Nonfiction storytelling by Allyson Rowley — feature stories, articles on scientific research, profiles of interesting folks, stories about awesome students, and some award-winning articles:
FEATURE STORIES
Living laboratories: McGill’s research stations span the globe and study the natural world up close.
Why the future of farming might be … bugs? An ancient food for a modern challenge.
‘Cities are becoming the fulcrum for how we manage biodiversity’: Biodiversity expert Andrew Gonzalez discusses how cities can help protect nature and human health.
Avoiding the ‘valley of death’: How to take valuable academic research and turn it into a viable commercial product?
Remembering, reckoning, and reconciling: How McGill University is coming to terms with its complicated past.
The advocate for a better Anthropocene: Elena Bennett wants you to imagine a radical, inspiring, and realistic future for our planet.
Reinventing architecture for a new era: One of today’s most influential architects, Amale Andraos wants to disassemble and reassemble a better world.
Celebrating a cautious centennial: One hundred years after May 24, 1918, how much closer are we to gender parity?
ARTICLES ON SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Betting big on open science ‘the right thing to do’: Of the many lessons the COVID-19 pandemic might have taught us, here’s another: It’s a good idea for scientists to share their research.
‘The defining challenge of our time’: McGill’s Alternative Fuels Lab explores metal powders as a recyclable, clean energy alternative to fossil fuels.
A conversation with McGill’s ‘guru’ of mRNA: Nahum Sonenberg reflects on his storied career, the new Centre for RNA Sciences, and the importance of basic science.
From AIDS to COVID-19: Virologist Anne Gatignol has explored the molecular world of RNA and RNA viruses for more than 30 years.
Translating intelligent biomaterials into precision medicine: Nano-engineering expert Guojun Chen explores efficient and safe nano-systems for the delivery of RNA therapeutics.
‘A Scientist’s Scientist’: Rose M. Johnstone is known for her discovery of exosomes, a key development that has advanced the field of cell biology.
Seeing the light: A research breakthrough by a McMaster PhD student creates a simple, cost-effective laser on silicon.
A computer screen you can fold: U of T researchers have discovered a better way to make flat-panel displays.
Debugging: A local parasite could help protect Ontario’s ash trees from a deadly invader.
Breath of life: Developing the technology to give hospitals in low-income countries a more reliable supply of medical oxygen.
PROFILES OF INTERESTING FOLKS
No fan of ‘eat your spinach’ journalism: The newly appointed editor of USA Today, Caren Bohan has her work cut out for her.
‘Antiquity is for everyone, everywhere, all at once’: On the first day teaching his Introductory Latin course, Martin Sirois always asks his students: “What are you doing here?”
‘Students are absolutely the best part of my job’: It’s not hard to figure out why Andrea Farran has received several teaching awards in her career.
Science with ‘a funky, cool vibe’: Frederic Bertley wants you to look at science a little differently.
Changing the weather: Walter Schroeder explains why Newfoundland music strikes a chord.
Taking the leap: Sabrina Habib launched a career as a global health practitioner and co-founded a day care network in East Africa before she turned 30.
McMaster’s ‘bug man’: I’ve only known Marvin Gunderman for about 20 minutes and already he’s asked if I want to hold a cockroach.
Canada’s new Noah: Growing rare plants, befriending giant tortoises, and getting bit by a scorpion. All in a day’s work for biologist Laura King.
STORIES ABOUT AWESOME STUDENTS
From studying clean tech to running an award-winning startup: Three McGill grads launch Altiro Energy to ‘revolutionize clean energy storage’.
A summer of scientific exploration: “Valuable” and “unforgettable.” That’s how Nada Ibrahim describes her experience with the McGill Biomedical Research Accelerator.
Physics that’s practically fun: Students give high marks to a new kind of science lab.
Climate change getting you down? Mac has a course for that: Some awesomely talented students come up with equally awesome ideas to fight climate change.
Math, physics, French … and Buddhism? Cissy Suen missed her convocation in June, but she had a pretty good reason.
Learning how to teach made them better students: Two psychology students psychoanalyze how their experience as teaching assistants changed their lives.
SOME AWARD WINNERS
The oldest rabble-rouser on campus: For more than 100 years, the McGill Daily has trained some of the country’s best reporters, while poking and prodding the powers-that-be. McGill News alumni magazine, Fall-Winter 2011. Gold in the Best Writing (English) category from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) Prix d’Excellence in June 2012.
Whose life is it, anyway? The story of Hanne Schafer, one of the first Canadians to receive a medically assisted death. McMaster Times Fall 2016 issue. Winner of an Accolades Award for Staff Writing from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), District II, December 2016.
Seeing through snake oil: Forget Dr. Oz. The McMaster Optimal Aging Portal is the real deal. Cover story, McMaster Times, Spring 2015 issue. Winner of an Accolades Award for Staff Writing from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), District II, December 2015.
Allyson Rowley 