Articles by author: Brock University

• Triathlon at Brock to honour memory of former student

  Thursday, July 14, 2016 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: R00151 – 14 July 2016

  Naomi Cermak never had the chance to complete the triathlon she trained so hard for while battling cancer. The disease took that away from her. But, cancer could never steal her determination to try in all aspects of her life.Despite metastatic melanoma, the 31-year-old Brock University graduate achieved academic breakthroughs and thrived athletically throughout her short life. She died in 2013 after a 13-month fight with the disease.

  To honour her memory and raise money for a graduate student scholarship in her name, the Brock community will come together on Thursday, July 21 for the Tri to Inspire triathlon being held at Brock.

  “Naomi will always be remembered by those who knew her as a friendly, driven, determined individual who always looked on the bright side,” says her sister Carly Cermak.

  Naomi’s efforts to raise awareness of melanoma, as well as her determination to conquer her illness resulted in her selection to participate in the Kona Ironman championships as an inspiration athlete.

  “In between cancer treatments, Naomi always found a way to ride on her stationary bike or join me up north to swim in Georgian Bay,” her sister says.

  However, Naomi had to withdraw from the event as her immune system became too compromised and her health deteriorated.

  “The development of this scholarship will help us remember Naomi, as both an avid researcher and an athlete. My daughter was an amazing young woman who was still writing papers and mentoring students while undergoing treatment,” Tineke Cermak says.

  Naomi attended Brock for her Masters of Science in Muscle Physiology from 2004-06 and was the recipient of the Governor General’s Academic Medal. She went on to complete her PhD in Exercise Physiology at McMaster. At the time of her diagnosis, Naomi was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Maastricht in Holland and her papers on beet root juice and performance continue to be cited by researchers.

  More than 50 athletes, staff, students and faculty are expected to come together to compete and remember Naomi during the Tri to Inspire.

  “Naomi continues to inspire others to fight and find a cure,” says Department of Kinesiology Chair, Brian Roy.

  The triathlon starts at noon in the Eleanor Misener Aquatic Centre followed by closing remarks at the Farmer’s Market in Jubilee Court at 1 p.m.

  Donations are being accepted for the Naomi Graduate Student Scholarship at http://www.brocku.ca/donate

  Media are invited to attend the Tri to Inspire triathlon at Brock Thursday, July 21 at noon. The Cermak family will be available for interviews both on race day and leading up to the event.
   

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:
  * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases

• Brock experts comment on Pokemon Go phenomenon

  Thursday, July 14, 2016 | By Brock University

  EXPERT ADVISORY: R00150 – 13 July 2016

  The dreams of 90s kids everywhere are coming true.

  People all over the world are downloading the mobile app Pokemon Go, and have become what they have always dreamt of: Pokemon Trainers. Even in Canada, where the app is not officially available yet, people have found workarounds and are playing the recently released mobile game.

  With the use of augmented reality technology, players can view the digital creatures on their mobile phones in conjunction with what they are viewing and experiencing in real-life through their phone’s GPS and camera.

  There have already been numerous injury reports related to using the app and concerns over privacy.

  “Privacy concerns about Pokemon Go are surfacing some of the ongoing issues associated with the access and use of our personal information by apps,” says Brock University Communication, Popular Culture & Film Assistant Professor, Karen Louise Smith. “Until very recently, users were consenting to the provision of more data than Niantic, the company that produced Pokemon Go, states it was actually using.”

  Smith says people need to be vigilant about the terms they consent to when they access games and other apps. However, she says corporations should also hold some of the responsibility when it comes to privacy protection.
  “Corporations have an ongoing responsibility to make privacy policies and other terms of service understandable in everyday contexts where technologies are used. Companies also need to be reasonable about what data they ask to access in return for the provision of a service such as a cell phone game."

  Assistant Professor Dale Bradley says Niantic has hit the jackpot for the collection of information — the new currency in the online world.

  "Apps that can garner large audiences that frequently return to the app on a daily basis are the holy grail for business models based on data aggregation and consumer information,” he says.

  Recent data suggests Pokemon Go could be on track to surpass some of the most popular apps in the world such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for daily use.

  From a technology perspective, Bradley says Go appears to be the first augmented reality app to gain traction and attention in the marketplace.

  “This is likely due as much to the interest of Millenials in the content as it is to the decidedly ‘nifty’ augmented reality (AR), geo-caching nature of the game,” says Bradley, adding that Millenials were around 10 years old at the height of the original Pokemon craze.

  “The technological significance of Pokemon Go is that it’s the first app to provide a successful business model for AR by bringing it into the realm of popular culture,” says Bradley.

  Both Assistant Professor Karen Louise Smith and Assistant Professor Dale Bradley are available for interviews about the popularity of Pokemon Go.

  For more information or to arrange interviews:
  * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970
   

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  Categories: Media releases