The Anthropocene – From Dusk till Dawn
The Anthropocene epoch marks a critical juncture in Earth’s narrative, where human influence has become an indelible part of the geological record. Our Research Colloquium Series, ‘From Dusk Till Dawn,’ seeks to unravel the complexities of this era, fostering a multidisciplinary dialogue that is as diverse as the epoch itself. It is here, in the confluence of ideas from our talented researchers and community members, that we can ignite the spark of innovation and stewardship necessary to navigate the Anthropocene. This series isn’t just about understanding a new geological epoch; it’s about shaping future life on our planet.” – Dean Peter Berg
Brock members with a valid Brock email account may register free through ExperienceBU.
If you don’t have a Brock Email Account. Please contact us here with your intent to attend and tell us how many guests you will bring. No further action is required to join us.
SPONSORED AND HOSTED BY THE FACULTY OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE
Conference Info
FMS Annual Research Colloquium Series – The Anthropocene “From Dusk till Dawn”
Spanning Nov 13, 2023 – June 2024
Overview:
A new research colloquium series focusing on humans’ dark environmental impacts on the world and the bright possibilities for the future is launching next week with a discussion about Brock University’s involvement in defining the Anthropocene, a new epoch in geological time.
Organized by the Faculty of Mathematics and Science (FMS), ‘The Anthropocene: From Dusk ‘till Dawn’ will feature speakers from Brock and the external community discussing some of the ways human influence is significantly changing the Earth and what is being done to remedy its negative effects.
Main participants and presenters:
- Keynote speakers and guest speakers
- All are welcome to attend, with a focus on undergraduate and graduate students in FMS
- We welcome members of the Brock community as well as the wider Niagara Region to attend FREE
Talk 1 – Nov 13 – Francine McCarthy – Earth Science Professor, Brock University
Talk 2 – February – Liette Vasseur, Brock Professor of Biological Sciences and UNESCO Chair in Community Sustainability: From Local to Global
Talk 3 – March – Ali Emami, Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Talk 4 – May – Dr. Edward Doolittle Associate Dean, Research and Associate Professor, Mathematics. Indigenous Knowledge & Science
Talk 5 – June –Brock University graduate Joshua Clarke (BSc ’18, PhD ’22), Lead Chemist at Destiny Copper
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Edward Doolittle Associate Dean, Research and Associate Professor, Mathematics, Department of Indigenous Knowledge & Science, First Nations University of Canada
When: Monday May 13, 2024 from noon to 1 p.m.
Where: Rankin Family Pavilion, room 214/215, main floor, Brock University campus
Series Topic:
Dr. Edward Doolittle Associate Dean, Research and Associate Professor, Mathematics, Department of Indigenous Knowledge & Science, First Nations University of Canada will speak about the mathematics that we can carry with us – not in books or journals – but in our own minds, perhaps with a small amount of material culture which can also be carried on the person. “It is mathematics consistent with Indigenous oral traditions, which might be appreciated by our ancestors before the Anthropocene, and also important again when the Anthropocene draws to a close,” said Doolittle.
Speaker Biography:
Edward Doolittle is Kanyen’kehake (Mohawk) from Six Nations in southern Ontario. He earned a PhD in pure mathematics (partial differential equations) from the University of Toronto in 1997. From then until 2001 he worked for Queen’s University’s Aboriginal Teacher Education Program, helping to administer the program and teaching Indigenous Mathematics Education, and from 2000 to 2001 he studied the Mohawk language in immersion with Onkwewenna Kentsyohkwa (Our Language Group) on Six Nations. From 2001 he has been on the faculty of First Nations University and the University of Regina, currently as Associate Professor of Mathematics and Associate Dean, Research. He is a recipient of a Governor General’s Gold Medal and of an honourable mention on the William Lowell Putnam Competition.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Joshua Clark (BSc ’18, PhD ’22), Lead Chemist at Destiny Copper
When: Friday June 6, 2024 from noon to 1 p.m.
Where: Rankin Family Pavilion, room 214/215, main floor, Brock University campus
Series Topic:
As industrialization reshapes our planet, the need for adaptive innovation grows increasingly urgent. Central to this transformation is the shift towards sustainable practices and a circular mindset. The case study of the Destiny Copper start-up redefines waste as a valuable resource, highlighting the significant economic and ecological benefits of reclaiming stranded resources. Such strategies are essential as we navigate the complex challenges of modern industrialization and entrepreneurship.
Speaker Biography:
Dr. Josh Clarke received his PhD in Inorganic Chemistry at Brock University with the Nikonov Group. During his graduate studies, Josh developed sustainable catalytic systems providing viable alternatives to the hazardous and waste-generating traditional methods. He is a EurJOC special collection author and is the recipient of the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) and the Horizons Scholarship. As the Lead Chemist at Destiny Copper, Josh works with a dynamic team of Brock students and alumni on cutting edge practical research right here in the Greater Niagara Region. Their work is pushing forward sustainable mining practices and novel processes aimed at providing the metals and materials critical to Canada’s energy transition.
Past talks
When: 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM on Monday November 12, 2023
Where: Pond Inlet, Brock University campus
Dr. Francine McCarthy has been an Earth Sciences professor at Brock University since 2002. She is a micropaleontologist interested in the use of microfossils to reconstruct paleoenvironmental conditions (climate, hydrology, water quality, anthropogenic impact, food-web interactions), particularly in meromictic lakes which are excellent archives of continental environments. She is leading the effort to investigate the potential of the varved sequence in the hydrologically unique Crawford Lake to define the Anthropocene, which has recently made headlines in major news outlets such as the Washington Post and The New York Times. In her keynote talk, she will address how the sediments at the bottom of Crawford Lake hold evidence of the environmental changes that humans have brought to our planet, possibly marking the start of the new geologic epoch known as the Anthropocene.
When: Wednesday, February 28, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: Rankin Family Pavilion, room 214/215, main floor, Brock University campus
Series Topic:
Professor Liette Vasseur will speak about her interdisciplinary research in sustainability, such as climate change adaption and resilience, sustainable agriculture development, community-based ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation.
Affiliations:
Vasseur represents the Department of Biological Sciences, the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, is a Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute Fellow and Co-Editor-in-Chief, Botany (Canadian Science Publishing). She is also a Deputy Chair and Vice-Chair for North America at the Commission for Ecosystem Management of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
When: Friday March 8, 2024 from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Where: Rankin Family Pavilion, room 214/215, main floor, Brock University campus
Series Topic:
Assistant Professor Emami will present his research on debiasing large language models and improving their trustworthiness. His work delves into advanced prompt engineering techniques and tackles paradoxes in generative artificial intelligence, striving to enhance the reliability and ethical application of these systems.
Research Interests:
Ali Emami’s research is driven by the goal of integrating intelligent machines more naturally into our daily lives, with a particular focus on probing and testing large language models to enhance their communication and reasoning capabilities. By developing advanced prompt engineering techniques, I aim to address the challenges of natural language processing and improve systems in dialogue, summarization, and recommendation, ensuring these models are both trustworthy and practically applicable.