Workshops & Events

Bring your camera!!! Come if you don’t have one!!!
 
Photography is an integral tool for enhancing humanity’s connection with their environment. Researchers, hobbyists, and casual nature enjoyers use photography as a method of communicating the natural world to broad audiences. As camera quality and accessibility increase with time, it is now easier than ever for anyone to produce high quality photographs. Join Dr. Kiyoko Gotanda in exploring the principles of photography from the basics of the right camera settings to advanced techniques. Important aspects of photography such as focus, lighting, aspect ratios, and more will be discussed. From the most expensive macro rigs to phone cameras, this workshop will provide valuable information for getting the perfect shot no-matter your hardware. You will have a chance to practice your skills by photographing the stunning scenery and biota of the UNESCO Niagara Escarpment Biosphere surrounding Brock University.
 
Some of Dr. Gotanda’s pictures can be found at https://www.pidgephotography.com/

Knowledge mobilization is a key part of the research process, helping ensure that knowledge is shared in ways that are accessible, relevant, and useful beyond academia. This session offers a practical introduction to KM, including its background, critical considerations, and examples of strategies that help research reach and benefit the people it is meant to serve. It will also provide a foundation for the later podcasting session, which explores one KM approach in more depth.

​Curious about using podcasting to share your research? Join podcaster and podcast researcher Alison Innes to learn about podcasting for knowledge mobilization and the importance of storytelling. We’ll discuss the various considerations that go into making a podcast including audience, content, platforms, and accessibility, as well as having clear goals for your project, approaching podcasting in an ethical way and managing potential risks.

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Presenter: Alison Innes

She is a PhD student in the Interdisciplinary Humanities PhD program at Brock University. Her research explores ideas of ethical and authentic podcasting, ideas of expertise and authority, and how podcasting’s intimacy and open access nature democratize research and engage non-academic audiences.

Alison currently creates and hosts her own research podcast Project PhDcast and is a co-producer on Eve, Intersected. She was the host and producer of Foreword and the Podcast Learning Network for Brock University, where she worked with faculty and student researchers on knowledge mobilization projects. She is the co-creator of the independently-produced podcast MythTake.

Alison holds an MA in Classics from Brock University and undergraduate degrees from both McMaster University and Glendon College, York University.

No prior coding knowledge required!!! 

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Advances in computation have allowed researchers to simulate natural processes and even use nature as a template for solving complex issues. Genetic algorithms are inspired by Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection and are used to solve complex problems through mimicking biological processes. These algorithms can be used in numerous applications, from planning optimal financial decisions to machine learning, and can be applied to natural science issues as well. 

This workshop will provide a beginner-friendly interactive demonstration of the goals and function of genetic algorithms through coding in Python.

Follow along as you delve into problems commonly faced by researchers in ecology, ethology, and evolution that can be solved through genetic algorithms. Then, freely experiment with conditions and optimize your algorithm to compete against your colleagues for prizes and bragging rights!