Written by Jacquie Moore, BA’97 “That’s a good question — but instead of answering it, let me do what lawyers do, and answer a different question.” With characteristic wit, Dr. Ian Holloway deftly reframes a question about what he values most in legal education, instead offering a motto that underpins his unique, enormously influential perspective. “My philosophy is ‘tradition in form, change in substance,’” says Holloway, PhD, who will step down as dean of the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Law this June. In other words, he adds, “I think it’s very important that we maintain old traditi ..read more

Written by Jacquie Moore, BA’97 Photography by Adrian Shellard, BA’98 Early in the morning of March 15, 2024, seven weeks before her estimated due date, Dani Gathercole gave birth to a three-pound, one-ounce baby girl at the Foothills Medical Centre. The new mom held her tiny daughter for a moment before she had to let her go to be assessed by the neonatal medical team, including a respiratory therapist, nurse and physician. In addition to her low birthweight and other potential challenges associated with preterm birth, baby Kenly had a blockage in her gastrointestinal tract, discovered duri ..read more

Written By Jennifer Myers, BA’97 Hiking in the Rocky Mountains offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience the breathtaking beauty of one of North America’s most magnificent landscapes. And, blissfully, it’s one of the most accessible recreational activities in the mountains, especially for people living or visiting in and around Calgary. However, unexpected events like sudden changes in weather, getting lost, meeting wildlife on the trail or encountering unexpected terrain can easily happen. Building some knowledge around preparedness and safety is key for a great hiking experience. We ..read more

Videography by Haley Martin Anytime you log into an app using facial recognition, ask Alexa, “What’s the weather today?” or even track your heart rate on your smartwatch, you are contributing a piece of your identity to biometric data. Biometrics are the biological and behavioural measurements that can be used to identify us, such as our fingerprints, the way we walk and what we engage with online. While this technology has created security and convenience for us online and in real life, it is not immune to being compromised and hacked. The Biometric Technologies Lab, led by Dr. Marina Gavril ..read more

Videography by Haley Martin According to Dr. Phil Langill, BSc’85, PhD’94, associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Director of the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory, there is nothing more nourishing for the soul than a clear night with a sky full of stars to observe. While the common skygazer would typically just focus on the tapestry of twinkling lights on display, that is only the tip of the iceberg compared to the rest of the magic and mystery the universe holds. The post 10 Questions with astrophysicist Phil Langill first appeared on arch magazine ..read more

Written by Jacquie Moore, BA’97 “Wouldn’t it be great if you could take a pill that kept your brain looking healthy and functioning perfectly from womb to tomb?” The only answer to that question posed by neuroscientist Dr. Cindy Barha, PhD, in a recent presentation for Amazing Brain Science Talks is, of course, “Yes, please!” Alas, while there’s no magic prescription out there, Barha’s research demonstrates that there is something we can do to potentially delay long-term brain disorders such as dementia — that is, exercise. Barha is a professor of kinesiology and a multidisciplinary res ..read more

Written by Jennifer Myers, BA’97 Some educators and researchers compare learning to read with learning to ride a bike: once you know how, it’s hard to forget and easy to take it for granted. So much so, it might be surprising to some to learn that just 40 per cent of Canadian teens have the literacy they need by age 15 to enjoy lifelong benefits. And it’s hard to remember just how challenging it can be for young kids to grapple with the written word. In 2023, the Little Red Reading House (LRRH) was gifted by Calgary Reads to the Owerko Centre at the University of Calgary, with support f ..read more

Written by Jacquie Moore, BA’97 Dr. Dawn Kingston, PhD, wants to change how we perceive, diagnose, and treat pregnant and postpartum women with emotional health issues — in fact, she’s calling for a paradigm shift. For instance, she says, the widespread assumption that postpartum depression (PPD) is an unequivocally unpredictable illness hinders sensitivity to and screening for signs that are often present — and treatable — long before a baby is born. “There’s a myth that PPD usually just hits women out of the blue,” says Kingston. In fact, “the biggest risk factor in postpartum depression i ..read more

Written by Jacquie Moore, BA’97 As a child growing up in Kerala on India’s southwestern coast, Dr. Bijoy Menon was encouraged to ask questions — a lot of questions — of his parents, his teachers and anyone else willing to examine the status quo. The state of Kerala has the highest rate of literacy and education in India, and Menon — now a neurologist and professor at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) — feels lucky to have grown up in “a culture of social consciousness and inquiry of ideas and conventions.” His dad, an engineer in the armed forces, further emboldene ..read more

Written by Jennifer Myers, BA’97 In 1993, American neurologist Dr. Camilo Gomez, MD, coined the phrase, “time is brain!” With the discovery of a new medication that a U.S. trial later found to dissolve blood clots in the brain – the primary cause of ischemic strokes – neurologists worldwide had begun to understand that strokes could be treated, with improved outcomes and reduced long-term disability, if treatment occurred within a few hours of onset of symptoms. It was a critical turning point in stroke care and paved the way for a profusion of research-backed breakthroughs and developments ..read more