Scholarship@Western

Zhao, Yuhan

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Exploring the “Word-Making Factory”: Native Speakers vs. Second 
Language Learners’ “Production Lines” 
Yuhan Zhao 
Western University, yzha6233@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Zhao, Yuhan, "Exploring the “Word-Making Factory”: Native Speakers vs. Second Language Learners’ 
“Production Lines”" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, 
Scholarship and Creative Activity. 702. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/702 
Yuhan Zhao 
 
Exploring the “Word-Making Factory”:  
Native Speakers vs. Second Language Learners’ “Production Lines” 
 
This study takes you into a “word-making factory” to explore derivations—the 
process of attaching affixes to a baseword, like adding “modules” to transform it into 
some related new words. By “producing” multiple words from a single baseword, 
derivation can expand vocabulary size massively. Past research has mainly examined 
L2 learners’ ability to recognize derivations in receptive ways, few studies have 
explored them in writing and speaking. I focus on existing corpora of essays and 
spoken recording texts from native speakers and L2 learners and analyze each group’s 
frequency of use, preference of part of speech, and choice of affixes. I consider in 
future instruction whether teachers should teach vocabulary one word at a time or 
teach a baseword together with its common derivatives as a unit. The findings will 
help teachers to improve course design and make learners’ productive knowledge of 
derivations better. 
 
 
 


Exploring the “Word-Making Factory”:  Native Speakers vs. Second Language Learners’ “Production Lines”

Johnston, Carson Amy

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Designing for the Future: Unlocking Social and Scientific Progress 
through Philosophy and Human-Computer Interaction 
Carson Amy Johnston 
The University of Western Ontario, cjohn445@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Johnston, Carson Amy, "Designing for the Future: Unlocking Social and Scientific Progress through 
Philosophy and Human-Computer Interaction" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of Western’s 
Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 723. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/723 
Inspiring Minds 2025 
 
Designing for the Future: Unlocking Social and Scientific Progress Through Philosophy and 
Human-Computer Interaction  
 
Carson Johnston  
Human-computer interaction (HCI) is a multidisciplinary domain studying how humans interact 
with technological artefacts. Insights from HCI drive the design of emerging technologies. 
Philosophy has historically shaped HCI by offering ethical considerations and conceptual tools. 
However, increasingly autonomous technologies challenge this relationship, shifting technology 
from being a passive artefact to an interactive agent. Conversational AIs highlight this shift, 
raising concerns about anthropomorphism—treating AI as human-like. I argue that 
anthropomorphism threatens users’ epistemic agency. With this, I propose that user-interface 
design is key to addressing this challenge: we must design systems that avoid reinforcing 
anthropomorphic perceptions. Instead, interfaces should highlight the non-human nature of AI, 
enabling “synergistic” interactions—where AI complements rather than mimics human 
cognition. This fosters responsible knowledge creation, ethical engagement, and scientific 
innovation. My work thus bridges philosophy and HCI, offering design guidance to promote 
ethical and effective integration of AI in social and scientific contexts. 
  


Designing for the Future: Unlocking Social and Scientific Progress through Philosophy and Human-Computer Interaction

Hawthorne, Aoife E.

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Missing Variables in the STEM Teaching Shortage: A Historical 
and Survey-Based Study on Patterns, Perceptions, and Policies 
Aoife E. Hawthorne 
Western University, ahawtho3@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Hawthorne, Aoife E., "Missing Variables in the STEM Teaching Shortage: A Historical and Survey-Based 
Study on Patterns, Perceptions, and Policies" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of Western’s 
Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 724. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/724 
Missing Variables in the STEM Teaching Shortage: A Historical and Survey-
Based Study on Patterns, Perceptions, and Policies  
Each year, thousands of students graduate with science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees across the US, but only a small 
portion of them consider teaching. Who inspires the next generation of STEM 
students if we do not have enough STEM teachers? My research focuses on 
undergraduate students’ career values and beliefs about teaching as a career in the 
US and what factors shape them. Through a historical lens and a contemporary 
survey-based study, I aim to investigate what constitutes a person’s STEM identity, 
how that identity fits into teaching, and what career values and beliefs differ between 
those who want to teach and those who do not want to teach. By investigating these 
values and beliefs, I can better understand some of the complexities of the STEM 
teaching shortage and use them to inform potential responses. To inspire future 
STEM students, we first need to inspire future STEM teachers. 
 


Missing Variables in the STEM Teaching Shortage: A Historical and Survey-Based Study on Patterns, Perceptions, and Policies

Eghbali, Rojin

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Turning Steel Waste into Treasure—Without Fossil Fuels 
Rojin Eghbali 
Western University, reghbali@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Eghbali, Rojin, "Turning Steel Waste into Treasure—Without Fossil Fuels" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A 
Digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 726. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/726 
Turning Steel Waste into Treasure—Without Fossil Fuels 
Rojin Eghbali 
Steel is all around us—from buildings to bicycles—but making it creates waste. As the world shifts 
toward greener steel production using electric furnaces, one challenge grows: how to deal with 
electric arc furnace (EAF) dust, a byproduct full of valuable metals like zinc. My research looks 
at how to recycle this dust using biochar, a renewable carbon material made from plants, instead 
of fossil fuels like coal. We first built a computer model to understand how carbon reacts with 
metal oxides in the dust, focusing on how to pull out the zinc efficiently. We tested the model using 
graphite and measured how fast different reactions happen inside heated pellets. Our model worked 
well across many conditions and can now be adapted for biochar. This work helps us design cleaner 
recycling methods, recovering metals, reducing waste, and cutting down carbon emissions in the 
steel industry’s cleaner future. 
 


Turning Steel Waste into Treasure—Without Fossil Fuels

Laur, William J

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Analyzing online media to assist in promoting conservation 
acceptance of snakes in Canada 
William J. Laur 
wlaur@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Laur, William J., "Analyzing online media to assist in promoting conservation acceptance of snakes in 
Canada" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity. 730. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/730 
Analyzing online media to assist in promoting conservation acceptance of 
snakes in Canada 
William Laur 
Human attitudes towards snakes are likely influenced by persisting primate survival traits 
evolved in response to deadly snake interactions experienced by primate common ancestors. 
Humans are neurologically predisposed to perceiving snakes as threatening, and observational 
learning contributes to a person’s attitude towards novel animal groups, so exploring thematic 
patterns in online media is useful for investigating the potential influence of created online 
content on the acceptance of snake conservation by the public. Conducting a rigorous systematic 
review of digital scientific literature and qualitative conceptual analyses of online social media 
communications, I describe the relevant, influential media to which Canadians are 
exposed―content which may contribute to regional attitudes and beliefs regarding conservation 
programs for at-risk snake populations. This work demonstrates the qualitative applicability of 
analyzing online content to aid in conservation strategizing for protecting animals that many 
people perceive as less charismatic. 


Analyzing online media to assist in promoting conservation acceptance of snakes in Canada

Tannous, Anthony

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Knee Deep in Innovation: A Robotic Approach to Total Knee 
Replacements 
Anthony Tannous 
ATANNOU2@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Tannous, Anthony, "Knee Deep in Innovation: A Robotic Approach to Total Knee Replacements" (2025). 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 
732. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/732 
Knee Deep in Innovation: A Robotic Approach to Total Knee Replacements 
 
Anthony Tannous 
 
Total knee replacement (TKR) is a widely performed surgery in Canada, but about 20% of 
patients report dissatisfaction, often due to pain or stiffness. Robotic-assisted TKR offers a 
promising solution by allowing surgeons to customize implant placement to each patient’s 
anatomy, potentially improving outcomes. A study at University Hospital will compare 
traditional TKR with two types of robotic-assisted procedures in 90 participants. Researchers 
will evaluate healing, pain, emotional well-being, and quality of life, while also analyzing the 
cost-effectiveness of robotic technology. Imaging and tissue samples will help explore how 
inflammation affects recovery. Early evidence suggests robotic-assisted TKR may lead to better 
implant alignment, fewer complications, and shorter hospital stays, though it comes with higher 
initial costs and longer surgery times. This study will hopefully improve future TKR surgery by 
increasing patient satisfaction while reducing the cost of conducting them. 


Knee Deep in Innovation: A Robotic Approach to Total Knee Replacements

Jafari, Atefeh

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Safety of Antidepressants for Aging Kidneys 
Atefeh Jafari 
The University of Western Ontario, ajafar4@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Jafari, Atefeh, "Safety of Antidepressants for Aging Kidneys" (2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection 
of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 773. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/773 
Safety of Antidepressants for Aging Kidneys 
 
Depression and anxiety are common among older adults, especially those living with chronic 
kidney disease. But while antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are 
frequently prescribed, their safety in patients with poor kidney function is unclear. These 
medications may stay in the body longer, increasing risks like falls, hospitalizations, and even 
death. My research uses real-world health data from over a decade of patient records in Ontario to 
evaluate the short-term risks of high versus low doses of SSRIs in this vulnerable group. Working 
with ICES and Western University, I aim to generate concrete, evidence-based recommendations 
that promote safer prescribing.  
The goal is to reduce harmful side effects, prevent unnecessary hospital visits, and help people feel 
better safely. This project will also inform updates to drug labels and prescribing software, ensuring 
doctors and patients have the tools they need to make better decisions. 
 


Safety of Antidepressants for Aging Kidneys

Inniss, Bayley V

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
It’s as Easy as One, Two, Play! Empowering Educators to Spark 
Active Childhoods 
Bayley V. Inniss 
Western University, bayley.inniss@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Inniss, Bayley V., "It’s as Easy as One, Two, Play! Empowering Educators to Spark Active Childhoods" 
(2025). Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative 
Activity. 775. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/775 
Inspiring Minds Showcase – Bayley Inniss 
Trish Tucker - Supervisor 
It’s as Easy as One, Two, Play! Empowering Educators to Spark Active Childhoods 
Active play is essential for children’s physical, cognitive, and social development. While 
many imagine childcare centres as buzzing environments with playful chaos, the reality is 
that children often spend much of their day seated in activities like crafts or stories. Only 
13% of children meet daily movement behaviour guidelines! 
But children don’t plan their days; childcare educators do. 
My doctoral research evaluates a co-created professional development program, Learn 
Through Active Play, designed to help educators feel confident, competent, and equipped 
to embed active play into everyday routines. Co-designed with educators and the nonprofit 
Active for Life, the program includes workshops, mentorship, shared resources, and a 
community of practice. It is being implemented in over 200 childcare centres across 
Canada, tracking changes in educators’ knowledge, confidence, and active play 
programming, over time. This partnered research will shape how we train and support 
educators and set children up for healthy, active futures. 
 
Figure 1: Learn Through Active Play Components 
 


It’s as Easy as One, Two, Play! Empowering Educators to Spark Active Childhoods

Baxter, Ryan

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Listening with Respect: Solo Piano Works by Indigenous Canadian 
Composers 
Ryan Baxter 
Western University, rbaxte@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Baxter, Ryan, "Listening with Respect: Solo Piano Works by Indigenous Canadian Composers" (2025). 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 
789. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/789 
There are very few resources related to solo piano music by Indigenous composers in 
Canada. Despite growing interest in diverse and contemporary repertoire, much of this 
music remains absent from concert programs, teaching materials, and academic research. 
My project responds to this by creating the first comprehensive, annotated catalogue of 
solo piano works by Indigenous Canadian composers. Each entry will include background 
on the composer, guidance on performance, details about where to find scores and 
recordings, and reflections on the cultural and thematic ideas that shape the music. I will 
work directly with composers to ensure respectful engagement with Indigenous 
knowledge, music, and listening practices. Drawing on critical Indigenous musicology, this 
project also encourages musicians to reflect on how they listen, teach, and perform, 
questioning dominant assumptions and interpretations. My goal is to offer a meaningful 
resource that supports thoughtful, respectful engagement with this underrepresented 
repertoire. 


Listening with Respect: Solo Piano Works by Indigenous Canadian Composers

Gad, Gad M

Western University 
Scholarship@Western 
Inspiring Minds – A Digital Collection of 
Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and 
Creative Activity 
Inspiring Minds 
September 2025 
Thoth: An ambient AI assistant bridging physical and digital 
worlds 
Gad M. Gad 
Western University, ggad@uwo.ca 
Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds 
Citation of this paper: 
Gad, Gad M., "Thoth: An ambient AI assistant bridging physical and digital worlds" (2025). Inspiring Minds 
– A Digital Collection of Western’s Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity. 794. 
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/inspiringminds/794 
Thoth: An Ambient AI Agent Bridging 
Physical and Digital Worlds 
 
In the era of ubiquitous data generation, seamless data integration is essential for intelligent 
systems. Thoth is an ambient AI agent that bridges physical and digital realms by mining users' 
data to develop a holistic understanding of their needs. Thoth leverages wifi sensing, extracting 
Channel State Information, to achieve precise human presence and identification. The physical 
context is relayed to a cloud-based AI agent whose core is a language model. In addition to the 
physical context, the AI agent also collects the digital footprint of the user through multi-platform 
applications spanning mobile/desktop/web. Moreover, Thoth features advanced 
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) through SMS, calls, in-app chats, and voice commands, 
enhancing user lifestyle and facilitating core services such as communication, task organization, 
and smart home management. Overall, Thoth will be a close, knowledgeable, and trustworthy 
companion whose main goal is to promote the user's self-awareness and growth.   


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Exploring the “Word-Making Factory”: Native Speakers vs. Second Language Learners’ “Production Lines”