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Improving queer history knowledge and perspective-taking toward LGBTQ+ people: There's an app for that
Get PDFWe thank Murray Billett, Brad Fraser, Darrin Hagen, the Honorable Judge Julie Lloyd, Elizabeth Massiah, Michael Phair, and Dr. Lorne Warneke for generously sharing their time, experiences, and historical perspectives in interviews that helped inform the development of the Edmonton Queer History App. We also thank Dr. Susanne P. Lajoie, Dr. Andre P. Grace, Chayse Haldane, Andrea Whittaker, and Brea McLaughlin for their support in the development and/or early research with the app. Acknowledgements to all individuals who contributed to various stages of the app’s development (e.g., interviews, multimedia content sharing, etc) are made within the Edmonton Queer History App—thank you! The desktop version of the EQH app can be accessed here: https://izi.travel/en/0468-edmonton-queer-history-app/en.Minority history education can support perspective-taking which is linked to decreasing stereotypes and prejudice. A pre-test post-test randomized control trial study with 114 pre-service teachers was conducted to examine the role of queer history instruction to improve learners’ self-reported perspective-taking toward LGBTQ + minorities and knowledge of queer history. Participants in the Edmonton Queer History App (vs. control) condition learned significantly more and reported higher levels of perspective-taking towards both sexual orientation (SO) and gender identity (GI) minority members. Mediation analysis showed that learning outcome explained the effect of the app condition on the increase of perspective-taking towards SO (but not GI).This research was supported by funding from the Killam Research Foundation and administered by the University of Alberta, Canada, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada [grant ID: 430-2016-01133] awarded to the first author.FacultyReviewe
Expedition unknown: Characterizing and modelling perturbed debris disks in search for elusive planets
No full textDebris disks, which are defined as optically thin, dusty disks around main sequence stars, are intimately connected with planets in their systems. Not only does the mere existence of a debris disk suggest the presence of planets, as they efficiently stir the orbits of planetesimals leading to collisional evolution, but they can also easily shape the morphologies of their disk. To better understand planet-disk interactions, one crucial step is to uncover the variation in disk morphologies that are present in currently resolved disks. Further studies can then be done to understand how these disk morphologies are related to known or unknown planets.
In my thesis, I conducted a uniform, empirical analysis of 23 debris disks imaged with the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI) in polarized intensity. For this study, I characterized each disk through multi-wavelength, near-IR data to identify any asymmetries present. I find that the majority of disks (19/23) present a significant asymmetry in either geometry, surface brightness, disk color, or a combination of the three. These findings suggest that perturbations in our sample, as seen in scattered light, are common. Some of these perturbations are consistent with planet-disk interactions, including surface brightness asymmetries, eccentric disks, and warps. Additionally, I identified several possible trends between disk properties and stellar properties that may give further insight into debris disk evolution. This includes a trend between disk color and stellar temperature, and trends between the disk vertical aspect ratio and stellar temperature in tandem with the disk radius.
Within the GPI disk sample, I identify one of the most asymmetric disks, HD 111520. In another empirical analysis, I take a closer look at the HD 111520 debris disk to better understand its complex morphology. Using both polarized and total intensity multi-wavelength GPI observations, alongside observations taken with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), I confirm that the disk hosts a variety of asymmetrical features and structures. This includes the strong 2 to 1 brightness asymmetry observed in previous studies, as well as a significant disk color asymmetry, a distinct 4 degree warp from the disk midplane past ∼180 au, and a bifurcation or “fork”-like structure on the NW side. While the color asymmetry and extreme brightness asymmetry suggests that the disk may have undergone a recent giant collision, the warp and fork structures strongly suggests the presence of an unseen planet.
Once these complex disk structures/features are identified, the disk morphology can effectively be used to probe unseen planets. In the final part of my thesis, I used the n-body code REBOUND to simulate the features of the highly asymmetrical disk around HD 111520 via planet-disk interactions. I find that a planet with a mass of ~1 Mjup, that is on an eccentric and inclined orbit outside of the warp location, can create a similar radial asymmetry, warp, and “fork”-like structure in the disk as seen in observations. This work demonstrates how disk morphologies can be used to constrain the mass and orbit of a hidden planet in a perturbed debris disk system.Graduat
Debates on the beginning of life and legal regulations to personhood: A feminist approach
Get PDFHighly organized conservative groups have been pushing for stricter abortion laws all over the world. After the overturn of Roe vs. Wade in USA, women, feminists and health care professionals all over the world are worried about backlash in their own jurisdictions. In this scenario, while France has just changed its Constitution to include the right to legal abortions as a fundamental right; legal and feminist scholars have been debating when life starts and when legal protection from personhood starts. By discussing the case of Brazil, and taking a feminist and human rights approach, I will present how law regulates the multiple stages of life, and why such differences matter for preserving women’s access to sexual and reproductive rights. Building on previous research on this topic and from a socio-legal perspective, I will discuss challenges to legalizing abortion in Brazil; as well as lessons emerging from Brazil and other Latin American Countries in blocking conservative changes at the legal and constitutional level to protect women’s rights.UVic Graduate Student Law & Society Research GroupFacultyUnreviewe
SPICE Modeling Of Metal-Molecular Nanoelectronics Networks: An Exploration of Randomly Distributed Resistors & Diodes Modeling and Analysis
Get PDFAn innovative approach to the development of metal-molecular nanoelectronic networks through LTSpice modeling is represented in this project, focusing on the simulation and analysis of randomly distributed resistor blocks and diodes in the network. In the digital era of miniaturization and increasing demand for secure electronic devices, this study incorporates a unique methodology for enhancing hardware security primitives and their performances. The approach proposed a novel methodology using a distinct resistor network circuit resembling that of the gold nanoparticle-molecular network configuration and their internal resistance and defects used for previous investigations regarding the same. A unique Mesh Resistor Network (MRN) with structured randomness based on the resistor network building blocks offers new insights into the correlation and electrical behaviors of nanoscale networks when examined. This novel procedure provides new opportunities to enhance the understanding of electronic transport in nanoparticles and evolves our development of robust hardware encryption keys for increased hardware security. To insert an additional tunable parameter, resistors in the formed MRN are replaced by the proportion of diodes. This adjustment introduces directional current flow and non-linear responses, aligning with the theoretical insights from the previous research. The integration of diodes, particularly in varied orientations, showcases the potential for creating complex, tunable electronic systems that leverage components' resistive and rectifying properties. Furthermore, this opens a broad spectrum of methods to design customized electronic devices with tunable properties for better security and performance, addressing the limitations of current network simulations. By systematically changing the position of the building blocks in the resistor network, the proportion of diodes and metal-gold particles in the Mesh Network provides tunable physical unclonable functions for the design of electronic devices with tunable electrical properties, paving a road for future advancements in molecular electronics and secure communication technologies.Graduat
A characterization of early career researchers’ activities with academic sources for writing
Get PDFResearch processes involve gathering and understanding previous work, including finding existing literature, reading, annotating, collecting and, finally, synthesizing summaries as literature surveys and related work sections. Although much work has been devoted to understanding how people find and retrieve previous work and how people use existing reference managers, in this paper we consider the processes involving research of previous literature in a broader context, looking at how the found sources and references are incorporated into the process of writing new papers and reports. We propose an activity model (RaMSeS) for the general process of research with academic sources; from paper search to the writing of text that incorporates previous work citations. We used this model to design a survey that investigates current practices by early career researchers. Through the survey, we were able to classify early career researchers into three coarse groups: casual collection managers (who use reference management systems less and tend not to revisit their collections), traditional document managers (who tend to take comprehensive notes but use multiple systems to manage information), and digitally-savvy collection managers (who are more interested in organizing and categorizing their document collections). We also learned about the ways in which participants use their source collections for writing, refreshing their knowledge, and recognizing patterns in the literature. We also conducted an evaluation study with experts in the field of library sciences to understand the applicability of our proposed model (RaMSeS) to assist in the teaching and explanation of the entire process of collecting and curating bibliographies for early career researchers. We provide a thorough thematic analysis of the interviews that we conducted with the experts who overall, found the RaMSeS model useful and provided insightful feedback on how it can be applied to the entire research process. Our findings can support the development of tools that further support the later parts of the research process when existing literature is re-read and analyzed to become part of new research documents.Graduat
Modeling of Metal-Molecular Nanoelectronics Network: Analysis and Electrical Properties
Get PDFComplementing electronic components with molecular counterparts offers a hopeful option for advancing beyond the current size limitations of traditional silicon electronic devices in the effort to create operational molecular nanoscale circuit components. Molecular modules have been extensively studied to evaluate their suitability for use in future nanoelectronic circuits. This study focuses on investigating the theoretical and experimental aspects of the electrical and electronic properties of metal-molecular networks bridged with dithiol molecules. The ratio of (di)thiol molecules and/or the type of molecules in the network can be adjusted to modify the electronic transport paths through the network. Furthermore, the electronic conductivity of small-scale networks made up of interconnected graphene clusters and thiolated molecules (benzene/alkanedithiol) in linear chains and extended networks is analyzed using simulations based on first-principles density functional theory. Geometry optimization and Energy Analysis using DMol3 that determines the electronic characteristics of molecules, surfaces, clusters, and crystalline solid materials through DFT were performed. The ability to adjust simulations by changing the molecule-to-nanoparticle ratio yields results that align well with the findings of the previously reported experiments. This offers valuable insights into manipulating network properties with various types of molecules. The analysis ended with VAMP Analysis on Carbon-based molecules such as benzene dithiol and graphene nanosheet. The outcome of experimental VAMP analysis presents a step-by-step process to work on carbon-based structures. The findings from these simulations are used to suggest molecular-level circuits for purposes like memory, switching, hardware security, and biosensors. The molecular electronic networks involving metal nanoparticles, as described in this study, offer a way to develop electronics at the molecular scale.Graduat
Unlocking Athletic Potential: How Skin Exposure Impacts the Brain and Performance
Get PDFAthletic performance can be influenced and has been significantly improved through the development of better sporting technology. As this ongoing challenge to develop the next performance-enhancing technology continues, a new idea has arisen that could further elevate athletes. Modern athletic clothing often covers a large portion of the skin, preventing much of the sensory information from the environment from reaching the brain. This raises the question: By wearing clothing that increases skin coverage, could athletes prevent their sensory systems from processing important tactile sensory information that may improve performance? This question was explored through electroencephalography (EEG) to record sensory evoked potentials (SEPs), which are electrical signals resulting from sensory stimuli, while participants were engaging in physical activity. Each participant wore two clothing conditions, maximal and minimal, during separate bouts of standing and walking on a treadmill. Results from preliminary data show no significant differences in SEP amplitudes depending on the participant's clothing condition. This may be a result of low sample size and the methods used for the processing and analysis of data. The study is ongoing, and it is yet to be confirmed whether the amount of skin exposure an athlete has while exercising impacts SEPs and performance.Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Awards (JCURA)UndergraduateReviewe
Policy-value concordance for deep actor-critic reinforcement learning algorithms
Get PDFDesigning general agents to optimize sequential decision-making underneath uncertainty has long been central to artificial intelligence research. Recent advances in deep reinforcement learning (RL) have made progress in this pursuit, achieving superhuman performance in a collection of challenging and visually complex domains, in a tabula rasa fashion without embedding human domain knowledge. Although making progress towards designing general problem-solving agents, these methods require significant amounts of data to learn effective decision-making policies relative to humans, preventing their application to most real-world problems for which no simulator exists. It is clear that the question of how to best learn models intended for downstream purposes such as planning in this context remains unresolved. Motivated by this gap in the literature, we propose a novel learning objective for RL algorithms with deep actor-critic architectures, with the goal of further investigating the efficacy of such methods as autonomous general problem solvers. These algorithms employ artificial neural networks as parameterized policy and value functions, which guide their decision-making processes. Our approach introduces a learning signal that explicitly captures desirable properties of the policy function in terms of the value function from the perspective of a downstream reward-maximizing agent. Specifically, the signal encourages the policy to favour actions in a manner that is concordant with the relative ordering of value function estimates during training. We hypothesize that when correctly balanced with other learning objectives, RL algorithms incorporating our method will converge to comparable strength policies using less real-world data relative to their original instantiations. To empirically investigate this hypothesis, we incorporate our technique with state-of-the-art RL algorithms, ranging from simple policy gradient actor-critic methods to more complex model-based architectures, and deploy them on standard deep RL benchmark tasks, and then perform statistical analysis on their performance data.Graduate2025-12-0
Traffic tracking and air quality: A holistic approach to predicting traffic-related air pollution
No full textOn-road transportation has long been a significant contributor to air pollution in cities. Over the past few decades, the transportation sector, which has been targeted by major regulations, has undergone substantial changes. These changes include a shift in vehicle fleet composition and both natural and artificial alterations to traffic patterns. Despite the importance of on-road transportation for urban mobility, it remains a major source of air pollution and a public health challenge. Therefore, it is essential to accurately measure and model the temporal and spatial distribution of traffic-related air pollution. In that way, targeted implementations can be made to combat the adverse health effects associated to the exposure to these pollutants. In this thesis, we investigate the potential of low-cost methods to accurately estimate air pollutant concentrations. To this end, we employed modern traffic tracking technologies with low-cost sensors and machine learning techniques. The research addresses the effectiveness of leveraging these technologies to understand the factors and interactions that influence air quality. Chapter 2 predicts real-time air pollutant concentrations with high accuracy across pollutants using traffic videos and machine learning algorithms. The results reveal the superior performance of non-linear models over linear models. In addition, the Shapley additive explanation plots employed in this study effectively captured the intricate relationships between pollutants and their predictors. Chapter 3 examines the influences of traffic, particularly from cruise ship activities, on local air quality in James Bay, Victoria, BC. Results indicate that both emissions from traffic and cruise ship activities affected air quality. The integration of low-cost sensors with these traffic tracking technologies proves crucial for accurate air quality analysis and allows for context-specific and real-time assessments, providing valuable insights for policy makers and urban planners.Graduate2025-09-1
Centering relationships to place for more meaningful research and engagement
No full textResearch has the potential to simultaneously generate new knowledge and contribute meaningful social–ecological benefits; however, research processes and outcomes can also perpetuate extractive patterns that have manifested the climate, biodiversity, and social justice crises. One approach to enhance the societal value of research processes is to strengthen relationships with places of study and the peoples of those places. Deepening relational engagement with the social–ecological context and history of a place can lead to more accurate results and improved public trust in the scientific process and is particularly important for natural scientists who work at the interface of nature and society. We provide three actionable pathways that range from individual to systemic change to enhance place-based relationships within research systems: 1) deepen reflection and communication about relationships with places and peoples; 2) strengthen collaboration among research teams and partners; and 3) transform systems of knowledge creation to foster place-based roots. Action on any of these proposed pathways, but especially action taken across all three, can build empathy and connections to place and people, strengthening the meaningful impact of research both locally and globally.Compass Leaders for Sea Change programFacultyReviewe