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Student Life, The Tribune Explains

Tribune Explains: Accessing virtual writing resources

by Alaana Kumar and Leyla Moy on

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Many students buckle under the stress that comes with writing and rewriting essays and term papers, and in the absence of in-person exams this fall semester, professors are increasingly dependent on written assessments to evaluate students. Whether you are new to McGill, still acclimatizing, or just need a boost, essay centres and tutors on campus are here to help. To ensure students are aware of all their options, The McGill Tribune has compiled a few ways to access writing resources remotely.

How can I get someone to look over my writing? 

The McGill Writing Centre (MWC) is McGill’s central internal resource for writing. For the Fall semester, all MWC appointments will be held online. Students can schedule a 30- or 60-minute tutoring appointment through the MWC online schedule.

For Arts and Arts and Science students, the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) Essay Centre provides feedback on essay structure, grammar, citations, and general clarity, and will edit essays in both English and French. Interested students can make an appointment online. 

“Students can […] join on the call and get their essays edited by our tutors, or just ask questions,” Natalia Savkovic, Internal Coordinator of the AUS Essay Centre, wrote in an email to the Tribune. “We have had a few people come in and just ask questions about overall essay structure and citations […], so that’s also okay.”

Where can I access scholarly sources?

McGill students and alumni have access to thousands of electronic publications through the McGill library system. Current students can access e-resources through the library catalogue or Databases A-Z, and alumni can borrow e-books and e-audiobooks on the OverDrive platform. To help students navigate this plethora of resources, the campus library hosts numerous free seminars and events. These events are often offered in association with the Friends of the Library and serve as a way to spotlight the rich collections of the McGill library. 

What resources are available to graduate students?

Graphos is a branch of the MWC that provides writing resources for graduate students and postdocs with a specific focus on research, funding, and publication. These offerings include one-credit writing courses, workshops, peer writing groups, and the Writing Commons. Graphos workshops will be offered via Zoom throughout the semester, on topics ranging from writing fellowship applications to writing an academic book review. The Writing Commons, which provides a space for graduate students to exchange tips and write in the company of peers, will also be held online. It offers two recurring weekly events: Rise and Write in the Morning from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays, and 120 Minutes of Writing from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursdays. 

How can I get additional help to improve my writing? 

For students in STEM, the McGill Scientific Writing Institute (MSWI) was recently started by Marina Nysten and Joyce Wu, two U3 Science students who wanted to create a hub for scientific communication resources. Their website features a useful ebook, A McGill Guide to Scientific Writing: Volume 1, penned by Nysten and Wu in collaboration with faculty members. Beyond their guide, the MSWI holds events featuring science communication experts who engage in panel discussions and educate students on various topics to bolster their scientific writing, including how to annotate scholarly texts. Students can view past workshops and discussions through video recordings uploaded on their website. 

In addition to looking over specific essays, the MWC offers credit courses on English writing and communication skills. These classes are available for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as through the Department of Continuing Studies. Many of these classes are geared toward non-native English speakers and require a placement test, but Research Essay & Rhetoric (CEAP 250) focusses on strengthening undergraduates’ essay-writing skills more broadly and is open to native and non-native speakers. The MWC also offers courses for graduate students. In addition to perfecting the art of scholarly writing, these graduate courses provide assistance in mastering oral communication skills.  

Basketball, Sports

2020 NBA Bubble superlatives

by Adam Burton, Alec Regino on

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With the NBA Finals finished, it’s time to reflect on an exceptional and unique season of basketball. While the talking heads of basketball media will be dissecting the winners and losers of the Bubble for months to come, The McGill Tribune pays homage to some of the more unique accomplishments of the post-season. 

Biggest Quarantine Glow-Up – Nikola Jokic

Staying in playing shape during their five-month hiatus from the NBA was not only difficult for players, but also seemed impractical, considering the uncertainty of a restart. While some players got out of shape, Nikola Jokic came out of quarantine looking like a new man. Jokic has always been an incredible player, but his stature is not typical of an NBA athlete. While Jokic usually lumbers awkwardly out of the tunnel for tip-off, in his Bubble debut on July 30, he sauntered out with a youthful spring in his step. It’s fair to say that Jokic beat us all in the self-improvement race during quarantine. 

Most Likely to Become a Business Owner – Jimmy Butler

The entire Miami Heat team deserves major props for their extraordinary Cinderella run, but it is Jimmy Butler’s gumption, both on and off the court, that exemplified this grit. Recognizing the abysmal coffee options at Walt Disney World, Butler started his own coffee shop, Big Face Coffee, out of his hotel room. For good coffee, caffeine-deficient players were apparently willing to pay up, given the whopping $20-a-cup price tag. It seems like Butler’s on-court tenacity has found its way into his side hustle. 

Social Distancing Defence – Hassan Whiteside

Delusional fans hopped on the Portland Trail Blazers bandwagon after a game one victory against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers proceeded to break the Blazers’ hearts, dominating center Hassan Whiteside. Modern NBA centers are expected to switch on screens, keep guards from driving, and prevent easy layups in the paint. Instead, Whiteside showcased subpar defence, letting guards blow by him, tripping his teammates, and fouling every single time it looked like the Blazers had a chance to regain the lead.

Most Punctual – LeBron James

While fans may continue to chide James for coasting through the regular season, it’s clear that he has a knack for showing up at just the right time. Playing his ninth finals in 10 years, the 35-year-old has not only been a dependable leader for the Lakers, he’s also delivered a masterclass performance in nearly every game this post-season. In terms of sustained dominance, LeBron is second to none. 

2020 All-NBA “Team Beard”

The resumption of play on July 30 wasn’t just about basketball, it was a chance for the players to flex the facial hair that they have been growing during months in quarantine. Starting at power forward, LeBron James leaned even further into his “Honest Abe” chin strap, adding a James Harden-esque amount of volume. Next at small forward is Gordon Hayward, who came back looking more dapper than ever. His slight stubble served only to accent his sleek moustache—a bold statement in a league dominated by more and more beards. Shooting guard James Harden has commanded the league for years with his carpet of a beard, but managed to outdo himself, adding even more length to his already Santa Claus-level facial hair. Joining him in the frontcourt is Seth Curry, who balances out Harden’s wiry mane with a patchy beard that works surprisingly well. Finally, at center we have Joakim Noah, who took some time off from the set of Cast Away 2 to make an appearance in the Bubble. 

Album Reviews, Arts & Entertainment, Music

‘Only For Dolphins’ is excessively flavourless

by Lowell Wolfe on

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Action Bronson is a man who wears many hats: As a chef, author, entrepreneur, and hip-hop musician, Bronson’s creative proclivities bleed across mediums. His most recent album, Only For Dolphins, reflects Bronson’s multifaceted artistry while remaining true to its identity as a hip-hop album. However, while the album is diverse in terms of its culinary references, world music samples, and allusions to exotic drugs, Bronson’s excessive boasts and egotistical displays border on clichéd self-parody.  

Throughout the album, “Young Baklava” brags about his hedonistic drug use, taste for expensive clothing and cars, and womanizing skills as he spits over a collection of discordant instrumentals. On “C16H16N2” Bronson boasts about eating entire sheets of what is assumed to be LSD. The string-plucked chords of “Mongolia” and the Yung-Gravy-esque disco samples on “Splash” are colorful, playful, and reflective of Bronson’s eclectic inspirations. The breadth of Bronson’s imagery is on display in lines such as “Just models sniffin’ coke off mirrors, talkin’ ‘bout, ‘Do Domino’s deliver?’”

While Bronson’s lyrics strive for thematic diversity, the raps are repetitive and have little to no flow. Daringer-produced “Shredder” is a two-minutes-long track that only has 19 lines of free verse without a hook or chorus. Here, the aura of ease which Bronson has always had as an M.C. feels lazy and careless. While each track delivers witty one-liner after one-liner, there are only so many times that Bronson can repeat how much he loves dropping acid and driving cars before listeners roll their eyes. 

Only in two of the tracks (“Capoeira” and “Mongolia”) does Bronson allow another artist to take the mic. While the tracks’ features take on different vocal qualities, there are few memorable hooks or rhymes. Despite the short run-time and diverse instrumentals of Only for Dolphins, the album is monotonous. Bronson’s strengths as a man who dips his hand in many pies occasionally shines through, but he needs to find some new pies, or dip his hands deeper.

McGill, News

McGill students start fund for Lebanese students affected by the Beirut explosion

by Sepideh Afshar on

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On Sept. 16, McGill students started the Lebanese Student Relief Fund to support Lebanese students whose access to education has been restricted by the Aug. 4 explosion in Beirut, which killed at least 200 people and injured thousands more. The blast not only severely damaged health infrastructure but also exacerbated pre-existing political instabilities in Lebanon that has affected banking systems, impacting students’ access to funds for their education.

In addition to the explosion, the financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has added stress to the Lebanese economy, only worsening the nation’s pre-existing socioeconomic crisis. The dual crisis has hit students particularly hard, and both poverty rates and unemployment are expected to rise 50 per cent this year. Altogether, these factors have hindered many students’ ability to pay for their education, both at home and abroad. The organizers of the fund hope to raise $100,000 to aid as many Lebanese students at McGill as possible, who were affected by the explosion.

Yara Coussa, U2 Arts and ambassador and coordinator of the Lebanese Student Relief fund, explained the goal of the bursary to the Tribune. 

“[This campaign is to] help fund the tuition of Lebanese students [who are] unable to pay for their living and student fees because of the economic collapse of their country,” Coussa said. “The only way to break Lebanon out of this cycle of poverty is to invest in the youth’s education.” 

The importance of this initiative is personal to those McGill students who founded it. Coussa, who is Lebanese-Canadian, expressed the toll that the recent events have taken on Lebanese communities around the world. 

“[I have] witnessed from afar the consequences of the explosion and failure of the bank system affect my loved ones and friends who are not able to pursue the degrees of their dreams, and that for me this was simply not acceptable,” Coussa said. “I think that we all deserve to be offered the same opportunities in life. Lebanese students shouldn’t pay the price for someone else’s mistake. They should have a fair shot to succeed in life.”

Alexia Chammas, U2 Management and coordinator and manager of the campaign, explained the significance of supporting international students at McGill.

“I think this initiative is specifically important at a university like McGill because diversity contributes a lot to the students’ education,” Chamas said. “In the past year, I have learned so much from my international classmates. Their cultures, traditions, and unique way of thinking helped me gain perspective and shaped me to become a better citizen.” 

Georges Chaoui, U2 Bioengineering and communications director of the campaign, explained how the funds raised by the Lebanese Student Relief fund will be allocated.  

“The fund is going to the scholarship and financial aids department [….] We as a team are only responsible for the fundraising part,” Chaoui said. 

Chammas encouraged McGill students to participate in the fund to show support to Lebanese students, to the country of Lebanon, and to the value and importance of education. 

“I strongly believe that if each student takes the time to contribute in any way, whether it’s monetary or not, we can reach our goal and offer our compatriots the education they deserve,” Chammas said.

The fundraiser is set to end on Oct. 31, but may be extended. In order to reach the campaign’s monetary goal, Coussa, Chammas, Chaoui, and a team of three others are working on gaining publicity. The students are working closely with Jade Dagher, a McGill Alumni and Lebanon native. Additionally, the fund was made possible by both the McGill Lebanese Students’ Association and McGill’s Scholarship and Student Aid office. They can be contacted on their Facebook or Instagram pages to answer any questions or inquiries about their initiative.

Science & Technology, Science Rewind

Science Rewind: How supercomputers became personal computers

by Sophia Gorbounov on

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In 2017, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE) claimed to have built the world’s largest single-memory computing system, boasting a machine that could hold 160 terabytes of memory. In comparison, the iPhone 7 only has two gigabytes of random-access memory—electronic data that can be accessed at the same speed regardless of its location in the device’s storage—less than one per cent of HPE’s prototype. The history of computing power is humbling, and a glance into its evolution demonstrates the considerable improvements that technology has undergone in a relatively short period of time.

The first digital computer, the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC), was built between 1943 and 1945, after University of Pennsylvania physicist John Mauchly had the idea for an all-electronic calculating machine. Luckily for Mauchly, his concept of a digitized accountant caught the attention of the United States Army; through the Army’s funding, ENIAC was born, and was put to use first by the military to calculate artillery firing tables. Composed of 18,000 vacuum tubes, occupying 1,800 square feet of space, and weighing 30 tonnes, ENIAC was the first general-purpose digital computer.

The word “computer” took on a different meaning in the mid-twentieth century. ENIAC was, at its core, a glorified calculator, capable only of simple arithmetic. ENIAC also had no central memory. Instead, it had a series of twenty accumulators: Temporary storage locations which could each store one 10-digit decimal number. At the time however, this was the pinnacle of computing technology.

Speaking with The McGill Tribune, Michael Smith, a professor in the Department of Sociology, explained the drive behind the development of computers.

“ENIAC was a contract between the University of Pennsylvania and the [United States] Defense Department,” Smith said. “The next big step [in computer development], however, came from a private company, a part of AT&T called Bell Labs. [Their invention of] the transistor made it possible to use much more compact switches than the vacuum tubes in ENIAC.”

Smith noted that the American government strongly supported AT&T in improving their technology.

“At the time, AT&T was a regulated monopoly, which meant it was a company that had a monopoly supported by regulation,” Smith said. “AT&T, through Bell Labs, was buying off the Justice Department by providing innovative work […] in exchange for the Justice Department refraining from suing them for anti-trust violations. They were able to [keep their regulated monopoly] by demonstrating their utility as a source of innovation.”

These partnerships, Smith said, illustrates that the development of computers and their uses have depended on the interests of the U.S. military and private industries.  

The question naturally arises of how computers transitioned from military uses to the personal uses we have today. This, explained Smith, came from the continuous exchange of ideas between the people responsible for developing computer technology and the eventual numerous users exploring its possible functions.

“Computers can be considered something called ‘general purpose technology,’” Smith said. “They have multiple potential uses, but it takes a while to figure out what those uses might be, and how to use the technology efficiently [….] At the same time, you also have users exploring its possibilities. In the case of the mainframe computer, universities played a role not so much in developing all of the parts […] but also providing an intellectual link between commercial users and the military.”

On Sept. 12, 1958, Texas Instruments released the first integrated circuit, or microchip. Microchips are made using photolithography, a process where geometric shapes are transferred onto a semiconductor surface. They could hold 1000 transistors—devices used to convert electronic signals. These advancements made computers faster and smaller, and also increased their ability to function properly. 

Today, the evolution of computers is evident. To celebrate ENIAC’s 50th anniversary in 1995, the University of Pennsylvania redesigned the computer using modern integrated circuit technology. The once gigantic machine could now fit in the palm of a hand.

Science Rewind is a new column from Science & Technology that explores the evolution of the inventions that shaped modern society, guided by a set of three questions: What did we know then? What do we know now? And how has our society changed because of it?

Student Life

Grocery delivery services help communities stay socially distanced

by Wendy Zhao on

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Before the pandemic, buying groceries online seemed like a bizarre, if not completely strange concept. With Montreal now in the red zone and multiple reported cases of COVID-19 being transmitted in grocery stores, online supermarket delivery services have become essential in helping students stay socially distanced while keeping their pantries and fridges stocked. 

As the demand for remote grocery services has increased, stores have embraced this new reality by expanding their e-commerce strategies. To help students narrow down the innumerable options, The McGill Tribune investigated six online grocery delivery services in Montreal. 

IGA

IGA has more than 100 locations in Montreal. Depending on the distance, delivery and assembly fees can vary from free to $10. Students living near McGill will find that delivery costs do not usually surpass four or five dollars. IGA promises to deliver within 48 hours of ordering, although delivery times can differ. For those looking to reduce delivery trips, IGA’S Prix Club offers a selection of bulk products at reduced prices. 

Provigo 

Another familiar and staple grocery chain for Montrealers, Provigo offers delivery services through their PC Express Delivery system, which requires a membership to the PC Optimum program. Orders can be placed through the Provigo website, PC Express phone application, or by phone call. Although there is no minimum order value, the flat rate delivery fee on all orders is $9.95, and additional costs can vary depending on the delivery time. For those looking to become regular customers, Provigo provides an effective shopping experience by offering personalized deals. 

Costco 

Costco’s seemingly boundless selection makes it a great option for those with roommates who are looking to stock up on essentials in bulk quantities. Costco offers two-day delivery services for non-perishable food and household supplies. Free delivery is available for orders exceeding $75 before taxes. Otherwise, there is a three-dollar charge. Possible disadvantages are the longer delivery times and limited timeframes—in order to get groceries delivered in two days, orders must be placed before noon from Monday to Friday. 

For students without a vehicle or simply the willpower needed to transport bulk groceries by public transit, Costco’s online delivery service allows individuals to enjoy the perks of the membership from home—with at most a trip to one’s laptop. 

Supermarché PA

Known for its low prices, Supermarché PA offers delivery services from three locations in Montreal. For the two locations closest to McGill, delivery hours are from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. everyday. To access PA’s delivery services, the minimum order value is $35. Delivery fees vary depending on the price of the purchase: Seven dollars is charged for orders under $50, five dollars for orders between $50 and $100, and $3.50 for orders over $100. 

Metro

Metro expanded its online delivery services in April through a partnership with Cornershop, an on-demand grocery service available through their phone application or website that allows orders to be received in as little as an hour. Additionally, orders can be made through Metro’s online grocery site. This avenue requires a minimum order of $50 before taxes and a delivery fee is $11.99 plus HST. Although its surcharges are more expensive in comparison to its competitors, Metro offers same-day delivery and is the best choice for urgent grocery needs. Deliveries can be reserved between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. 

Lufa Farms 

Lufa Farms is a Montreal company known for building commercial rooftop greenhouses and expanding urban farming. Online services formed the base of Lufa Farm’s business even before the pandemic. Subscribers can customize weekly food baskets with fresh, rooftop-grown fruits and vegetables along with staple products from their partner stores. Orders are delivered to customers’ homes for a five-dollar fee or to selected pick-up points across Montreal. Although Lufa Farm’s options may be limited compared to larger grocery chains, using their service is a great way to support sustainable, local farming practices. 

 

 

Hockey, Sports

October brings drafty weather, Quebec talent goes first overall

by Sarah Farnand on

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While this year’s virtual NHL draft had a number of delays, it held a special place in the hearts of many Quebecers. The first overall pick for 2020, Alexis Lafrenière, is a Quebec native from Saint-Eustache. The last time a Quebec-born skater was selected first overall was in 1998, when the Tampa Bay Lightning drafted Vincent Lecavalier. In a Zoom interview with sportscaster Sam Rosen, Lafrenière explained how excited he was to be selected by the New York Rangers. 

“It’s a dream come true for me, obviously,” Lafrenière said. “I am really honoured to join the Rangers and I am excited to come to New York and play some hockey.”  

Lafrenière was also the first Canadian to be drafted first overall since Connor McDavid was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in 2015. 

Another defining moment in this year’s draft occurred when Quinton Byfield was selected second overall by the Los Angeles Kings, making him the highest drafted Black player in NHL history. Byfield hopes to help expose more young Black athletes to the game of hockey.

 “I think [the NHL] is really moving in a good direction […] and I am definitely excited to help out and spread as much awareness as I can,” Byfield said in a Zoom interview. “It just shows that there is a lot of opportunity for everyone in the world. You can play [any] sport and be successful [at] it.” 

While Byfield says that being in the record books for anything is exciting, he wants to focus on achieving his lifelong dream of playing high-level hockey in the NHL without the emphasis on his background. 

Many teams took advantage of the online setting of the draft, coming up with creative ways to announce their picks, but the Ottawa Senators had the most innovative announcement. With the third overall pick, the Senators enlisted the help of University of Ottawa alumnus and Jeopardy host, Alex Trebek, to announce their decision. 

“With the third pick in the 2020 NHL draft, the Ottawa Senators choose this player,” Trebek read from the on-screen prompt.

The answer was “Who is Tim Stützle?” Stützle is an 18-year-old German player currently playing for Adler Mannheim in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). One of two Germans selected in the first round, an NHL record, Stützle explained how thrilling and overwhelming draft night was.

“[Being selected] was extremely exciting,” Stützle said in an interview with Deutsche Welle. “It was also pretty stressful right after [being picked]. I had to do a whole lot of interviews. I hardly had a chance to speak to my family and friends.”

With the final pick of the first round, the San Jose Sharks chose Ozzy Wiesblatt, a Calgary native whose mother has a hearing impairment. To announce the 31st pick, the Sharks’ director of scouting, Doug Wilson Jr. used American Sign Language to sign “Ozzy” so that his mother could see that he had been selected. 

“That means a ton, especially to my mom and the deaf community in general, I think,” Wiesblatt said in an interview with NBC Sports. “It’s a very nice gesture for him to do that. My mom will never forget that.”

Wilson explained how the life-changing experience of being drafted is important for the whole family.

“In my life, my mom is a huge, huge factor,” Wilson said to NBC Sports. “If I was in this moment, I would want to be able to share it with my parents too.”

Although it was certainly not the draft that these athletes had dreamed of, participating from home instead of in Montreal—where the draft was supposed to take place—the organization did their best to make the night memorable.  Despite odd camera angles and delays in reactions, the NHL’s ability to provide an inclusive virtual experience for everyone was commendable.

 

A previous version of this article stated that Vincent Lecavalier was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightening in 1988. In fact, he was drafted in 1998. The Tribune regrets this error. 

Features

The violence of exclusionary design

by Kate Addison on

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Hostile architecture, also known as exclusionary or defensive design, is an intrinsic component of Montreal’s urban spaces—you just may not have noticed it. For most people who call this city home, experiencing urban public spaces is risk-free and innocuous, be it riding on the metro, sitting in the park, or simply walking down the street. This comfort, however, is not the reality for all. For the over 3,000 unhoused residents of Montreal, urban public spaces are exclusionary and dangerous.

Off the Board, Opinion

Running for running’s sake

by Pascal Hogue on

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There’s a famous scene in Forrest Gump when Forrest, who has spent all day in his sleepy Alabama home staring into a void, dons his cap, springs out of his rocking chair, and for no particular reason, starts running. Forrest runs first to the end of the road, then to the edge of town—and once he has reached the edge of his county, he figures he might as well run across his state. 

Forrest keeps running for many years, eventually criss-crossing the United States. One day, running as usual, a crowd of journalists assails him with a barrage of questions: “Why are you running? Are you doing this for world peace? [For] the environment? [For] the animals?” Forrest, incredulous, tersely admits, “I just felt like running.”

Similarly, for no particular reason and with nothing better to do, I began running on a frigid afternoon in late March. I had none of Forrest’s boundless stamina, unfortunately, and my first outing of the pandemic was a dismal experience, as I found myself incessantly panting and stopping during the entire five-kilometer loop. 

Two days later, still without thinking much of it, I was running again—the same five-kilometer loop, still panting and stopping, but for briefer stretches of time. Two days after that, I ran again.

Before long, running became a habit. Every other evening, I would go outside and run, with no exception for Saturdays or Sundays. It took me a few weeks to master the five-km run—once I could do that distance in a single stretch, I added an extra two kilometers and made it a seven-kilometer run. A few runs later, when I had mastered that one, I added a bit more and made it a nine-kilometer run. 

In those early months of the lockdown, each day felt the same as the day before it. I would wake up late, barely touch my class material, then veer into existentialist rabbit holes while reading the news. But at least I ran in the evening. And I was content with having done at least one productive thing with my day. 

Eventually, what began as a mindless habit to spend time became one of the few anchors that kept me level-headed in day-to-day life. With running, I could clear my mind of global events, keep track of the changing seasons, and focus on reaching ever-longer distances.

My absurd objective—which I whole-heartedly believed was unattainable—was to reach the distance of a half-marathon. But by mid-May, I’d run a string of 17-kilometer loops at decent times, and one balmy Wednesday night, I ran the full 22 kilometers in a single stretch. 

Absolutely drained from my experience and now detesting nothing more than the idea of running in vain circles, I decided that very night to retire from running. 

But Forrest Gump, crossing the United States, didn’t stop when he reached one of the oceans; he merely turned around and kept running. It didn’t take me long to follow his lead—three days after my half-marathon, I sprang out of “retirement” and kept going. Running was enjoyable as an end in and of itself. 

The pandemic—much like running—has been a big test for our stamina. As we brace for a second wave that seems destined to look much like the first, my new pastime has taught me a few things about living through dull, monotonous days. Most important is to set markers that demonstrate progress in our day-to-day, whether that be reading a few pages of a novel every day or aiming for longer distances every evening, so that we don’t feel like we are perpetually trudging on a hamster wheel.

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.

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