Abstract: The Future of Science

This is my second solo podcast, and features the full recording from a talk I gave at the "Seeking Success" event organized by the Center for Conscious Awareness. It's packed full of great quotes, as well as some of the main themes and takeaways from my non-linear academic and creative paths!

Éamon Callison, originally from Denver (elevation ~5280 ft), is finishing his PhD in Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Philosophy of Science at Washington University in St. Louis, followed by an MPhil in Human Evolutionary Studies at the University of Cambridge. His dissertation work has focused on understanding the form and function of the human chest. He is interested in how humans have evolved to breathe during sustained endurance activities, like running, and how selection has affected how we use our ribs to inhale and exhale. To answer these questions, he has measured thoracic motion in humans, dogs, and goats, examined lots of bones, measured human fossils, and worked in the Peruvian Andes (elevation ~14230 ft). We're extremely lucky to have him on the show -- and trust me when I say: he delivers!

Sneak Peek

Q: What do coyotes, pigeons and humans have in common?
A: They're all massively adaptible and flourish in different environments.

Q: Why am I a biped?
A: UBER Eats didn't exist 7 million years ago.

Q: Are there as of yet unknown biological mechanisms that could confer even greater ventilation ability in humans?
A: *nerding out so hard you need to take a breather* yes and no...

TOPICS & CONCEPTS
Breathing & Ventilation
Gestation & Birth
Evolution of the Thoracic Cage
Environment & Culture
Natural Selection: Heritability, Variation & Competition
The Modern Human Timeline
Last Common Ancestors (LCA) & Chimpanzees
Forest Fragmentation & The Evolution of Bipedality
Energy Expenditure
The Treasured Chest
Paleontology
Funnel vs. Barrel
The Expensive Tissue Hypothesis
Shape vs. Function
The Costovertebral Joint: Curvature = Motion
Goats on Treadmills
Vacuums & Negative Pressure
A Visceral Piston
Sprinters & Weight-LIfters
Pump-Handle vs. Bucket-Handle
High-Altitude Adaptations & The Peruvian Quechua
Highlights of Grad School

/// SOCIALS

/// CLOSING REMARKS

Episode Art Background Photo Credit: Jesse Orrico 

Does free will exist? Maybe. Regardless, please share your cherished feedback with me at abstractcast@gmail.com! 

Keroles Riad is a former Public Scholar at Concordia University where he received a Ph.D in the Individualized Program (INDI) developing new materials (ex. nanoparticles) for 3D printing. His research leverages novel techinques like Flame Spray Pyrolysis and Stereolithography, among more traditional methods in chemistry, like combustion reactions. He led the “Waste Not, Want Not” initiative on campus for which he received the Quebec Lieutenant-Governor Youth Medal. Since the beginning of “Waste Not, Want Not” in 2016, the Concordia community doubled their annual composting, and each Concordian reduced their annual overall waste by 16%. Outside of academia, Kero's hobbies include reading and playing chess and ping-pong.

TOPICS AND CONCEPTS
Individualized Research Programs
Interdisciplinarity & Collaboration
Nanoparticles
Size Scales
mRNA Vaccines
Pill Coatings
Good and Bad Nanos
3D Printings & Materials
UV & The Light Spectrum
Fire & Water: Wet vs. Other Chemistry
Flame Spray Pyrolysis
Combustion & Oxidation Reactions
Quantum Dots
Color & Energy

Ida Derish is a PhD candidate in the department of Experimental Surgery at McGill University. She is currently spearheading efforts to study patient-specific differences in heart disease under the supervision of Dr. Renzo Cecere, a cardiac surgeon. She's been passionate about science communication ever since starting graduate school and is proud to say that she's been the recipient of multiple presentation awards (2nd place @ McGill’s 3-Minute Thesis competition, 2021; 1st place @ Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, 2020). She is also the co-founder and CEO of GynAware, a start-up that focuses on developing a medical biopsy device that will enable women to make more conscious choices about their gynecological health. A few fun facts about Ida: "I speak Russian, English and French, and I enjoy going mushroom picking in the forest."

TOPICS & CONCEPTS
Fast-Tracking to a PhD
Heart Repair
The Age Factor
Stem Cells
Cell Signaling (e.g. Calcium)
Heart in a Dish
The Placenta
Heart Cells: Cardiomyocytes & Endothelial Cells
Angiogenesis
Heart Disease by the Numbers
The Cardio and The Vascular
Future Therapies
Clinical Trials & Population Representation
Timeline of Experimentation
The Personalized Medicine Paradox
Statistical Significance
Getting Down & Dirty With Demographics
GynAware
Uterine Fibroids
Surgeries: Laparoscopy & Hysterectomy
Urology vs. Gynecology

Simon Dubé is a Public Scholar and PhD candidate in Psychology at Concordia University specializing in human sexuality, sex-tech, and Erobotics – the study of human-machine erotic interaction and co-evolution. His work also explores Space Sexology, and how we can integrate sex research into space programs. He is a student representative of the International Academy of Sex Research and a general co-Chair of the International Congress on Love & Sex with Robots. He's that and a whole lot more as you're about to experience in the next 40 minutes. So sit back, strap in and hold on for dear life as we shoot for the stars and beyond on this week's episode of Abstract!  

From Academia to the Workforce. We discuss Austin L'Ecuyer's transition out of 7 years of engineering schooling and into the working world. You might remember Austin from his star performance on Ep. 21 where we discussed his own Master's research on Turbulence and Fluid Dynamics in great detail -- if you're curious to learn more about that, please check it out!

RESEARCH REVIEW
Turbulence & Turbulent Flows
Checkerboard Fans, Length Scales & Bonus Energy

TRANSITION: ACADEMIA --> WORK FORCE
Engineering Consulting & Drafting
Project Size & Pacing
Feedback
Supervision

LOOKING BACK
P.Eng: Professional Engineering License
Is a Master's worth it?
Mastering Speech & Communication
Specialization & Making a Difference
Collaboration

RECOMMENDATIONS
Application Considerations
Procrastination: Undergrad vs. Grad School

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Austin's Published Thesis:
[Link Coming Soon]

/// CLOSING REMARKS

Episode Art Photograph from Rut Miit on Unsplash

Does free will exist? Maybe. Regardless, please share your cherished feedback with me at abstractcast@gmail.com!

Noah Sadaka is a Master’s student at Purdue University studying Astrodynamics. He's working on how resonant orbits in the circular restricted three body problem, or CR3BP, can be used in spacecraft mission design. He says that part of what is so exciting about working in this field is that trajectories and orbits originally simulated in the CR3BP are being used to fly actual missions, including the recently launched James Webb Space Telescope and the upcoming NASA Gateway space station around the Moon! To keep himself firmly grounded on Earth, you can find him cycling through Indiana cornfields and trying out new recipes when cooking. Noah's the real deal, so keep those ears open and check out the topics we cover (in chronological order) below:

Topics & Concepts
Apollo 13 & Free Return Trajectories
Burns & Manoeuvres
The Moon & Lunar Vicinity
The (Circular Restricted) 3-Body Problem [(CR)3BP]
What's in a "body"?
Newton's Gravitational Equation
Analytic Solutions & The Relative 2-Body Model
The Bi-Circular Restricted 4-Body Problem
The Parker Solar Probe
Patched Conics
Perturbations
The Rubber Ducky Analogy
Chaotic Systems
Periodic Orbits
Solar System Instability
Resonant Orbits
Lagrange Points
Reference Frames: Intertial vs. Rotating
Pendulums & Equilibrium
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
The Finale: Conic Motion & 

Brandon Klaitman, like me, is pursuing an M.A. in Teaching and Learning (MATL) at McGill University. He is on the Social Science path while I am in the Math stream. We got together for a special episode this week to discuss Goal Orientation Theory and how it relates to student success.

Topics & Concepts
Goals
Goal Orientations
Mastery vs. Performance Goals
Approach vs. Avoidance Behavior
Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation
Teacher Influence
Factors of Effective Goal Setting in the Classrooms
Feedback, Framing & Acceptance
Subgoals
Work-Avoidant Learners
Mixed-Grade & Mixed-Ability Classes
Social Goals, Well-Being & Self-Esteem

/// Resources

Deemer, S. (2004). Classroom goal orientation in high school classrooms: Revealing links   between teacher beliefs and classroom environments. Educational research, 46(1), 73-90.

McCollum, D.L., & Kajs, L.T. (2007). Applying goal orientation theory in an exploration of student motivations in the domain of educational leadership. Educational Research Quarterly, 31(1), 45-59.

Welcome to our 2nd ever panel discussion, this time discussing the intersection of Neuroscience and Mental Health! Our guests this week, Liam O’Leary, Tommy Markopoulos, Claudia Belliveau and Candice Canonne, are Neuroscience researchers studying brain anatomy, mental disorders and treatments for them. They have all been trained at Neurolingo, a science outreach initiative founded and managed by graduate students in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience at McGill University, to deliver effective science presentations to public audiences. 

Tune in for answers to questions like...
How do we study the neuroscience of mental health?
What are the main factors affecting mental health onset and outcomes?
What's the distinction between mental health and brain health?
and many more!

Topics & Concepts
Mental Health
Pre-Clinical Modeling
Post-Mortem Human Brains
Genetics, Environment & Epigenetics
Schizophrenia
Depression
Astrocytes
Neurotransmitters
Diagnosis
Speech Disorders
Brain Health
Deep Brain Stimulation
Antidepressants & SSRIs
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Fragile-X Syndrome
Stress-Diathesis Model
The Limbic System: A Circuit
Brain Surgery & The Default Mode Network
Neuroplasticity
Psychedelics
Ketamine & Treatment-Resistant Depression
Von Economo Neurons

/// CONTACT

Jonathan Brassard obtained his Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering at Université Laval followed by a Master's in Bioengineering in Switzerland. Two years ago, he joined Prof. Corinne Hoesli at Mcgill University in Biological and Biomedical Engineering to work on combining stem cell biology and device engineering to treat type 1 diabetes. When he's not in the lab tending to his very needy stem cells, you can find him hiking, climbing or taking pictures of cute animals he encounters during his outdoor adventures!  

Tune in for answers to questions like...
How did we discover stem cells and how are they used in bioengineering research?
How do we create and manipulate miniature organs in the lab?
What is the cutting edge in the treatment and management of diabetes?
Where does the future of bioengineering look like?
and many more!

Topics & Concepts
Bioengineering, Chemistry & Medicine
Stem Cells
Pluri- & Multi-potency
Progenitor Cells
Genetics & Environment
Differentiation & Self-Organization
Morphogenesis
Organoids
Personalized Medicine
In Vitro vs. In Vivo
Bioprinting
Freedom & Constraint
The Pancreas
Exocrine & Endocrine
Islets of Langerhans
Alpha, Beta & Delta Cells
Artificial Pancrease
Insulin & Glucose
Transplantation & Cadaveric Donors
The Immune System
Pouches & Membranes
Collaboration

Resources

Bioprinting, Stem Cells & Organoids

Tina Felfeli is a resident physician in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at University of Toronto. Currently, she's completing a PhD degree in Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Toronto (UofT) as a part of the Integrated Physician-Scientist program. She is a Vanier Scholar and was recently awarded the Fighting Blindness Canada Clinician Scientist Emerging Leaders Award. She's also the author of the Toronto Guide to Clinical Ophthalmology (linked below), which is a textbook used in the ophthalmology curriculum for medical students at UofT. Her research interests include population-based studies, economic evaluations, and prediction models for outcomes of surgical retinal diseases and uveitis, and evaluation of health care delivery within the field of ophthalmology. She combines the worlds of health services research and biomedical research to better understand patient outcomes.

Tune in for answers to questions like...
What are the key structures of the eye and the visual system that contribute to my sense of sight?
What's the difference between optometry and ophthalmology?
What's the deal with eye floaters?
What constitutes proper contact lens etiquette?
Why have I never heard of the leading cause of preventative blindness (Uveitis) before?
How do we diagnose and treat ocular diseases?

Topics & Concepts
Retinal Degenerative Diseases
Optometry vs. Ophthalmology
Anatomical Structures of the Visual System:
- Surrounding the Eye: Orbit, Extraocular Muscles, Fat
- Front of Eye: Iris, Lens, Cornea, Anterior/Posterior Chamber, Ora Serrata
- Back of Eye: Vitreous Humor, Retina, Macula, Rods, Cones,
Floaters
Retinal Detachment (yikes!)
Oblong Eyeballs & Myopia (Near-Sightedness)
Lasik
Refraction
Non-Infectious Uveitis: The Star of the Show
Age & Pathology
Welcome to the Uvea: Iris, Ciliary Body, Choroid
Psoriasis, Arthritis, Sarcoidosis
Inflammatory Disease
Contact Lense PSA
Treatment
Cataracts
Developing vs. Developed Countries
Macula & Fovea

Tune in for a peek behind the curtain and into my personal gratitude journal (and a little solo podcasting to change things up).

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Interested in a free core workout, every weekday @ 8:30am EST? Here's the Core Collective Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83608422966?pwd=M21BNXVGdEE4cmljUUl3cktOc09qZz09

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Does free will exist? Maybe. Regardless, please share your cherished feedback with me at abstractcast@gmail.com!

Jesse Cook is a 5th year Clinical Psychology PhD student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His primary research program focuses on advancing the classification, assessment, and treatment of unexplained excessive daytime sleepiness, which is classified as either Idiopathic Hypersomnia or Hypersomnolence Disorder. Supplementarily, he has unique expertise in the capabilities and shortcomings of commercially available sleep tracking technology. He has a longstanding affiliation with the Sleep Research Society and previously served as the Sleep Research Society Trainee Member At-Large, while currently assisting efforts on the Communications Committee. In his free time, I loves to stay active by running, biking, hiking, and playing all the sports. Also, he finds comfort and accomplishment in making healthy, delicious meals and desserts. Ultimately, he aspires for a career that bridges clinical, research, and commercial domains, and intends to pursue a clinical specialty as a Behavioral Sleep Medicine provider.

Tune in for answers to questions like...
Why do we sleep?
Is sleep an automatic process?
What goes into a good night's sleep?
How do we define (and what are the different) sleep-states across the animal kingdom?
What does abnormal sleep look like?
What treatments exist for people with abnormal sleep behaviors?

Topics & Concepts
Sleep Evolution, Behavior & Importance
Sleep Hygiene & Process
Sleep States & Stages
Rapid Eye Movement (REM) & Non-REM Sleep
Sleep Duration, Quality & Consistency
Hypersomolence
Sleep Apnea, Narcolepsy & Idiopathic Hypersomnia
Intl. Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD) & Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)
Sleep Inertia
The Bed: Refuge vs. Restoration
Sleep Tolerance
The Sleep Seesaw
Treatment & Management
The Future of Hypersomnolence Disorder
Kline-Levin Syndrome (KLS)
Fatal Familial Insomnia

/// Contact

Jesse's Twitter & Instagram: @SleepAndSports

/// Misc.

Does free will exist? Maybe. Regardless, please share your cherished feedback with me at abstractcast@gmail.com!

THE MECHATRONICS TRILOGY = 

Ep. 45 - Nuclear Physics & Cubesats ft. Mitchell Kurnell +

Ep. 39 - Autonomous Mobile Robots ft. Ali Safaei +

Ep. 11 - Drones & Aerospace Mechatronics ft. Eitan Bulka

///

Topics & Concepts:
Nuclear Safety
Fission vs. Fusion
LIBS: Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Plasmas
Infrared & Ultraviolet Light
Observation Window
Deuterium & Heavy Water
Neutron Absorption
Zirconium Alloys
Pressure Tubes & Nuclear Reactor Malfunction
Mass Spectroscopy
Transtioning Research Fields
Cube Sats
Satellite Tracking  & Orbital Decay
Space Junk & Deadly Debris
Altitude & Attitude
Magnetic Fields & Magnet Torquers

+

Getting Published & The Secret to Success in your PhD
Autonomous Mobile Robots
State & Position Estimation
The Localization Problem: Indoors vs. Outdoors
RTKGPS: GPS on Steroids
Swarms
Relative Position & Distance
Consensus: Average Knowledge & The Wisdom of Crowds
Spanning Trees
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth & Ultra-wideband Communication
(Bio-mimicry @ 14:05)
Birds & Biomimicry
Ground Rovers
2D vs. 3D Environments
Motion Capture
Distributed vs. Centralized Control
Cooperative Control & Localization Solutions
Passion Driven Success

+

Lift Generation
Thrust to Weight Ratio
Robotics
Aerospace Mechantronics
Newton's 2nd Law of Motion
Motion Planning
Aerial Dynamics
The 12 Dimensions of Control Laws
Applications

...and more!

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Interested in another themed trilogy/saga? DM us a simple YES PLEASE or a special request on Instagram @abstractcast!

Does free will exist? Maybe. Regardless, please share your cherished feedback with me at abstractcast@gmail.com!

Zachariah Berry is a curious, developing, committed, and highly motivated 4th year PhD student at Cornell University studying Organizational Behavior. His research is broadly on morality and identity, and he's hoping to answer some big questions related to loyalty and passion for work. [On the loyalty side, he's studying when it is (or is not) okay to break one's loyalty-based obligations, how people navigate competing loyalties, and whether or not loyalty's obligations extend beyond one's direct ties. On the passion for work side, he's exploring both the psychology of giving-up and quitting, as well as how people navigate their passion for work and their non-work passions.] Outside of his research interests, Zachariah is very passionate about scuba diving and fitness.

Tune in for answers to questions like...
Why is loyalty a "double-edged sword"?
How does passion shape our identity?
Why do people quit and when is quitting ever a good thing?
What values mediate our morality?
and many, many more!

Topics & Concepts
The Double-Edged Sword of Loyalty
Fundamental Attribution Error
Morality in a Hierarchy
Cognitive Dissonance
Identity: Personal & Relational
Passion for Work vs. Non-Work Passions
A Dearth of "Dognitive" Dissonance
To Quit or Not to Quit
Goal Pursuit + Perserverance
Negative Beliefs
Metacogntive Reflection
Overwork & Burnout

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Tanya Singh is a PhD candidate in Marketing at the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University. She studies the psychological and behavioral consequences of putting off decisions. She's also interested in difficult trade-offs (ex. quality vs. quantity) and how consumers respond to resource scarcity. In addition to her current PhD, she also has a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in Evolutionary Biology (you heard right). Tanya also secretly daydreams about owning an ice cream shop!

Tune in for answers to questions like...
What is the role of time in decision making?
What happens after you put off choices?
Why do I keep deferring, and is it a problem?
How do we categorize consumers as decision makers?
and many, many more!

Topics & Concepts
Timing & Deferral
Familiarity
Subjectivity & Metacognitive Fluency
Choice Involvement
Price
Wafers & The Compromise Effect
Anchoring
Choice Deferral & Deferral Momentum
A Better Future
Delated Discounting/Gratification
Impulsivity
Timepoints for Decision-Making
Cognitive Closure
Confidence
Motivated Reasining (Choice Justification)
Decision-Making: Styles & Outsourcing

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Does free will exist? Maybe. Regardless, please share your cherished feedback with me at abstractcast@gmail.com!

Mariel Young just graduated from Harvard University with a PhD in Human Evolutionary Biology! She completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Arkansas, followed by an MPhil in human evolutionary studies from Cambridge University. Her dissertation work focused on the evolutionary and developmental genetics of the pelvis and scapula--the hips and shoulders--and asked the question: what genes control the embryonic development of these structures, and how have they been under evolution in human ancestors?

Tune in for answers to questions like...
What makes humans unique?
What is the basic process bone formation and is it the same for all bones?
Why would somebody want to study the pelvis?
How have evolutionary pressures shaped the pelvis and other bone structures?
and many, many more!

Topics & Concepts
Development, Evolution & Genetics
The Pelvis
The Scapula
Fish & Dinosaurs
Bone Formation: Endochondral & Intramembranous
Cartilage
Ossification
Fossils: The Skeletal Story of our Evolution
Pelvo-thoracic Decoupling
Bowl- vs. Flat-Shaped Pelves
Birthing
Brain, Intelligence & Cognition
The Obstetric Dilemma
Evolutinary Pressures
Genes & Regulation
Debunking "Junk" DNA
Enhancers

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Mariel Contact:
Twitter: @MarielBYoung
Insta: @mariel_young

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Does free will exist? Maybe. Regardless, please share your cherished feedback with me at abstractcast@gmail.com!

Casey Cohen is pursuing a PhD in Experimental Medicine at McGill University. His research focuses on peanut allergy; he's evaluating different processing methods and their effects on allergenicity. The ultimate goal of his research is to develop a ‘modified peanut’ that can be used as a safer and more efficacious substrate for peanut allergy treatments. Yummy!

Tune in for answers to questions like...
What are the peanut processing methods and how do they affect allergenicity?
Where do allergies come from?
What is the difference, biochemically, between allergy to food and other allergies?
Why peanuts and not other nuts?
What's going on in a peanut on a molecular level?
and many, many more!

Topics & Concepts
Autoclave
Allergens
The Immune System
Pathogens
Genetics
The Hygiene Hypothesis
Gideon Lack
Tolerance
Exposure: Oral vs. Dermatological
Sensitization
Eczema
Legumes, Ground Nuts & (Goofy) Goobers
Protein & Fat
Asthma
Antibodies: Immunoglobulin E (IgE)
Treatment
The Future of Peanut

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Does free will exist? Maybe. Regardless, please share your cherished feedback with me at abstractcast@gmail.com!

Abbie Stevens is an energetic, friendly and curious postdoctoral fellow in Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. She studies black holes and neutron stars by looking at X-ray light coming from stars they're gobbling up!

Tune in for answers to questions like...
How do binary systems form?
What is the process of stellar evolution?
What are the different types of black holes and where do we find them?
How do stars die and what kind of remnants do they leave behind?
and many more!

Topics & Concepts
Stellar Mass
Stunning Supernovae
Beautious Black Holes
Neutron Stars
Compact Objects
Cosmic Waterfalls
Optical Depth (Density)
Accretion Physics
Supermassive Black Holes
X-ray Binaries
Pulsars & Precise Periodic Pulsations
4U 1543-47
Outburst
Spicy Plasma Physics
Black Hole Jets

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Joe Inhaber is pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Ottawa. His research is focused on the phenomenon of Moral Injury, and he's seeking better understanding of the kinds of things capable of violating a person’s sense of proper ethical conduct. He's the third of three life-long best friends to be on the show -- stick around to find out who's in the mystery trio!

Tune in for answers to questions like...
What is moral injury?
Can moral injury be self-inflicted, by action or even thought alone?
How is moral injury different from PTSD?
How do observers and perpetrators of horrific life events differentially experience those events?
What’s the role of intention in amoral action?
How can trauma catalyze personal growth?
and many more!

Topics & Concepts
Moral Injury
Ethical Conduct
Psychological Dissonance
Perpetrator vs. Observer
Trait Psychopathy
Diathesis-stress Model
Predisposition
Environment
PTSD: A fear-based disorder
Guilt, Shame & Anger
Military
Moral- vs. Fear-Based Trauma
Occupational Hazards
Therapies
Memory
DSM: The Diagnostic & Statistical Manual
EMDR
Accidental vs. Deliberate Action
Post-Traumatic Growth
Finding Meaning in Suffering
Obsession, Compulsion & Functionality

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Bishakh Rout is a self-professed highly motivated PhD researcher in Chemical Engineering at McGill University. He is studying the surface modification of biomaterials and the application of hydragels in contact lens technology! Get ready for a fast-paced 25-minute interview -- the shortest Abstract interview yet, and the first of many shorter-form interviews, for all you busy bees out there!

Tune in for Answers to Questions Like...
How does one deliver medication through the eyeball?
What is a hydrogel and what are its applications in biomaterials?
What similarities/differences do we find between surface and embedded biomaterials?
What kinds of interactions and influences do these biomaterials have on the body?
and many more!

Topics & Concepts
Contact Lenses
Nanotechnology & Nanocarriers
Drug Delivery
Polymers
Crabs & Cyrosin
Vitamins & Phytochemicals: Curcumin, Quercitin, Leutine
Timolol (Beta-Blocker)
Hydragels
Gaseous Coating
Biomaterials: Surface vs. Embedded
Inflammation
Rejection
Performance
Proteins
Recommended Readings (See Below)

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Lisa Dang is an enthusiastic, outgoing and optimistic PhD student in Astrophysics at McGill University. During her graduate degree, she also held a research position at the NASA Spitzer Science Center at Caltech in Pasadena, California. Right now, she’s studying the diversity of exoplanets and their climate, with a variety of space telescopes, and most excitingly with the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope. She hopes to understand how planets form and evolve, to ultimately uncover the recipe for habitable planets! When she’s not busy scratching her head looking at copious amounts of data, you can find her traveling, drawing, or taking care of her plants!

Tune in for answers to questions like...
Is there life in the universe beyond earth?
How do we define life?
How old are you in "Hot Jupiter" years?
What and how have we learned about exoplanets?
What are the mechanisms behind tidal locking?
and more!

Topics & Concepts
A Simplified Universe
Our Special Solar System
Atmospheric Disequilibrium
Exotic Planets: Hot Jupiters & Magma Earths
The Era of Exoplanet Characterization
The James Webb Space Telescope
Hubble & The Visible Light Problem
Spitzer & Infrared Astronomy
Geocentric & Earth-Trailing Orbits
The Kepler Planet-Finder Mission
Transits
Planet K2-141b
Spectroscopy
Tidal Locking
Wacky Weather Systems
The TRAPPIST System
M-Stars

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Our guest this week, Alexa Ruel, is completing her PhD in Psychology at Concordia University. Her research is focused on decision-making, making decisions about decisions and how that process changes across the lifespan. ALSO, for the first time ever we're joined by a high school student! Allegra is a bright eighth grader who sneaks insightful questions into the discussion throughout the episode, and keeps us accessible! You don't want to miss this (or any) episode!

Tune in for Answers to Questions Like...
How do we make decisions (about decisions)?
How does decision-making change across the lifespan?
How do our internal and external environments affect our decision-making?
What is the role of memory in decision-making?
Which brain regions are involved in making decisions?
and many, many, many more! 

As year 1 of Abstract comes to a close we're getting ready for another 52 episodes of goodness over the next 52 weeks! 

In honor of esteemed guest Jean Westenberg delivering the goods on what became the most streamed episode of the entire year, I'm re-releasing his 40 minutes of heaven, without breaks, maxing out the Jean : Jeremy air-time ratio! 

Oh yeah, and since I first had Jean on the show, he's published the first half of his thesis -- check it out here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eip.13155

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Our guest from Ep. 37, Jean Westenberg, is pursuing a Master's degree in Experimental Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He is currently working under the supervision of Dr. Michael Krauss in his addiction and concurrent disorders lab, focusing on improving health outcomes in populations of opioid users, as well as those at risk of developing an addiction.

Questions Answered

How do we distinguish between the nature of addiction to drugs vs. social media? What makes Heroin so addictive and why is it so difficult to put it down? How can we even begin to imagine the experience of heroin use? What sorts of factors predispose me to developing an addiction? What is the Opioid crisis, and how many people are affected ever year? What is the crazy truth about overdoses? And many, many more!

Topics & Concepts

Different Types of Addiction: Social Media, Gambling, Caffeine, Heroin Opioids: Endogenous vs. Exogenous The Overdose Factor The Experience of Heroin Concurrent Disorders The Opioid Epidemic Educating the Public Imroving Health Outcomes The Fentanyl Crisis Complex Lifestyles Social Support Crisis by the Numbers Overdose Reversal Treatment  Disclaimer: The following episode will be discussing substance use, which may be triggering for some. If you are struggling with your mental health, please seek help from a health professional. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you heard on Abstract.

Our guest this week, Nathalie Jreidini, is completing her PhD in Biology at McGill University. She has worked on diverse projects in Ecology throughout her graduate studies. She's now researching the causes of wild animal movements, and more specifically habitat dispersal! Join us for the final episode of Year 1 of Abstract -- cheers to Year 2 starting NEXT WEEK! 

Tune in for Answers to Questions Like: 

What's the distinction between reptiles and amphibians? 

What do I do if I'm bitten by a tick? 

What does it mean to be an endangered species? Is there life out there in the universe? 

What is Ecology? 

Why do animals move? Hint: it's not cause they got boogie fever... 

What are the current limitations on animal tracking methods? and many, many, many more! 

Topics & Concepts 

Studying Animals vs. Humans 

Amphibians 

The Phylogenetic Tree 

Disease Spread 

Extrapolating from Animals to Humans 

Invasive Species 

Endangered Species 

Ecology 

The Fowler Toad & Habitat Dispersal 

Toad Personality, Mating & Intercourse 

Environment & Individual 

Energy Expenditure & Exploration 

To Move or Not to Move 

Limitations on Tracking Methods 

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Welcome to your new favorite Website, The Endangered Species Redlist: https://www.iucnredlist.org/ 

Welcome to your new favorite Audio Course, The Secret Life of Words: https://listenable.io/web/courses/402/the-secret-life-of-words/ 

Welcome to your new favorite Newsletter, The Habit Society: https://thehabitsociety.com/ 

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Does free will exist? Maybe. Regardless, please share your cherished feedback with me at abstractcast@gmail.com!

Our guest this week, Avery Warkentin, is completing her Master's in Classical Archaeology at the University of Oxford. She's passionate about historical education, archaeological conservation and environmental sustainability. Her current research is focused on the artistic and archaeological manifestations of cultural interaction throughout the Roman provinces. She hopes to pursue a career in objects conservation upon completion of her Master's. Join Avery and myself as we dig deep into the history of humanity -- who know's what we'll unearth on this slightly-longer-than-usual episode of Abstract!

Questions Answered
What is Archaeology?
What and how does it teach us about history?
What makes a fruitful archaeological site or exciting archaeological find?
What is the process of archaeological discovery, from dig to display case?
What does the future of archaeology look like?
How do we learn about abstract phenomena like culture through the discovery of physical objects?
How do define a civilization and what are its main characteristics?
Are we obliged to ever return findings to the countries from whence they came?
and many, many, many more!

Topics & Concepts
Objectivity in The Historical Record
Digging from Conclusions
Heinrich Schliemann
Importance: The What & The Where
Sites: Old & New
The Discovery Process
Dating: Stratigraphy, Dendrochronology & C-14
Context: Social, Cultural, Economic
The Impact of Archaeology
History
Culture
Hybrid Architecture
Religious Defaulting
Civilization
The Future of Archaeology
Repatriation & Dan Hicks

Avery Warkentin: Reach her on Instagram & Twitter: @aevrynicole

Prof. Dan Hicks:

Our guest this week, Sam Fisher, just completed his Master's in Mathematics at McGill University and is now embarking on a transatlantic PhD in Mathematics at the University of Oxford. He treats us to a journey through the conceptual underpinnings of his research in the field of Geometric Group Theory. Whether you're a math enthusiast, or just a curious mind, you'll find this episode to be refreshing reminder of the beauty and elegance of mathematics. Enjoy!

Tune in for Answers to Questions Like
What is Geometry, and what kinds of geometric spaces can we imagine?
What would giant triangles look like on the surface of the earth?
Why are some mathematicians incapable of differentiating between mugs and donuts?
How do you create mathematically complex transformations every time you tie your shoelaces?
Where do symmetries crop up in the mathematical and real world?
and many, many, many more!

Topics & Concepts
Mathematical Insights
Mathematical Physics
Geometry
Euclidean & Non-Euclidean Spaces
Curvature ft. Totally Trippy Triangles
Topology
Rubber-Sheet Geometry
Mugs & Donuts
Knot Theory
Group Theory
Geometric Group Theory
Betti Numbers
Sam's "Aggressive Saddles"

The Secret Life of Words Audio Course (Coupon Code)

Our guest this week, Yev Diachek, is a PhD student studying Psychology at Vanderbilt University. After completing her undergraduate degree, Yev became interested in Psycholinguistics and the Neurobiology of Language so she took up multiple volunteer positions at Harvard and MIT. After completing her master’s, she worked as a full-time research assistant with Ev Fedorenko investigating how language interacts with other cognitive functions in the brain. In her Ph.D., Yev is now asking questions related to the structure and representation of conceptual knowledge and its relation to language. As a cognitive science major and linguistics enthusiast myself, this interview was truly a dream come true -- come on in and experience it for yourself!

Questions Answered
How is language represented in the brain, and how does it interact with other cognitive functions?
Is language fixed or dynamic?
Do we ever stop learning?
How do we define core linguistic understanding, and is there even such a thing?
What's the main goal of language?
Is memory is also a part of language and are they separable?
Are words meaningful in and of themselves?
and many, many, many more!

Topics & Concepts
The Language System
Hemispheric Lateralization
The Multiple Demand Network
Language Tasks
Core Linguistics Understanding
Gusture & Non-Verbal Cues
Prosody & Intonation
Pragmatics & Inference
Brain Damage & Aphasia
Language and Memory: Aphasia vs. Amnesia
Language Learning
Specialized vs Generalized Systems
Meaning
Category-Selective Deficits
Concepts & Mental Representation

Abstract just took things to a whole new level with our first ever PANEL DISCUSSION: Our guests this week are none other than The Brains Behind the Wisdom Exchange Project: Alicia Duval, Danielle D'Amico, Emma Conway, Lauren Bechard, and Monica Vaillancourt. Buckle up for this episode where a group of bright Canadian graduate researchers bounce ideas off each other in this super special group interview on the aging process!

Questions Answered
How can we age gracefully?
What can we control and what's totally out of our hands when it comes to aging?
How do we define the aging process?
How do rates of dementia vary across the population?
What's the impact of menopause on quality of life?
As we age, does cognition become a use it or lost it phenomenon?
What is frailty?
What is the Wisdom Exchange Project?
and many, many, many more!

Topics & Concepts
Graceful Aging
Self Care
Stress
Individuality
Modifiable Risk Factors
Alzheimer's & Dementia
Cognitive Reserve
Resilient Aging
Preventation vs. Reaction
Motivation, Meaning & Fulfilment
Perspective & Lived Experience
The Lifespan Approach
Midlife & Menopause
Cognition: Use-it-or-Lose-it?
The Cognitive Load Paradox
Composite Risk Factors
Frailty
Parenting
The Wisdom Exchange Project

Connect with this week's guests on Twitter (@EmmaConwayUW, @DanielleNDamico, @AliciaMDuval, @LaurenBechard...) and Instagram (@daniellenicoledamico, @mon.vaillancourt, @duvalicia, @loebech...)

Our guest this week, Shaziana Kaderali, is a Master's candidate at McGill University in Aerospace Engineering. Her research is focused on Space Situational Awareness and Spaceflight Dynamics. She helps satellite operators avoid collisions, among much else! She's a jack of all trades and a master of all of them, and we've got her on the show to talk all things aerospace!

Questions Answered
What's an aerospace engineer thinking about first thing in the morning?
What do we mean by dynamics and specifically aerospace dynamics?
What's going on up there in orbit around our lovely little planet?
Should we be worried about the exponential increase in orbital objects and debris in freefall around the earth?
What is the future of aerospace engineering going to look like?
How do we dispose of dead or defunct spacecraft and what's the end-of-life process?
and many, many, many more!

Topics & Concepts
Roberta Bondar: The First Canadian Woman in Space
Perseverance: The Latest Mars Rover
Views from the Solar System
Aerospace Dynamics
Motion & Forces: Drag & Perturbations
Dynamics Equations
Synchronized Swimming
Astronaut Training
Satellite Operators vs. Air-Traffic Controllers
Propulsion & Newton's 3rd Law
Known Unknowns of Orbiting Spacecraft
Orbits: Geospatial & Low- & Medium-Earth, Molniya, Lagrange
The International Space Station (ISS)
Kessler Syndrome & The Debris Problem
The Kosmos-Irridium Collision
The Future of Aerospace Engineering
Quantum Satellite Technology
Outerspace Treaty
Death of a Spacecraft

Our guest this week, Bryce Cyr, is completing his PhD in Cosmology at McGill University. He's studying the theoretical structures known as cosmic strings (unrelated to string theory, but we discuss that too). They might shed light on the nature of the early universe and the origin of dark matter!

Few things in life are more sacred than knowledge-sharing. Humans have evolved complex language, giving us the unique ability to propagate records of our discoveries, insights, and achievements. As an aspiring educator, my goal is to disseminate a combination of my personal experience, previous research, and independent readings to enrich the lives of others. During my Master's degree, my research centered around analyzing ambiguity in the written and spoken word. While I believe there is no concrete way to avoid ambiguity in our communications (or miscommunications), becoming aware of the shortcoming of our language system is the first step.

Join myself and fellow curious minds in this first audio course as we dive deep into the secret life of words! You can expect to reemerge with a refreshing new outlook on language and the brain, a deep appreciation of our language processing system, a thorough understanding of the structure, meaning, and mental representation of words, the ability to recognize, resolve and circumvent ambiguity in all aspects of language use; and become a more cooperative communicator! What are you waiting for?

Our guest this week, Mitchell Kurnell, just started his PhD in Mechanical Engineering in the Aerospace Mechatronics lab (yeah you know the one, he's worked alongisde Eitan Bulka (Ep.11) and Ali Safaei (Ep.39)). Our discussion is split between his master's research on nuclear physics, and his PhD research on cube sats.

Questions Answered
Is nuclear energy a safe energy alternative and can we entrust our future in these fission reactors?
How can we use lasers to learn about a material's composition?
How big and how small are the satellites in orbit above our heads? What are they doing up there?
What is space junk and does it pose a problem to other satellites in orbit around the earth?
and many, many, many more!

Topics & Concepts
Nuclear Safety
Fission vs. Fusion
LIBS: Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy
Plasmas
Infrared & Ultraviolet Light
Observation Window
Deuterium & Heavy Water
Neutron Absorption
Zirconium Alloys
Pressure Tubes & Nuclear Reactor Malfunction
Mass Spectroscopy
Transtioning Research Fields
Cube Sats
Satellite Tracking  & Orbital Decay
Space Junk & Deadly Debris
Altitude & Attitude
Magnetic Fields & Magnet Torquers

Our guest this week, Nafisa Husein, recently graduated with a Master’s in Public Health and Epidemiology at the University of Montreal. Her thesis focused on the association between epilepsy and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the elderly. She's starting her PhD in Epidemiology this September, and her research will aim to uncover the causal variants between epilepsy and other comorbidities, as well as finding and presenting solutions to improve neurological health.

Questions Answered
What's happening in the brain during a seizure and how do we treat it? Do babies have seizures? (Do they?)
How do I know if I'm prone to developing epilepsy, and what can I do to mitigate its onset?
What's the relationship between stroke and epilepsy?
What are the precursors and catalysts for the development of epilepsy throughout your life?
What's the opposite of a seizure, if there is one?
Do people experience seizure-induced hallucinations?
and many, many, many more!

Topics & Concepts
Epilepsy
Seizures: Physical vs. Blank State
Electrical Imbalance
Intantile vs. Geriatric Cases
Precursors & Catalysts
Stroke
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
Lifestyle & Behavior: Smoking, Drinking & Exercise
Sociodemographics
Chronic Disease
Association vs. Causation
The Opposite of a Seizure?
Hallucinations
Anti-Epileptic Drugs
Neurological Disorders
Anti-Seizure Medication
Mediating Factors
CVD PSA

Our guest this week, Alex Pettem, is completing a Master's of Political Science at the University of Montreal. His research focus is on Degrowth, and he's got his finger on the pulse of the Montreal chapter of the movement. Strap in for a super unique and insightful episode with my good friend and our first ever Political Scientist!

Questions Answered
What is the Degrowth movement and how can we propagate it?
How can we continue to make progress while simultaneously reducing our level of growth?
What does a degrowth future look like, and what would we need to give up in order to get there?
Who are the proponents of the degrowth movement, and at what level do they operate in society?
Where did the movement begin and who should be getting involved?
and many, many, many more!

Our guest this week, Ada McVean, is pursuing a Master's of Chemistry at McGill University in the Damha Lab (alongside our good friend James Thorpe from Ep. 30!). Her current research is focused on creating small modified nucleic acid-based inhibitors (or SNuBs) of Cas9 using click chemistry, to interrupt the normal functioning of the CRISPR complex.

Questions Answered
Why might we want to prevent a CRISPR complex from editing our genes?
How do SNuBs interrupt a ribunucleic threesome?
If gene editing is a play, who are the characters and what sorts of hijinx do they get themselves into?
Can Turtles breathe out of their butts?
How do lava lamps produce their magically entrancing goopy light show?
Will wearing a hat speed up the balding process?
and many, many, many more!

Topics & Concepts
Biology vs Chemistry
CRISPR
SNuBs
Oligonucleotides (Oligos)
Fluorination
The Periodic Table
Electronegativity & Reactivity
CRISPR
Off-Target Effects
A CRISPR Antidote
Tracker & Guide RNAs
The PAM & NGGs

Our guest this week, Jeremy Dawkins, is completing his PhD in Chemistry at McGill University. His thesis is based on improving the ubiquitous Li-ion batteries, which are a key solution to the current climate crisis. Specifically, Jeremy is developing a methodology that would allow scientists to detect the Li-ions inside a battery while it’s operating!

Questions Answered
What's going on inside the batteries in my phone, my tv remote and my car?     
Can we put a rocket in space fueled solely using lithium ion batteries?
How efficient is the recycling process and how sustainable is widespread battery use?
Can we make batteries from other elements on the periodic table?
How do you collect energy from a moving electron?
How can we make better batteries?
and many, many, many more!

Topics & Concepts
Lithium-Ion Batteries
Rocking Chairs & Ping Pong
Electrodes & Electrolytes
Charging & Discharging
Salts & Alkali Metals
The Periodic Table
Battery Recycling & Sustainability
Hydro- and Pyro-metallurgy
Voltage & Potential
Shorting a Circuit
Traveling Electrons
Fast Charging & Optimization
Localizing the Lithium
Synchrotron Testing
Coin Batteries
Vehicle-to-Grid
The Future of Batteries

Does free will exist? Regardless, please share your cherished feedback with me at abstractcast@gmail.com

Our guest this week, Meryem Talbo, is a 2nd year PhD candidate in Dietetics at McGill University's School of Human Nutrition. Her research focus was on Type I diabetes, and how to best use technology as a tool to prevent and reduce both the fear and frequency of hypoglycemia.

Questions Answered
Where does insulin come from and who is it's biological partner in crime?
How do protein, fat and carbs interact in the process of digestion?
Will I develop diabetes and if so what can I do to avoid or dimish the likelihood of that outcome?
Can we create an artificial pancreas and mimic its insulin regulating function?
Is diabetes a fundamentally human pathology, or does it occur in other species?
and many, many, MANY more!

Topics & Concepts
Diabetes Diagnoses
Intro to Insulin
Best & Banting
Playing the Part of the Pancreas
Good Guy Glucagon
Handling Hypo and Hyperglycemia
Commonality of Cases
Lapses in Lifestyle
Dishing the Dirt on Diet Drinks
Cancel Calories, Create Cravings
Macronutrients on the Mind
Tricky Timing
Supplements: The Scoop
Infusion & Injection
Tantalizing Technologies
Diabetes on the DL
Interspecies Insulin Insufficiencies
Purging Prediabetes
Fears of Fainting

Do butterflies have diabetes? If you've got the answer, or just want to say hi, you can reach Meryem at meryem.talbo@mail.mcgill.ca

Does free will exist? Regardless, please share your cherished feedback with me at abstractcast@gmail.com 

Our guest this week, Ali Safaei, is an Engineering postdoctoral fellow in the Aerospace Mechatronics Lab (Yes, the same lab that Eitan Bulka, Ep. 11, just graduated from!) at McGill University and HumanITAS Solutions. Ali is a force to be reckoned with: he's got a PhD and 23 scientific publications under his belt, as well as book coming up for publicaton later this year! Buckle up and get ready for an unforgettable tour through the wonderful world of unmanned aircraft and ground rovers...

Questions Answered
What's the secret to academic success?
How do we solve the localization problem for autonomous mobile robots?
What are the keys to success for communication within and between groups of autonomous agents?
How has nature inspired an entire field of engineering?
What's the most advanced form of GPS on planet earth?
How does the wisdom of crowds apply to groups of autonomous robots?
and many, many, many, more!

Topics & Concepts
Getting Published & The Secret to Success in your PhD
Autonomous Mobile Robots
State & Position Estimation
The Localization Problem: Indoors vs. Outdoors
RTKGPS: GPS on Steroids
Swarms
Relative Position & Distance
Consensus: Average Knowledge & The Wisdom of Crowds
Spanning Trees
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth & Ultra-wideband Communication
Birds & Biomimicry
Ground Rovers
2D vs. 3D Environments
Motion Capture
Distributed vs. Centralized Control
Cooperative Control & Localization Solutions
Passion-Driven Success

Our guest this week, Matthew McCready, is a Master's student in Physics at Western University. He's developing, testing and implementing a revolutionary new dreMR coil, affectionately called "dreamer", for existing MRI machines that will usher in a new generation of neuroimaging!

Questions Answered
What's happening inside of an MRI machine?
How do we produce images of the body using giant magnets?
What does magnetic resonance imaging have to do with hills and rainbows?
What's the next big development in this kind of imaging, and how will a new coil solve many of our imaging problems?

and many, many more!

Topics & Concepts
Electrons, Current & Charge
Electromagnetism
Particle Spin
Subatomic Relativity
The Three Fields in an MRI
Superconductors
Gradient Fields
Radiofrequency
dreMR: Delta Relaxation Enhanced MRI ("dreamer")
Molecular Imaging Methods
PET Scans
Ionizing Radiation & the ALARA Principle
Contrast Agents
Field Homogeneity
Applications + Future Directions

Our guest this week, Jean Westenberg, is pursuing a Master's degree in Experimental Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC). He is currently working under the supervision of Dr. Michael Krauss in his addiction and concurrent disorders lab, focusing on improving health outcomes in populations of opioid users, as well as those at risk of developing an addiction.

Questions Answered
How do we distinguish between the nature of addiction to drugs vs. social media?
What makes Heroin so addictive and why is it so difficult to put it down?
How can we even begin to imagine the experience of heroin use?
What sorts of factors predispose me to developing an addiction?
What is the Opioid crisis, and how many people are affected ever year?
What is the crazy truth about overdoses?
And many, many more!

Topics & Concepts
Different Types of Addiction: Social Media, Gambling, Caffeine, Heroin
Opioids: Endogenous vs. Exogenous
The Overdose Factor
The Experience of Heroin
Concurrent Disorders
The Opioid Epidemic
Educating the Public
Imroving Health Outcomes
The Fentanyl Crisis
Complex Lifestyles
Social Support
Crisis by the Numbers
Overdose Reversal
Treatment

Disclaimer: The following episode will be discussing substance use, which may be triggering for some. If you are struggling with your mental health, please seek help from a health professional. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you heard on Abstract.

Our guest this week is Samuel Little, a bioengineering PhD candidate at Concordia University. His current research is focused on developing an innovative treatment known as CAR-T Therapy, in which an individual's immune system is removed from the body, genetically modified, and reinserted into the body to fight off cancer with unprecedented strength and efficiency. Sam brings the heat and turns the knowledge volume up to 11, if that makes sense -- this is a crazy episode, in the best way possible. I've already listened to it thrice from start to finish! What are you waiting for? Hey are you still reading this? 

Questions Answered
How has bioengineering paved the way for a new innovative cancer therapy?
How can we beat cancer at its own game?
Why is cancer a more perfect version of us?
Are we on the brink of a revolution in cancer treatment?
How can we manipulate our own immune system to maximize its efficacy?
Is it worth engaging in research for research sake?
And many, many.... many more!