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Science & Technology, Student Research

Nerdy going on thirty: Soup & Science returns for its 30th edition

by Jonathan Giammaria, Ronny Litvack-Katzman, Sophia Gorbounov on

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The first-ever Soup & Science event, held in 2006, was hardly an extravagant affair. Professors and students gathered together in the second-floor lobby of the Trottier building to talk science, pass along research developments, and, of course, share in the event’s eponymous light refreshments. Thirty editions and a venue change later, the Soup & Science lecture series has become a mainstay of McGill’s academic calendar, having hosted over 400 speakers and 10,000 attendees since its inception. 

The McGill Tribune covered highlights from the five-day virtual event. 

Satellite imaging Panama’s tropical forests to find “carbon refuges”

Jonathan Giammaria

Because most forest trees tower into dense foliage, their heights are often impossible to measure accurately from the ground. In 2018, a team led by Dr. Catherine Potvin, professor in the Department of Biology, discovered a fallen tree in Panama’s tropical forests. The tree proved to be a rare find, allowing the researchers to obtain an exact measurement of its height.

“[The tree] measured 71 meters in height, which is amazing because it’s about twice the height of the reported forests of Panama,” Potvin said. 

Trees are essential for naturally reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Through photosynthesis, they can store large amounts of carbon dioxide in their trunks for extended periods of time—a process known as carbon sequestration.

“Now that we were able to measure it, we know it contained 50 [tonnes] of carbon,” Potvin said.

 That’s [in] a single tree. In the temperate forests [of Quebec], there are 40 tonnes of carbon […] in one hectare of forest.” 

Potvin stressed the importance of developing novel methods, such as satellite imagery, for measuring these abnormally tall trees, and mapping areas where they grow en masse. Dubbed “carbon refuges,” their preservation would help to maintain stable levels of carbon in the atmosphere.

Applying a niche mathematical concept to calculate infinite values from finite points 

Ronny Litvack-Katzman

Dr. Anush Tserunyan, assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, is a mathematician with a keen eye for deducing the logic behind complex systems. Ergodicity, the focus of Tserunyan’s research, is a branch of mathematics that studies the statistical properties of dynamic systems.

Tserunyan compared ergodicity to a well-mixed cup of milk and coffee. In this example, the movement of any given drop of milk in the coffee—here, an individual “point”—can be used to model the mixture’s movement over time. 

The ergodic theory stipulates that studying an individual’s trajectory across time is the same as observing a collection of individual trajectories at a single time point. 

“[Finding the] averages over infinitely many points is impossible to compute, and pointwise ergodic theorem gives you a way to measure it at finite points,” Tserunyan said. “The average you compute will be very close to the actual average.”  

Although it can be hard to imagine ergodicity’s real-world applications, Tserunyan commented that ergodic theory is foundational to other branches of mathematics, including those used to conceive climate models.

McGill physicists are escaping radio frequency interference at the world’s northernmost research station 

Sophia Gorbounov

In a talk titled “Radio frequency interference at the McGill Arctic Research Centre,” Taj Dyson spoke about imaging the Universe during the Cosmic Dark Ages, just before the formation of the first stars. Dyson, U2 Science, explained his work with Doctors Cynthia Chiang and Jonathan Sievers to detect neutral hydrogen signals from one of the oldest but least-studied eras of the Universe.

“The only signal that comes from the Dark Ages comes from neutral hydrogen, which faintly glows at around 1.4 gigahertz,” Dyson said. “But, by the time that signal reaches us on Earth, it has been red-shifted down to 100 megahertz, which is pretty much exactly the frequency of FM radio broadcasts.”

This, Dyson explained, results in significant interference and becomes a serious problem when trying to image hydrogen signals.

The simplest solution is to position oneself as far away from radio signals as possible. Located at 80 degrees North, the McGill Arctic Research Centre is easily the best option. 

After hunkering down in this small research facility, Dyson observed the data and determined the magnitude of interference still being received from Dark Age hydrogen molecules. With much significantly less radio frequency interference, Dyson concluded the Centre was a prime location for examining incoming signals.

Ask a Scientist, Science & Technology

Discussing the necessity of positive rhetoric on climate change

by Shelby Deegan on

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On Sept. 16, the Trottier Institute for Sustainability in Engineering and Design held its seventh annual symposium titled “Lessons from a Pandemic: Solutions for Addressing the Climate Change Crisis.” The first speaker, Dr. Naomi Oreskes, an affiliated professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at Harvard University, discussed why people should trust science. The panel explored the origins of climate change denial and suggested some potential solutions.

In an interview with The McGill Tribune, Dr. Christopher Barrington-Leigh, Associate Professor at the Institute for Health and Social Policy and the School of Environment, commented on how the overwhelmingly pessimistic rhetoric that surrounds the climate crisis can encourage climate change denial. 

“We don’t have positive stories for the future [because] everything Hollywood produces is apocalyptic,” Barrington-Leigh said. “People behave in very predictable ways when they don’t have [a positive vision of the future], and it’s all to do with closing off socially, [and] thinking defensively […], not creatively.” 

He also pointed out that cognitive dissonance—the discomfort people feel when a behaviour and a cognition contradict one another—plays a substantial role in the persistent trend of climate change denial. 

“The thing with cognitive dissonance is that […] the more contrary evidence comes, [the worse it gets]. If a little bit of evidence comes along that’s contrary to your belief, you […] make up more conspiracy stories so [you] can enforce [your] belief,” Barrington-Leigh said. “You raise the stakes even more now [that] your ego is even more [under] threat, [so it can be] a positive feedback [loop].” 

Barrington-Leigh claims that even education on climate change, a commonly suggested solution to combat misinformation, can backfire if it puts too much blame on the individual for their beliefs. 

“Canada has been [implementing] public education policies about climate change for a generation and a half, and they amount to nothing,” Barrington-Leigh said. “The mistake is often that it’s about individual action, that people are bad or selfish [….] When you say we have to change our consumption practices, everybody starts looking at their own life [and] thinking: ‘Oh no, I’m a bad human.’”

Inspiring leadership, Barrington-Leigh suggests, may be the most important factor in constructing productive rhetoric on climate change. 

“[We need] somebody who frames things the right ways. We understand that people need a positive story they can buy into, and they need to not feel bad about themselves,” Barrington-Leigh said. “[People] need to have a story that brings them together with other people […] so they can […] take positive actions that are good for other people. That’s all any human wants.”

He also pointed out that plenty of progress is being made to combat climate change, and this progress will inspire even more push to combat the issue.

“On [Sept. 23], China […] surprised a lot of people by announcing it’s going to be carbon neutral by 2060,” Barrington-Leigh said. “China doesn’t come out with goals like that […] unless it’s credible. Now, the ball’s in India’s court, and of course, the developed countries had better move faster.”

Barrington-Leigh concluded by affirming the unique power of youth climate movements to rise above political divides. 

“We could have youth parties very suddenly come to power in a lot of countries,” Barrington-Leigh explained. “And they can mostly transcend the existing political partisan boundaries. They just have such a good premise, which is that youth are oppressed and excluded from power [….] If you look at the history of humankind I don’t think there is any time in which the stakes have been so large for young people [….] If you give young people power and let them face the issues, they [learn] faster than if you exclude them.”

 

In an earlier version of the article, the Tribune misquoted Barrington-Leigh as saying “China doesn’t come out with goals like that [….] That’s incredible.” In fact, Barrington-Leigh said “China doesn’t come out with goals like that […] unless it’s credible.” The Tribune regrets this error. 

Commentary, Opinion

McGill must do more to protect students in residence

by Logan Pecht on

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McGill welcomed hundreds of new students to its campus residences this fall, despite delivering classes remotely. McGill Student Housing and Hospitality Services (SHHS) must now balance students’ urge to socialize while protecting the community’s health and safety amid the pandemic. As the number of daily cases continue to increase in Quebec, residence staff must be prepared to implement containment measures as necessary. Although SHHS claims to prioritize students’ health and safety, their lax approach is insufficient to stop a potential outbreak. Even though public health officials warned of a second wave well in advance, SHHS failed to draft more stringent protocols to protect the physical health of students in residence and the surrounding community. Now, with Montreal in a red zone, poor communication and limited enforcement will only exacerbate the risk of an outbreak within residences.

When Quebec Premier François Legault announced the new red zone restrictions on Sept. 28, SHHS made quick adaptations in order to comply. The closure of common areas and a ban on any indoor gatherings seemed sudden, given that SHHS made no adjustments weeks prior. Additionally, the COVID-19 tracker does not specify where on campus transmissions occurred, fueling rampant speculation. The information currently posted online offers a protocol for students who have symptoms, but it is unclear what measures will be put into place if there is an outbreak. SHHS must prioritize implementing thorough guidelines and structure for any attempt to stop the spread of COVID to be effective.

Those who enter New Residence Hall are greeted by a handwashing station and someone enforcing mask ordinances. Although handwashing is an important sanitary measure, SHHS must extend their enforcement to address violations of occupancy limits. Frequent gatherings in individual rooms pose a greater risk for transmission. It is naïve to assume that first years will limit their social interactions to a select group of people, which is recommended by health officials. Students in residences have reported inconsistent enforcement and rule defiance. It is not uncommon to hear loud gatherings persist throughout the night, undisturbed. To reduce the risk of transmission, SHHS must increase its enforcement beyond areas under public view. 

With poor communication and flawed safety measures in place, the lack of disciplinary enforcement is no surprise. Whereas other Canadian universities have garnered attention for making stern statements and imposing stricter guidelines after students violated restrictions, McGill’s approach is passive and weak in comparison. SHHS implemented a strike system for those who violate the rules, but the informal parties that occur every weekend continue to persist. With no serious consequences for those violating the rules, the SHHS is only tolerating students hosting gatherings. While students must play their part in keeping those around them safe, SHHS must do a better job setting a precedent for what constitutes irresponsible behavior.  

One may claim that McGill cannot control what students do off-campus, but it is still responsible for the safety of the hundreds of students that it welcomed into their residences and subsequently into the community. Montreal public health director Dr. Mylène Drouin attributed the second wave of infection, which led the city to impose stricter restrictions, to social gatherings organized primarily by young people. Given the demographic that they serve, SHHS must show a greater will to break up social gatherings and implement better measures to track and reduce the virus’s spread. 

Commentary, Opinion

The pandemic demands a more accessible McGill BoG

by Mallory Yeates on

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For years, McGill students have fought for change through protests, rallies, and other physical demonstrations. Protests, such as those led by Divest McGill against the occupation of Wet’suwet’en territory and the Indigenous students behind the “Change The Name” campaign, have been crucial to drawing attention to issues on campus and effecting change at McGill. COVID-19 has restricted students’ ability to mobilize for issues that matter to them. The McGill Board of Governors (BoG), which has final authority over all academic, financial, and investment affairs, needs to ensure that students are given the opportunity to put forth their grievances. 

With tuition fees increasing for the 2020-2021 academic year and longstanding resentment against McGill’s investments in fossil fuels, student voices must have a platform. The BoG leaves little opportunity for students to ask questions or share their concerns on the topics discussed. The Board holds bi-monthly closed meetings, with four student representatives and two student observers, who do not vote but still attend the meetings on behalf of student associations. While student representatives are invaluable, the ratio of six representatives to over 40,000 students simply does not accurately reflect all student concerns. Community sessions are held after every other meeting—so, every four months—in which students and staff can submit questions for the Board. However, participating in such sessions is not as easy as it sounds. Community members must submit questions 15 days before the meeting. Questions are then vetted by the Board to ensure that they cover matters that the Board wishes to address. Even if a question survives this process, it will only be allotted a maximum of five minutes.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has made in-person protests unsafe for many, the BOG must adapt their current system to ensure that student concerns are addressed. In the past, students have used physical forms of protest like rallies and sit-ins to compensate for the Board’s lack of transparency. Since in-person protests are now unsafe, it is increasingly difficult for students to make their voices heard. The McGill administration’s failure to adapt to the restrictions placed on students this year displays their flagrant disregard for student well being. 

The BoG is set to host one student forum for this academic year in January. Forums differ from community sessions as they allow students to engage directly with the BOG as opposed to written and submitted questions. All members of the McGill community must be heard, but with little to no ability to protest and only one opportunity this year to address the Board, individual students are silenced. The Board of Governors must adapt their current meeting system to allow ample time and care to manage the concerns of students. Live streaming meetings through websites such as Youtube Live would allow students to tune in and hear in real-time decisions made regarding their tuition, academics, and the BOG’s investment choices. 

In addition, a live community session system would allow for an open forum at the end of every meeting instead of the submitted and reviewed questions, whereby questions could be submitted in real time. With this in place, questions that challenge the Board are more likely to be addressed, and more students will be able to put forth concerns regarding their welfare. On top of this, a live comment section would mitigate the barrier of submitting questions to the Board 15 days before the scheduled meeting.

Though in-person protests are currently unsafe, students can take a number of different approaches to fight for their rights. Amplifying online components of student movements, such the Black Student Networks’ (BSN) #TakeJamesDown online video series and letter writing initiative, is one way to push for change on campus if you are unable to physically protest. Moreover, by contacting board members individually, students can direct their demands to the source. Unprecedented times call for adaptations by the McGill administration, and turning a blind eye to student concerns is not a viable option.

Basketball, Soccer, Sports

Documentaries for staying in the sports mood

by Adam Burton, Sarah Farnand, Shaun Lalani, Gabe Nisker, Kaja Surborg on

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Although most sports are currently on hold, staying engaged with the world of sports has never been easier. Here are some of The McGill Tribune’s favourite sports documentaries that will tide you over to the next season.

Athlete A

Content warning: Graphic descriptions of sexual violence

Athlete A is a powerful and important story about the behind-the-scenes abuse that continued for decades at USA Gymnastics (USAG). The Netflix Original documentary highlights not only the abuse by team doctor, Larry Nassar, but also USAG’s ongoing and active participation in concealing it.

Maggie Nichols, or Athlete A, was the first gymnast to report abuse by Nassar, but investigative reporting by The Indianapolis Star encouraged over 150 more women to come forward. 

Watching the gymnasts testify during Nassar’s sentencing is empowering and heartening. When Nassar receives his 175-year sentence, it feels as though these athletes finally get some semblance of the justice that they deserve. This documentary sheds light on the corruption of an internationally recognized organization and the power of the athletes’ fight for justice.

The Dawn Wall

In this unbelievable tale of perseverance and determination, directors Josh Lowell and Peter Mortimer regale the audience with the life of rock climber Tommy Caldwell. The film follows him through his younger years as he becomes one of the best rock climbers in the world. It is a documentary that tells the story of a man determined to do the impossible: Climb the treacherous Dawn Wall in Yosemite National Park in an effort to leave the problems of his life behind. The Dawn Wall is one of the most difficult climbs in the world, and before Caldwell finished his 19-day climb, many had dubbed it insurmountable. In those 19 days, the documentary puts everything on display: The intricacies of rock climbing, the drama between Caldwell and his climbing partner Kevin Jorgeson, and Caldwell’s sheer will and determination––or borderline insanity––required to complete the gruelling climb. 

Women of Troy

Cheryl Miller never got to play in the WNBA, yet she is often considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Miller led a stacked University of Southern California Trojans team to two NCAA Championship wins in a row. When a team is that good, the stories follow. Director Alison Ellwood deftly tracks Miller’s career along with her talented teammates, like four-time WNBA Finals MVP Cynthia Cooper, as well as Paula and Pam McGee, to highlight their influence on both the men’s and women’s games. Women of Troy is a 2020 basketball documentary worthy of attention—it will only take a fraction of the time it took to watch The Last Dance, and audiences will enjoy it just as much.

John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection

French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard once said, “Cinema lies. Sport doesn’t.” The quote serves as the opening to director Julien Faraut’s poetic film about 1980s tennis superstar John McEnroe, and the sport of tennis. The first few minutes of the film are thrilling, with McEnroe setting a serve to the loud sounds of the band Sonic Youth. The film does not let up either, as its use of found footage—reels and reels of 16mm film that did not make the cut for an old instructional video—helps Faraut tell the story of a superstar athlete and his personality. Through innovative techniques, this documentary makes the audience reconsider the way that we watch sports altogether.

Take Us Home: Leeds United 

Leeds United are the quintessential controversial club of English football. A hard-nosed physical program, their success in the 70s earned them the title of the country’s most hated club. Marcelo ‘El Loco’ Bielsa is a legendary manager whose charged personality and obsessive work ethic has given him a near mythical reputation in football. In Take Us Home: Leeds United, program and manager combine to create a storyline, the likes of which no screenwriter could script. 

From the Spygate Affair—which followed Bielsa’s covert surveillance of rival team’s training sessions followed by a 70-minute impromptu press conference on their tactics—to the bizarre moment when Leeds deliberately scored an own goal following a controversial decision against their opponents, the six-part docu-series has it all. 

Take Us Home is the culmination of a club’s 100 years of success and misery, all showcased in a single season. Follow along as Leeds United soar to the top of their championship, only to crash and burn as they once again fail to secure a promotion to England’s top division. 

Cheer

Cheer follows the competitive cheerleading season of the Navarro College Bulldogs from Corsicana, Texas as they attempt to defend their championship title. Cheerleading is not a sport that traditionally gets mainstream coverage on major broadcast networks or news sites. Cheer, however, illustrates that the physical demands and hard work necessary for success in cheerleading make it as legitimate a sport as any other.

When Netflix released this docu-series in January 2020, it launched the cast into immediate stardom, with many of the cast members rapidly gaining impressively large followings on social media. It is easy to understand why viewers wanted to know more about these athletes: The series presents heartwarming backstories and characters that, while imperfect, remain relatable. These personal narratives, combined with impressive tumbling and baskets, make for entertaining lockdown watching. 

QB1: Beyond The Lights

This exciting docu-series follows three football stars through their senior year of high school as they vie for championships and Division I scholarships. 

This series provides a deeper look into practices, film sessions and the conversation on the field during games. However, the focus is not only on football, but also on the daily lives of each athlete. As the documentary follows the players through their school day and home life, the audience learns about the struggles that go on behind the scenes. QB1 humanizes these star athletes and unravels the stuck-up jock stereotype that football players often receive. Whether it’s the anxiety that comes with knowing that without a full-ride scholarship some players cannot afford to go to university or the pain associated with losing a brother, the series captures the emotions of life outside of football.

You do not need to know anything about football to start watching this real-life Friday Night Lights series. By the end, though, you just might become a football fan.

Editorial, Opinion

Quebec’s racist health care system needs reform

by The McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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On Sept. 28, Joyce Echaquan, an Atikamekw woman and mother of seven, livestreamed the moments before her death at Joliette Hospital. The widely-shared video shows hospital staff making racist comments towards Echaquan, and sparked outrage across the country. The horrific situation highlights the deep flaws inherent in the Canadian health care system, which, despite being “universal,” remains inaccessible to Indigenous people, often going even further to actively harm and kill them. McGill, as Canada’s top-ranked medical school, is actively complicit in this. Quebec and McGill must overhaul medical care distribution and professional practice in the province to provide better care, agency, and opportunities to Indigenous communities.

In July 2020, premier Francois Legault doubled down on his position that systematic racism does not exist in Quebec and that the majority of Quebecers are not racist. Time and time again, however, both of these statements have proven to be unequivocally false. Published in 2019, the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls included an almost two hundred page supplementary report dedicated to Quebec. The document includes a section on the province’s inadequate health and social services, and condemns Quebec’s failure to address these issues.

Indigenous people in Quebec tend to have traumatizing experiences with the health care system that range from inadequate to deadly outcomes. This is due to factors such as a lack of services in remote areas, racist encounters with non-Indigenous health care workers, and a lack of Indigenous health care providers who possess the cultural understanding necessary for adequate treatment, especially when it comes to mental health services. Those who cannot access a particular service within their area must travel to city centres, placing the onus on Indigenous people living in remote areas to go out of their way to access care. This leads to disastrous health outcomes; for example, tuberculosis rates among Inuit are 300 times higher than in non-Indigenous Canadians. When accounting for these discrepancies, it is impossible to ignore the systemic racism that lies at the heart of this province. 

As a leader in medical training, research, and provision, McGill is also responsible for this anti-Indigenous institutionalized racism. A Mi’kmaq woman named Kimberly Gloade died only two years ago after being turned away at the McGill University Health Centre because she did not have a health card, illustrating yet another structural factor limiting access to health care for Indigenous people in Quebec. If one is denied care at the first point of contact due to this kind of systemic problem, they will be far less likely to see treatment in the future.  

As a response to these inequities and ongoing calls to action from activists, medical schools have taken steps to place a greater emphasis on Indigenous health care and healing, leading to the creation of new courses and programs in recent years. McGill’s Department of Family Medicine recently introduced an Inuit health module that seeks to incorporate Inuit understandings of health as holistic, with spirituality as a vital component. The module is not mandatory, however, and will only be offered within Family Medicine for the time being. While this kind of education is crucial, an even greater emphasis must be placed on outreach and support for Indigenous students to increase the number of Indigenous health care professionals in Quebec. In 2016, less than one per cent of specialists and general practitioners in all of Canada identified as “Aboriginal.” Governments and educational institutions must provide Indigenous people with the agency to administer care within their own communities. This starts with financial and academic support for Indigenous youth.

While Quebec and McGill must act, only so much reform is possible within a colonial state that continues to commit genocide against Indigenous Peoples. The federal and provincial governments have repeatedly proven that they have no tangible regard for Indigenous life and are committed to power and profit above all else. As a result, non-Indigenous and particularly white McGill students should provide financial support when they can to Indigenous activists and uplift land back movements while working to unlearn their own internal colonial and eurocentric biases. Students must also support programs that increase access to education for Indigenous students and continue to listen to the needs of Indigenous students on campus. If systemic racism did not exist in Quebec, what happened to Joyce Echequan would not have happened. It is time to finally face these issues rather than continuing to deny them. 

Science & Technology

When life gives you data, make visual art

by Claire Latendresse on

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People often see art and science as opposing subjects––logic versus beauty, the utilitarian versus the aesthetic. Dr. Kirell Benzi, a data science researcher and data artist, does not share this view. His artwork is created from compilations of data, which he represents using shapes, colours, and movement. 

On Sept. 24, Benzi presented his work during an online conference hosted by the Convergence Initiative entitled “When Data Science and Art Collide.” Leading the audience through the mysterious abstractions of his art, Benzi explained that he splits his data art into three categories based on the scientific method used to create them. The first, which he calls network art, features nodes and links amassed into enormous, colourful clouds, or twisted, sinewy shapes. 

(Globalization/Kirell Benzi/2019)

Of course, the networks are based on real data. A web of excited tweets and retweets about the 2012 discovery of the Higgs-Boson form a piece called “Scientific Euphoria,” while a vast map of performers at the Montreux Jazz Festival, classified by musical style, make up the piece “Jazz Luminaries.” Benzi explained that these visual representations help people make sense of the massive amounts of data involved.

“You want to transform complex notions, usually numbers or statistics, into something more visual,” Benzi explained. “A large portion of the brain is dedicated to vision, so it really makes sense to try to transform numbers or even text into something that we can visualize, because our brain is wired to interpret those stimuli [….] To me, when you create art, it’s interesting to have both emotion on one hand and cognition on the other hand.” 

The second of Benzi’s categories is artificial intelligence (AI) art. Benzi uses neural networks, which is a way of training a computer to perform tasks by showing it a large number of examples until it can replicate that task on its own. Benzi programs his neural networks to recognize objects based on millions of different pictures and then adjusts how the network generates its own image based on all those that it previously observed. With a mix of seemingly random objects, including bubbles, wigs, geysers, balloons, and jellyfish, he creates pieces like “These Are Not Flowers,” which, while abstract, still feel oddly familiar. Benzi described AI as an artistic tool that he uses to channel his creativity.

“Sometimes, you put an ingredient in for the colour, but sometimes it’s more about the shape,” Benzi said. “And it’s very difficult to control, actually. But that’s where the artistic part comes into play because this image was not created at random. [Although] the image is created by the algorithm, [it is] a tool to put in some of your own creativity and then use it to create new shapes [….] You, as an artist, have to train the network, play with the parameters, tune them, and create the shapes.”

Benzi’s third category of data art is based on fractals, a mathematical and physical phenomenon of geometric patterns that repeat infinitely on different scales. These patterns make for extraordinary artwork that appears progressively more intricate as the viewer looks closer. While displaying his recent piece “Breathe,” Benzi emphasized that these fractals appear frequently in nature, and make his data artwork appear satisfyingly natural.  

“If you look closely, you see that we have some repeating shapes,” Benzi said. “I really like this idea because, to me, it looks organic, maybe like a cell structure, but it’s purely math and coefficients of recurring functions.”

Benzi’s artwork fills a gap in our understanding of art and science. He adamantly seeks to teach others about the possibilities of data science, showing that algorithms can not only process data, but can also give way to emotions and self-reflection. And this doesn’t end with networks, AI, and fractals—science and art overlap all the time, even in our daily lives. It may be time to accept that the two are connected and finally look for the beauty behind the science.

Baseball, Sports

MLB 2020 awards

by Miya Keilin on

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The 2020 MLB regular season wrapped up on Sept. 27 after two months of unbelievable baseball. The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) will, as usual, present their annual awards this off season to those who stood out during the 60 (or 58) games. The McGill Tribune pays homage to the wackiness of this season, however, and recognizes some of the more niche accomplishments of teams and players in 2020. 

The “Make Canada Proud” Award: Jordan Romano

It’s fitting that the best Canadian player in the majors this year plays for the majors’ only Canadian team. Romano, a Markham, Ontario native, struck out 21 with a 0.886 WHIP in an admittedly low 14.2 innings, helping push the Toronto Blue Jays to the eighth seed in the American League (AL) and their first post-season appearance since 2016. The righty was placed on the injured list in late August and was unable to recover before the Wild Card Series, where the Jays were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays. Honourable mentions go to Romano’s Montreal-born teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Cleveland pitcher Cal Quantrill of Port Hope, Ontario.

The “Congrats… I Guess” Award: Milwaukee Brewers

Hours before the first pitch of the 2020 season, MLB announced a new 16-team playoff format. In a season full of weird things, this new format—and the timing of its announcement—was downright befuddling. Just over two months later, on the final day of the regular season, the Brewers lost 5-2 to the Cardinals and finished with a 29-31 record, but still got to celebrate a third-straight post-season berth thanks to the new eighth spot. Despite a losing record and an underwhelming finish in their own game, they earned the right to get swept by the powerhouse Dodgers in a 2020 post-season series. Congrats, I guess. Honourable mention goes to the Houston Astros, who also clinched a playoff spot with a losing record and swept the now 18-straight playoff loss Minnesota Twins to advance to their fourth consecutive division series.

The “Awesome Young Dude” Award: Juan Soto

Despite playing just over a third of the usual amount of games, the 2020 season showcased an enormous amount of young talent, and 21-year-old Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto was a huge part of that. A positive COVID test in July and elbow soreness in September cost him a few games, but he wasted no time reminding us why we all fell in love with him last year. Two monster home runs in his first series back set the tone for an impressive season: He led the majors with a 1.185 OPS, hit 13 homers, and became the youngest player to ever win the NL batting title. Honourable mentions to Fernando Tatis Jr. (21), Dustin May (23), and Ronald Acuña Jr. (22). They all make baseball better.

The “Dad Strength” Award: Mike Trout

There are so many reasons to honour Mike Trout, and his performance at the plate after becoming a dad this season is no exception. Beckham Aaron Trout was born on July 30, 2020, then, on Aug. 4, 2020, Dad Trout homered in his first at bat back from the paternity list. In fact, in his first seven games after his son was born, Trout hit six home runs with a 1.373 OPS. Unfortunately, Trout’s dad strength was not enough to boost a struggling Angels squad into a playoff spot even with the extended format, but at least he’ll have a longer off season to spend with his kid. Honourable mention to Brewers starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff, who racked up 43 strikeouts with eight earned runs over 32 innings in his five outings after his daughter was born on Aug. 31, 2020.  

Arts & Entertainment, Internet, Pop Rhetoric

Food YouTube must acquire the taste for a digestible future

by Matthew Molinaro on

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If there is one thing in this world that transcends borders and crosses political stripes, it’s food. Closely tied to culture and identity, food acts as an equalizer that strengthens communities and our understanding of others. It is no wonder why so many television programs and networks are entirely dedicated to food—it is entertaining, educational, and motivational. From Julia Child to the Iron Chefs, world-renowned cooking celebrities have turned to the small screen to share their recipes with the world. YouTube’s platform and its wide-ranging potential have shaken the food world up harder than a good martini. 

Where the Food Network, Bravo, and Cooking Channel have banked on the tried-and-true formulas of game shows, celebrities cameos, and renowned James Beard award-winning chefs, YouTube’s content creator platform allows anyone with a kitchen to be the star of their own cooking show. Long before quarantine began, a younger generation of cooks and bakers had become quasi-celebrities on YouTube as channels like Binging with Babish and How To Cake It amassed millions of subscribers.   

One area that YouTube cooking shows tend to excel in is the representation of diverse cuisines often overlooked in conventional network television. For decades, food television has often presented food cultures as homogenous, as white hosts and chefs either presented the same trite European-influenced dishes or appropriated ethnic cuisines. Food comes in many styles, spices, and tastes, but cooking shows have often neglected African, Asian, and Indigenous cuisines. The people-of-colour who are represented on network television, such as Marcus Samuelsson of Chopped, Sunny Anderson of The Kitchen, and Padma Lakshmi of Top Chef, bring fantastic insights to food, but they are a small minority among the dozens of white show hosts. 

In contrast, YouTube’s freelance model gives content creators complete creative control. Chefs who may not have even been picked up by networks in the first place do not have to rely on corporate approval, which gives individuals the freedom to demonstrate how to cook their culture’s cuisine. Channels like Chef Lola’s Kitchen and Helen’s Recipes offer approaches to cooking that would otherwise be white-washed: Lola brings her Nigerian roots to the table, and Helen brings a Vietnamese palate to create straightforward, yet vibrant meals. 

As YouTube’s bevy of food channels have grown, they have not avoided controversy. Bon Appetit’s YouTube channel recently faced accusations of a toxic culture toward BIPOC staff members, as the channel prioritized white-centric cuisines and exclusively paid white editors for video appearances. After seven of their staff members left, including Sohla El-Waylly, who was the first to speak out against parent company Condé Nast, Bon Appetit responded by instating Dawn Davis, an accomplished, Black publisher as Editor-in-Chief. 

Systemic racism is not exclusive to the YouTube food community—in fact, it is a problem endemic to the larger industry of food entertainment. Mario Batali’s sexual assault allegations, Paula Deen’s blatant racism, and the accusations against Jamie Oliver of cultural appropriation for his “punchy jerk Jamaican rice” have been major scandals in the food entertainment industry. These culinary giants and their controversies are intrinsic to corporate power structures and attitudes founded in discriminatory institutions that prioritize white-centric contributions and perspectives. 

In order for Food YouTube—and Bon Appétit in particular—to move towards equitable and diverse content, they must go beyond grazing the surface of these issues. Content creators must implement progressive changes that address representation and equity in their content and the food that they make. They must learn from the mistakes of food television and continue in the right direction. Only then will the great equalizer be truly equal.

Arts & Entertainment, Internet

Equinox 2020 celebrates BIPOC cultures and identities

by Erika MacKenzie on

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Never Apart’s Equinox 2020 festival, held on Sept. 26, was a one-day digital celebration of BIPOC creators across Canada, merging music, art, ecology, and food under the theme of “Cultivate.” Never Apart is a Montreal-based nonprofit focussed on bringing about social change and spiritual awareness through organizing culture and music programs. Equinox 2020 featured Q&As, a cooking demonstration, live music sets, and a mini-documentary. The event was a triumphant educational experience, demonstrating unity between many BIPOC creators celebrating their culture and identity. 

The celebration kicked off with a discussion about the resurgence of two-spirit identities in Indigenous communities. Dayna Danger, a two-spirit Metis/Saulteaux/Polish curator and artist, spoke with Jade Konwataroni, a nursing student at the University of New Brunswick from the Mohawk territory of Kahnawake, about the importance of preserving Indigenous cultures in a colonial country. 

Konwataroni discussed the challenges that she faces in balancing her queer and Indigenous identities, as some elders in her community have internalized colonial homophobia. While it is not always easy, Konwataroni has come to value self-acceptance while finding people in her community that respect her for who she is. 

“When I figured out that I was going to […] be exactly who I am, […] Indigi-queer, two-spirit, […] that’s when everything started to […] pick up, and I cultivated lovely relationships,” Konwataroni said.

Danger and Konwataroni also discussed the land-based practice of hide tanning: By changing the pH level of an animal’s skin to prevent it from rotting, it can later be used to create leather. Konwataroni explained that practicing hide tanning has fostered in her a greater respect for all animals. The practice has also allowed Konwataroni to connect with other two-spirit people in her community. 

“I struggled a lot with […] who has the right to […] tan hide,” Konwataroni said. “As Indigenous people, I think we all have the right to learn how to do something even if we weren’t taught it by our grandparents [….] All the two-spirit people coming out and doing it is really inspiring […] and it makes it more approachable.”  

As the theme “Cultivate” suggests, Equinox 2020 was aptly concerned with cuisine, and the connection between food preparation and land-based practices. Jean-Philippe Vezina, a Quebecois vegetable grower of Haitian descent, took the audience on a virtual tour of his garden, Les Jardins Lakou. Vezina founded Les Jardins Lakou in an effort to reconnect with his Haitian heritage and help other Québécois of Haitian descent to learn about their agricultural and culinary traditions. 

Later that afternoon, Marlene Hale, also known as Chef Maluh, demonstrated how to cook traditional West Coast First Nations cuisine. Hale is a chef, educator, and member of the Wet’suwet’en nation. She began the cooking demonstration with a drumming introduction to celebrate the beginning of the harvest season. Hale proceeded to cook a delicious meal of cedar plank salmon, wild rice, grilled vegetables, and bannock focaccia with a side of Labrador tea. 

With Equinox 2020 occurring a few days before Orange Shirt Day, an event designed to bring attention to the history of the residential school system in Canada, it was fitting that interdisciplinary artist Adrian Stimson had the opportunity to discuss his pieces. Stimson’s pieces, which use found materials, expose the experiences of genocide, loss, and resilience of the Indigenous peoples coerced into Canada’s residential schools. A member of the Blackfoot nation, Stimpson was forced to attend residential school three times. In an installation entitled “Old Sun,” Stimson placed a blanket of Buffalo fur on the ground and covered it with a tipi made from steel bars resembling a prison cell. This piece highlights the ways in which colonialism has oppressed and demonized Indigenous cultures and values. 

Equinox 2020 was an educational multidisciplinary exploration of Indigenous cultures and identities. The event provided a positive and inclusive atmosphere to celebrate a diverse range of cultural beliefs and practices. While platforming challenging topics, Equinox 2020 focussed on the resilience and accomplishments in the BIPOC community in Montreal. 

The event is archived on Facebook and available for anyone to re-watch free of charge. 

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