2020 Henry Marshall Tory Lecture

The Friends of the University of Alberta is pleased to welcome back 2015 University of Alberta Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Dan Riskin.

Making Science Accessible to Canadians in the Age of COVID-19

TV shows and web-videos about science were all fun and games until a coronavirus from China showed up to the party. Until then, audiences had mostly let the presenters pick the topic, and trusted them to deliver entertaining content. But with the arrival of COVID-19, audiences suddenly want science content about one particular topic. What’s more, the stakes have become much higher for two reasons: (1) science presenters must dispel a tidal wave of misinformation and conspiracy theories, and (2) public trust in science and scientists has a huge impact on the spread of the disease itself, since it influences whether or not people follow the advise of experts to social distance and wear masks. Dan will talk about his own experience as a science communicator in Canada through this transition, and offer his perspective about what the future holds.

November 4, 2020 at 7pm MT via Zoom

Bio:
Dan Riskin, PhD, is a biologist, science journalist, and author. He is best known as the former host of Daily Planet on Discovery, and as the author of the bestselling book Mother Nature is Trying to Kill You. After graduating from the University of Alberta, Dan worked as a bat scientist, travelling around the world to understand the biomechanics of bat movement. But for the last decade or so, he has focused on communicating science to popular audiences, writing, and appearing as a guest on TV news shows (CTV, BNN, CNN, CBS). Dan’s been interviewed by Anderson Cooper, Craig Ferguson, Jay Leno, and Mehmet Oz, and has hosted his own shows on the Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Animal Planet, CTV, and CBC. He now lives in Toronto, but he still cheers for the Oilers.

Follow Dan Riskin on Twitter: @riskindan

Update: Here are the papers Dan referenced in his talk

β-Adrenergic activation and memory for emotional events
https://www.nature.com/articles/371702a0

A mountable toilet system for personalized health monitoring via the analysis of excreta
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41551-020-0534-9

The impact of incorrect social information on collective wisdom in human groups
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsif.2020.0496

The spread of true and false news online
https://science.sciencemag.org/content/359/6380/1146

The Emotional Path to Action: Empathy Promotes Physical Distancing and Wearing of Face Masks During the COVID-19 Pandemic
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797620964422

Sold Out! 2019 Tory Lecture

A full house enjoyed Chantal Hébert’s presentation of the 2019 edition of the Henry Marshall Tory Lecture.  Thank you to Chantal Hébert and all the attendees.

The Friends are planning next years events and we hope you will join us.  To get the email announcements Become a Member.  If you would like to get involved with delivering events with the Friends Contact Us.

Photo credit: R O Rossier

2019 Henry Marshall Tory Lecture

The Friends of the University of Alberta is pleased to welcome back 2015 U of A Honorary Degree recipient Chantal Hébert to present the Fall 2019 Tory Lecture. Ms. Hebert is a highly respected Canadian journalist and political commentator. Her knowledge, insights and wit are clearly evident in her numerous articles and as a regular on the CBC political panel ‘At Issue’. We are honoured to have her join us and speak on the topic of Canada’s post-election landscape: a harbinger of turbulence to come on the unity front. She is certain to fuel engaging conversations with her perspectives on what the current landscape means for all Canadians.

November 26, 2019, Doors at 6:30pm, Lecture at 7pm

TELUS Centre, University of Alberta, 87 Ave and 111 St

We look forward to seeing you,
Friends of the University of Alberta

Reserve your (FREE) ticket here.

photo credit: David Cooper / Toronto Star File Photo

2018 Henry Marshall Tory Lecture – Fall edition

“Cannabis, the Plant Not the Politics”
…psst, this is not your typical horticultural lecture!

Just days into the legalization of cannabis, Jim Hole, Alberta’s most well-known, respected and articulate horticulturalist will speak about “Cannabis, the Plant Not the Politics” at the Telus Centre on October 25, 2018 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.

We look forward to seeing you,

Friends of the University of Alberta

(Doors open at 6:30pm.)

Reserve your ticket here.