Media releases

• Brock’s Goodman School of Business becomes UN PRME signatory

  Friday, April 05, 2024 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: April 4 2024 – R0046

  Brock University’s Goodman School of Business is now a signatory member to the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME).

  A United Nations-supported initiative, PRME aims to raise the profile of sustainability in business schools around the world, equipping business students with the understanding and ability to deliver change.

  “Joining PRME directly aligns with our School’s vision of leading with meaningful and sustainable impact,” said Goodman Dean Barry Wright.

  As a signatory member, Goodman is committed to aligning its strategies and operations with universally accepted principles of responsible management. PRME’s seven principles include purpose, values, teach, research, partner, practice and share. Responsible management education seeks to develop people who will help their organizations create inclusive prosperity.

  “Our commitment is for our students to become responsible decision-makers who are attentive to their impact and are accountable for their actions – both the choices they make and avoid,” Wright said.

  Goodman has been at the forefront of promoting action on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), recently hosting an International Development Week event with top leaders from the World Bank and United Nations focused on the global journey towards SDG achievement.

  With more than 800 signatories worldwide, PRME has become the largest organized relationship between the United Nations and management-related higher education institutions.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Maryanne St. Denis, Manager, Content and Communications, Brock University mstdenis@brocku.ca or 905-246-0256

  – 30 –

  Categories: Media releases

• Brock’s community eclipse event set to educate and engage

  Thursday, April 04, 2024 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: April 4 2024 – R0045

  As Niagara prepares to witness the rare total solar eclipse, Brock University is welcoming the community to campus Monday, April 8 for a learning experience like no other.

  Eclipse on the Escarpment will feature more than a dozen free educational exhibits that will engage adults and children alike in science, history and culture through interactive experiments, hands-on projects, informative posters and interesting simulations, followed by a community viewing of the total solar eclipse.

  Among the experiences, which begin at noon in Ian Beddis Gymnasium, will be a live experiment that will see Biology researchers use an infrared thermal imaging camera to monitor the reaction of Oxalis plants during the darkness of the total solar eclipse.

  “Oxalis are known to display rapid plant movement by retracting their leaves towards the shoot when kept in darkness. This phenomenon seems to be mediated by a protein called phototropin,” says Alonso Zavafer, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences and Engineering. “Phototropin acts as a light switch by detecting blue light and controlling the internal water level of the leaves. During the day, there is blue light and the leaves open, while at night when only far-red and near infrared light is present, the leaves close.”

  Zavafer says the reaction is believed to be an evolutionary response to promote photosynthetic growth during the day and prevent dehydration of the leaves at night. He expects the plants will close their leaves during the total solar eclipse when the sun is blocked by the moon.

  “Plants can move and sense the day and night cycles,” he says. “Our experiment will show plants can be fooled by the eclipse into thinking they are experiencing a night cycle.”

  Other exhibits will explore animal behaviour during an eclipse, the role of the 1919 eclipse in confirming the theory of general relativity, the 17th-century poem titled “The Eclipse,” ancient tools used to calculate and display celestial information. the history of the moon, and a NASA initiative involving a computer simulation of a lunar rover that follows the physics of the moon.

  A chemistry-focused exhibit will highlight the celestial origins of the elements in the periodic table with physical examples participants can touch, while an exhibit led by Earth Sciences faculty and students will feature a display of meteorite and rock samples, a moon photo selfie station and a hands-on demonstration on creating an impact crater.

  Physics students will demonstrate how to create a pinhole camera, which can be used to safely view the eclipse as a projection on paper. Visitors can bring a cereal box or similarly sized cardboard container to make their own.

  Guests from Niagara College solar spectroscopy, Niagara Geopark, SETI Institute and Space Place Canada will also be on site, many using specialized equipment to view, monitor or livestream the eclipse.

  Among the scientific observations expected to take place on campus will be the use of a digital smart telescope to observe physical, meteorological and biological phenomena, while also livestreaming the eclipse to the Brock University YouTube channel with the assistance of BrockTV.

  Brock’s Department of Geography and Tourism Studies will be using a scientific weather station during the eclipse to measure and record changes in temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, as well as shortwave radiation.

  The community viewing will take place on Alumni Field from 2 to 4:30 p.m., with the eclipse reaching maximum totality at 3:19 p.m.

  Solar eclipses can be safely viewed with the use of ISO-certified eclipse glasses. Looking directly at the sun with the naked eye can cause permanent eye damage. Complimentary viewing glasses will be available on Monday, April 8 in Ian Beddis Gymnasium from noon to 3 p.m. or at several locations across campus beginning at 11 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis while quantities last.

  People coming to campus for the event are reminded that paid parking is available through the Honk mobile app. Parking may also be paid in person at a kiosk inside the Walker Sports Complex near the Hungry Badger from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  Visitors travelling to campus are encouraged to arrive early to avoid traffic delays and to consider taking public transportation.

  For more information about Eclipse on the Escarpment, please visit brocku.ca/eclipse

  Media are invited to attend the Eclipse on the Escarpment event. For assistance arranging interviews or parking, please contact Maryanne St. Denis, Manager, Content and Communications.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Maryanne St. Denis, Manager, Content and Communications, Brock University mstdenis@brocku.ca or 905-246-0256

  – 30 –

  Categories: Media releases