needed.

Dr. Daniela Buscunan 

The British once took my country and split a bit of it apart into pieces”: How elementary students make connections to familial histories when exploring settler-colonialism
This presentation will focus on how grade three students made sense of the national settler mythologies of Canada as they simultaneously explored the transglobal tensions that affected the displacements of their own families. When sharing their familial origin stories of migration due to global and transnational forces, students’ subjectivities (identities) refracted within the classroom through a prism of intersectionality. These refractions became illuminated in the students’ conversational repertories. Using their words, I will illustrate how students’ understandings of complex geo-political occurrences were shaped by their learning of the socio-political imperatives of Canada. The stories of nation states often service hegemony—as well as the interests and the authority of dominant cultures—yet this group of students from diverse subject positions spoke back to Empire and showed nuanced political ideation to co-construct intricate understandings of the world they inhabit.  

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