Please note that the KIAS WordPress Blog has been discontinued and will not be updated or monitored as of September 3oth, 2015. For KIAS news and announcements going forward please visit our institute website at https://www.ualberta.ca/kule-institute! We look forward to connecting with you there!
Sincerely,
The KIAS Team
Posted in Uncategorized
KIAS’ Fall 2015 Newsletter is now available online! Browse and read about our exciting recent and upcoming projects at http://eepurl.com/bxL2if
KIAS and the Interdisciplinary Centre for Culture and Creativity (USask) are pleased to announce “Prairie Sexualities: Theories, Archives, Affects, Communities” as the recipient of our first Alberta-Saskatchewan Research Collaboration Grant. The project convenes a multidisciplinary faculty team from the Universities of Alberta and Saskatchewan championed by Drs. Susanne Luhmann and Marie Lovrod to focus on queer and sexuality studies on the prairies, though not exclusively about the prairies.
Central to this project are questions of place and practice: how do our respective complex and specific prairie locations shape our work? How do queer-positive scholarly initiatives fare in prairie contexts and what conditions shape queer lives in Indigenous, urban and rural communities? What is it like to grow up or grow old as LGBTQ+ here? How are public/personal archival records of queer lives impacted where rurality remains a salient feature of socio-political relations?
The goal of this project is to develop sustainable, long-term, and transdisciplinary research collaborations among experts in the field of queer and sexualities studies at our universities and across the prairies to support more regionalized local, national, international, and transnational research in this field.
Posted in announcements, collaboration
Tagged Alberta, archives, LGBTQ, prairie, queer studies, Saskatchewan, sexuality
(By Oliver Rossier and Angelique Rodrigues; Original published at https://uofa.ualberta.ca/arts/faculty-news/2015/august/video-after-oil-public-roundtable-draws-large-crowd-explores-vital-energy-transition-issues)
What comes after oil in Alberta? What would a post-fossil fuel future look like? Would we have to dramatically re-design cities, homes and transportation systems? And how can we shift our outlook now, to be ready for when those changes come?
These were just a few of the many difficult questions explored during the After Oil public roundtable held at the Art Gallery of Alberta on August 21.
Over 200 people packed the AGA for this discussion, which was expertly moderated by Todd Hirsch, Chief Economist (ATB Financial). Guest speaker Dr. Jennifer Jacquet (Environmental Studies, New York University) challenged the audience to think about the nuances of using shame as a tool, and suggested that shaming corporations might be a way to make environmental change more possible.
Full house at the AGA for After Oil 2015
Dr. Imre Szeman, Canada Research Chair in Cultural Studies, described the importance of taking ownership of the rules of social structures related to petrocultures. Dr. Trevor Harrison, Director of the Parkland Institute, encouraged the audience to imagine redefining globalization and economic diversification. Panelist Simon O’Byrne, Vice President of Stantec’s Urban Planning, invited discussion about changing education systems to create engaged citizens and entrepreneurs. Eddy Isaacs (Chief Executive Officer, Alberta Innovates – Energy and Environment Solutions) urged the audience to recognize that energy literacy is a huge factor in our democracy.
Simon O’Byrne (VP, Urban Planning, Stantec) and Michael O’Driscoll (Petrocultures Research Team)
The success of roundtable demonstrated that the Faculty of Arts, and UAlberta as a whole, can provide vital research leadership on these critical topics.
The full event video, linked here, shows the presentation by Jacquet and her fellow After Oil panellists, followed by a Q & A with members of the audience.
The After Oil public roundtable was part of a larger After Oil School, which saw academics from around the world come together at the University of Alberta from August 19 to 22 to research and discuss the economic, political and sociological impacts of transitioning to life after oil.
Out of the conference, researchers will produce a policy brief and research paper, both of which will be available to media and the public on the After Oil website in the coming weeks.
Scroll through the After Oil Storify below to read Tweets from our panellists, audience members and After Oil school participants.
Related links:
Petrocultures website: http://petrocultures.com/
Storify capturing the Twitter conversation: https://storify.com/KIASAlberta/what-comes-after-oil
Introductory article by Angelique Rodrigues: https://uofa.ualberta.ca/arts/faculty-news/2015/august/what-comes-after-oil-in-alberta
KIAS After Oil research page: https://uofa.ualberta.ca/kule-institute/projects/szeman-after-oil
Trending topics on Twitter in Edmonton: http://www.trendinalia.com/twitter-trending-topics/canada/edmonton-150822.html
Media coverage (to Aug 23):
Global News Edmonton
Byline: Shallima Maharaj
http://globalnews.ca/video/2180505/global-edmonton-news-hour-116
CBR-AM (CBC Radio One Calgary)
Byline: Donna Mcelligott
http://www.cbc.ca/albertaatnoon/episode/2015/08/21/an-thursday-august-20-2015-1/
CBC French
Byline: Genevieve Potvin
http://ici.radio-canada.ca/emissions/la_croisee/2014-2015/chronique.asp?idChronique=381069
Posted in events, public, roundtable
Tagged energy, energy literacy, oil, oilsands, planning, sustainable development
Petrocultures, The Kule Institute for Advanced Study and UAlberta’s Faculty of Arts invite you to
After Oil: A Free Public Roundtable
Friday, August 21, 2015
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Art Gallery of Alberta/AGA Ledcor Theatre
Members of the public are invited to come together to engage in big picture thinking about the importance of energy for our societies, and to consider together the difficult question of energy transition.
After 150 years of solid drilling, it’s unclear how much oil is left, and the negative effects of our reliance on this fossil fuel have never been more clear than they are today. How will our societies continue to thrive and prosper once our dominant source of energy is no longer available?
In the wake of a recent dramatic change in government, this roundtable provides an opportunity to pose questions about the deeper significance of oil for the shape and character of Alberta, and to start figuring out answers to these difficult questions – before it’s too late.
The After Oil roundtable will be led by New York University Professor Jennifer Jacquet, an environmental social scientist who explores large-scale cooperation dilemmas, including climate change. Jacquet will discuss the issues raised in her compelling new book Is Shame Necessary? in the context of oil and Alberta. Each panelist will have a chance to respond before the discussion is opened up to the audience.
Participants:
Moderator: Todd Hirsch (Chief Economist, ATB Financial)
Guest Speaker: Jennifer Jacquet (Environmental Studies, New York University)
Respondents:
Simon O’Byrne (Vice-President, Urban Planning, Stantec)
Eddy Isaacs (Chief Executive Officer, Alberta Innovates – Energy and Environment Solutions)
Sheena Wilson (Petrocultures, University of Alberta)
Imre Szeman (Canada Research Chair in Cultural Studies – University of Alberta)
Trevor Harrison (Director, Parkland Institute, University of Alberta)
R.S.V.P. for After Oil here.
Please note, seating is limited.
Read more about the event on the Faculty of Arts’ After Oil website.
For more information about the After Oil KIAS cluster project, click here.
For more information on the Petrocultures research group at the University of Alberta, click here.
The Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities (ACSRC) is proud to announce that registration is open for the Rural Alberta Innovation and Learning Commons 2015!
The ACSRC and the Battle River Alliance for Economic Development (BRAED) (Killam, AB), are hosting a three-day educational commons focused on rural economic and community development. The RAIL Commons will provide baseline and in-depth information that will create a strong foundation for understanding and knowledge surrounding rural community and economic development strategies, realities, best practices and challenges, and subject matter surrounding the well-being of rural as a whole.
Concentrating on subject matter such as rural policy and governance, social policy and services, tapping into natural resources, investment attraction, business succession strategies, infrastructure, transportation and logistics, youth retention and recruitment, and more, this learning commons will offer a variety of opportunities to increase the knowledge capacity of municipal officials, professionals and students in Alberta.
The Rural Alberta Innovation and Learning Commons (RAIL), co-sponsored by KIAS, will be hosted from October 2 -4, 2015 at University of Alberta, Augustana Campus in Camrose, Alberta. For more information about the RAIL Commons please visit www.rail-commons.ca
Commons Objectives:
Please share this information with anyone who may be interested in attending the RAIL Commons.
Posted in announcements, workshops
Tagged business, community, development, economics, rural, sustainability
Falling Walls Lab UAlberta Returns September 30
Be a part of it + win a trip to Berlin
We are seeking 15 of UAlberta’s outstanding Next Gen researchers, academics and innovators under 35 in all disciplines—have an idea, research project, social innovation or entrepreneurial initiative that could break down walls or enhance society? Share it in 3 minutes to a judging panel from academia, research institutions, business, government.
Up to three presenters will win a trip to Berlin to compete in the international finale on November 8, 2015—alongside 97 other international finalists. Hotel accommodation is also provided. Berlin’s top 3 presenters will be named ‘Young Innovator of the Year’ by an international judging panel (that includes the Nobel Foundation’s Board Chair) and a cash prize.
The winners also present again at the Falling Walls conference (November 9)—where 20 of the world’s leading scientists present their breakthrough research in 15 minutes. Speakers include: Nobel laureates, artists, scientists and government representatives. Attendees include: business and government leaders, scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs. The conference attracts an audience from over 80 nations and global media coverage.
Falling Walls Lab (FWLab) UAlberta
Last year, UAlberta was invited to host 1 of 20 international Falling Walls Labs. These Labs are qualifying events for the finale in Berlin and are designed to showcase the quality and passion of next generation of top researchers and innovators, and to promote communication and connections and the exchange of ideas and knowledge. One of our top three from last year, Nermeen Youssef, won second place in the Berlin finale. To share your idea and win a trip to the Berlin finale you must apply by August 24, 2015.
Visit www.research.ualberta.ca/FWLab for more details including:
Posted in Uncategorized
Check out all the exciting projects and collaborations we’ve been busy with this past year! The 2014-15 KIAS Annual Report is now available online at https://issuu.com/kias/docs/kias_annual_report_2014-15_final?e=2828413/14044699
All our annual reports are available for viewing on our website at http://uofa.ualberta.ca/kule-institute/about/annual-reports, for ease of access and environmental responsibility.
Posted in Uncategorized
The Arts Resource Centre (ARC) has purchased a subscription to LifeSize Cloud, a cloud based video conferencing/communication tool that allows easy connection between multiple parties with audio and video from computer webcams, iOS and Android devices, video conferencing equipment and even telephone support with local calling or toll free numbers in most countries of the world. This solution provides an easy way to facilitate meetings, interviews, exams or even lectures with colleagues who are not able to travel to Edmonton but are available to sit down in front of their computer for a time, click a link to connect to you and then go on their way. The system allows data sharing, so powerpoint or your desktop can be shown while the conference is happening, which adds value to the time you spend. The system interfaces with the various conferencing rooms available on campus and the ARC also has a room dedicated to events where conferencing is a part. Please visit http://arc.arts.ualberta.ca/multimedia-services/ for more details of our communication and multimedia services.
Posted in announcements
Tagged cloud computing, collaboration, communication, video conferencing
KIAS is proud to sponsor Digital Diversity 2015: Writing | Feminism | Culture, an exciting conference to celebrate the Orlando Project’s 20th Anniversary, taking place at Grant MacEwan and the University of Alberta May 7-9th. The plenary lectures (see below) are free and open to the public.
For further information and the full program see http://digitaldiversity2015.org/
Marie-Louise Coolahan, National University of Ireland at Galway
“The Digital Turn and Early Modern Women’s Writing”
Thursday May 7, 3:45 – 5:15 PM
CN Lecture Theatre, MacEwan U
Wendy Hui Kyong Chun, Brown University
“Post-Recovery: Shadowy Absences and ‘Found Collectivity’”
Friday May 8, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Lister Evergreen, Lister Conference Center, U of A
Jo-ann Episkenew, First Nations University of Canada
“Indigenous Youths’ Relational Wellbeing in the Digital Era”
Saturday May 9, 1:30 – 3:00 PM
Lister Wild Rose, Lister Conference Center, U of A
Wendy Hui Kyong Chun is Professor and Chair of Modern Culture and Media at Brown University and Visiting Professor at Leuphana University (Luneburg, Germany). Her current book project is titled Imaginary Networks, and she is the author of Programmed Visions: Software and Memory (2011) and Control and Freedom: Power and Paranoia in the Age of Fiber Optics (2006), both with MIT Press. Her research interests encompass new media, comparative media studies, Asian-American culture, and critical theory.
Marie-Louise Coolahan, Senior Lecturer in English at the National University of Ireland, Galway, was recently awarded a European Research Council Consolidator Grant for her major digital study, RECIRC: The Reception and Circulation of Early Modern Women’s Writing, 1550-1700. She is the author of Women, Writing, and Language in Early Modern Ireland (Oxford University Press, 2010), Co-Investigator of the collaborative ’Women’s Poetry 1400-1800 in English, Gaelic, Scots, Scots Gaelic and Welsh’ project, and a former member of the Perdita Project.
Jo-Ann Episkenew is Professor of English and Director of the Indigenous People’s Health Research Centre at the First Nations University of Canada. She is part of Acting Out!, a multi-university theatre project that develops aboriginal youth leadership and intersects with her research in indigenous literature of Canada and the United States, theatre and health, and literature and public policy. Dr Episkenew is the author of Taking Back Our Spirits: Indigenous Literature, Public Policy, and Healing (University of Winnipeg Press, 2009) and co-editor of Creating Community: A Roundtable on Aboriginal Literatures (Bearpaw and Theytus, 2002).
Posted in conferences, events, public
Kule Institute for Advanced Study 