A few events before we close for the holidays. We have an afternoon on Artificial Intelligence on December 13 and a few Massey lectures. The College will close down catering operations on December 15, we look forward to welcoming you back in the new year on January 2 for meal service.
The JCR: A Massey Podcast latest episodeThe Past, Present, and Future of Higher Educationis out now.
Listen to a conversation between Margaret de Leon, a PhD student in International Comparative Higher Education at the University of Toronto, and Dr. George Fallis, Professor Emeritus of Economics and Social Science at York University. They discuss the historical role of universities and the economic, political, and cultural conditions that have shifted this role over time. They also share their perspectives on how these institutions might evolve in the future.
Listen here or on your favourite podcast platform.
CBC MASSEY LECTURE SERIES
We have two remaining events in 2023, and, due to popular demand, we have extended the series into January!
December 11 – Today, at 5:00pm, Ronald Wright discusses his lecture A Short History of Progress with Senior Fellow Bernie Lucht (RSVP)
December 13 – Senior Fellow Randy Boyagoda discusses Jean Bethke Elshtain’s Democracy on Trial with CBC Producer Sean Foley (RSVP)
January 17 – Adam Gopnik discusses Winter with Senior Fellow Paul Kennedy (RSVP)
January 31 – Maydianne Andrade, University Professor, Biology at U of T and Canada Research Chair will discuss Richard Lewontin’s lecture Biology as Ideology: The Doctrine of DNA. (RSVP)
EXAMINING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AT MASSEY
December 13 | 4:00pm | Upper Library
Massey Dialogues – AI in Healthcare: Challenges and Opportunities
This panel session will delve into the multifaceted realm of utilizing foundation models in the healthcare space. As artificial intelligence (AI) and foundation models continue to revolutionize healthcare, it’s crucial to explore the legal, ethical, theoretical, research, applications, and potential future directions of this transformative technology. We will be joined by Dr. Abraham Heifets, CEO and Co-Founder of Atomwise Inc. which uses AI to help discover new medicines and Professor Jessica Gronsbell, Assistant Professor in Statistical Sciences.
This panel has been curated and will be moderated by two Massey College Junior Fellows, Senthujan Senkaiahliyan (health administration) and Abhishek Moturu (computer science).
RSC Dialogues @ Massey College: Creativity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence will be led by Steve DiPaola and Joelle Pineau, who will explore the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the human creative process, from the arts and music to scientific and medical discovery. The discussion will be moderated by William Southam Journalism Fellow alum Omayra Issa.
December 13 | 5:00pm | Junior Common Room
2024 EVENTS
- January 10 – Alumni Dinner for the 2005-2023 Cohort. RSVP
- January 12 – High Table Celebrating East Asian Communities RSVP
- January 18 – Ethics Series – Great Expectations: Holding Leaders to a Higher Standard? RSVP
- January 25 – Massey Dialogues – A Crisis in Affordable Housing (Part Two): Lessons from Tenants RSVP
- January 26 – High Table Celebrating 2024 Clarkson Laureates RSVP
- February 5 – Book Club. We will discuss In The Upper Country by Kai Thomas RSVP
- February 7 – Music Salon – Disruptor Conductor: an Evening with Composer Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser
- February 9 – High Table Celebrating Black History Month RSVP
- March 1 – High Table Celebrating International Women’s Day RSVP
- March 4 – Massey Dialogues – Artmaking in Canada: Taking Marginalized Subjects to the Mainstream with Sarah Polley
- March 4 – Book Club. We will discuss VenCo by Cherie Dimaline
- March 6 – Senior Fellow Luncheon with German Ambassador to Canada Sabine Sparwasser
- March 6 – Music Salon – Jazz at the Creative Edge: the Music of Karen Ng
- March 22 – Convocation High Table RSVP
COMMUNITY NEWS
In Memoriam
Quadrangle Society Member Robin Breon passed away last week. He was a longtime arts journalist who served as secretary for the Canadian Theatre Critics Association executive. After his retirement from University of Toronto’s Museum Studies Program, he was actively engaged in Toronto Labour Council’s Refugee Support Committee, and was a founding member of Massey’s Quadrangle Society. Please join me in sending our deepest condolences to his wife, Senior Fellow Joan Simalchik and their family. A celebration of Robin’s life will be held on January 20, 3pm, at Friends House, 60 Lowther Avenue, Toronto. All are welcome. You can read his full obituary here.
Awards
Former governor general and longtime CBC journalist, Senior Fellow Adrienne Clarkson was inducted into the CBC News Hall of fame last week. Madame Clarkson is the 10th inductee since the award was established.
A long overdue honour.
Junior Fellow Otuto Chukwu has just been awarded the IDRC International Doctoral Research Award by IDRC and Universities Canada. The award strengthens the capacities of emerging researchers at Canadian universities, growing the cohort of researchers able to design, lead and carry out high quality research that contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Congratulations Otuto!
News
- Senior Fellow Izzeldin Abuelaish calls for peace.
- Read Alum Marc Desormeaux‘s recent interview with the Financial Post on Alberta’s budget update and economic outlook.
- Alum Karthik Ganesan is quoted about air pollution in China and India. Read the article.
- Senior Fellow Brett House interviewed in Forbes – talking about US student loan forgiveness. You can also listen to his weekly segment on Dollars and sense, here and here.
- Senior Fellow Alison Paprica co-authored an article which helps you answer if your data is managed responsibly.
- Junior Fellow Leighton Schreyer profiled in the Toronto Starfor their recent Rhodes Scholarship. Read it here.
- Junior Fellow Senthujan Senkaiahliyan co-authored an article on Generative AI, health care and big tech.
- Senior Fellow David Zimmer, Chair of Liberal International’s (UK) Climate Justice Committee was host and moderator of a webinar titled “The Human Right to Climate Justice.” Other panelists were Rik Daems, Belgian Senator and former President of the Parliamentary Assembly of Europe, Małgorzata Kwęidacz-Palosz, Senior Human Rights lawyer for the English NGO Climate Earth, and Robert Watts, Vice President Indigenous Relations, Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Canada.
Today in History
- In 1986, Senior Fellow John Polanyi was awarded the Nobel Prize for chemistry.
À bientôt,
Nathalie
