Media releases

• Brock LINC launches public workshops exploring inner creativity

  Monday, March 14, 2022 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 14 March 2022 – R0034

  While creativity comes naturally to some people, it’s also a skill that can be developed and practised.

  Starting this month, the Brock LINC — Brock University’s centre for creativity, innovation, research and entrepreneurship — is offering several events and workshops centred around developing a creative mindset.

  “Creativity can be a big, polarizing term. People are very quick to say, ‘I’m not creative,’ or think creativity is a trait only artistic people have,” says Farzana Crocco, Executive Director of the Brock LINC. “But creativity is really about how we generate new ideas, and this is something that everyone can develop.”

  The new events and workshops, which fall under three categories, are designed to help people explore new skills and technologies, new ways of thinking, and to hone their problem-solving abilities. The categories include: 

  Creativity and problem-solving

  Two new workshop series will focus on creativity and problem-solving skill development. The Everyday Creative Mind explores how creativity concepts and skills can be incorporated into everyday life, while Introduction to Design Thinking examines the five stages of the design thinking process and how it can be used by everyone.

  Creativity and technology

  Creativity through making, design and technology is the focus of workshops delivered through the Brock University Library Makerspace, including introductions to 3D modelling, podcasting, laser cutting, Cricut, and more. Workshops through the Brock Library’s Digital Scholarship Lab help to demystify digital tools for data management and visualization, including workshops on PowerBI, Github, Python and Tableau, among others.

  Creativity and taking breaks

  Some of the upcoming events at the Brock LINC, such as bullet journaling, coffee cupping and creative writing sessions, are focused on simply having fun and allowing people to have space for self-reflection or a break in their everyday routines.

  “We are so wired to be on the go and working constantly that we often forget to take breaks,” Crocco says. “But you can’t be creative if you’re always stressed or exhausted. You’ll notice that your best ideas might come in the shower, on a walk or after playing a game. These breaks from mental tasks are important to build into our routines.”

  These events and workshops are open for all Brock University students, staff, faculty and members of the community. They are all currently delivered online and are free of charge.

  To learn more and for a full list of upcoming Brock LINC Creativity workshops and events, visit brocku.ca/linc/creativity

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews: 

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases

• Ukraine’s path to joining European Union still a long road: Brock expert

  Friday, March 11, 2022 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: 11 March 2022 – R0033

  Despite an outpouring of European support for Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s recent invasion, Ukraine’s hope to fast-track its entry to the European Union (EU) was always likely to be a “non-starter,” says Brock University expert Paul Hamilton.

  “Ukraine has enormous moral capital and the support of the European Parliament and the European Commission president, but the process of joining the EU is arduous and can take years,” says Hamilton, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science. “The joint statement of the European Council issued Thursday confirms that a special route to membership for Ukraine was never an option.”

  European Union leaders meeting for a two-day summit in Versailles Thursday, March 10 expressed support for Ukraine but did not agree to fast-track the country’s entry to the European Union.

  Hamilton explains that accession to the EU requires:

  • a treaty
  • a timeline for adjusting to EU norms (known as the Copenhagen Criteria)
  • harmonization of EU law with Ukrainian law in 35 policy areas, and
  • a unanimous vote of the European Council, which includes the heads of all 27 member states.

  The concerns expressed by European leaders at the summit about security, equity and thoroughness came as no surprise to Hamilton, either.

  “Ukraine is not considered a fully consolidated democracy by international observers like Freedom House, which categorizes Ukraine as ‘partly free’ due to concerns about corruption, judicial independence and rule of law,” says Hamilton. “Ukraine also does not have complete sovereignty over its entire territory, as Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014 and the Donbass region has an armed separatist movement. This has to be a concern for the EU, and obviously, the recent invasion further complicates all of this.”

  However, Hamilton believes that the Western reaction overall must have come as “a shock” to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

  “Perhaps Putin thought the West was too divided and too afraid of conflict to respond seriously to invasion,” Hamilton says. “The response of the international community to the seizure of Crimea was mild compared to what we see today. Putin may also have judged the United States to be too divided to undertake a serious and firm response.”

  Hamilton notes that the U.S. has long supported European integration and bringing Ukraine into the Western geopolitical orbit, so the “bipartisan, effective and quick” actions taken by the U.S. administration are not surprising.

  “The horrific nature of the attack on Ukraine and the images we are seeing has galvanized U.S. public opinion,” he says. “A poll conducted last week by Reuters/Ipsos showed substantial bipartisan majorities in favour of sanctions, even on oil, a no-fly zone and supplying weapons to Ukraine.”

  Brock University Associate Professor of Political Science Paul Hamilton is available for media interviews.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Manager Communications and Media Relations, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases