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Arundhati Roy’s activism has made her a longtime target of the Indian government. In this 2002 file photo, Roy celebrates after being released from Tihar Jail in New Delhi. The Supreme Court found Roy guilty of criminal contempt of court and sentenced her to a day of “symbolic imprisonment.” (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Novelist Arundhati Roy’s mission to inspire

Ali Kazimi, York University, Canada

Award-winning author Arundhati Roy's activism has made her a longtime target of the Indian government. At a recent Toronto event, she received a standing ovation as she read from her new novel.
Four Seasons of the Canadian Flag, painted by Maxwell Newhouse for John Burge. (Maxwell Newhouse)

Composer inspired by flag painting

John Burge, Queen's University, Ontario

Composer John Burge speaks of his drive to create a musical piece to mark Canada's 150th year of confederation and to capture our collective experiences.
People currently speak 7,000 languages around the globe. Michael Gavin

Why do human beings speak so many languages?

Michael Gavin, Colorado State University

There's little research into origins of the geographic patterns of language diversity. A new model exploring processes that shaped Australia's language diversity provides a template for investigators.
Green is the new Black. Smart is the new sexy. From the Peggy Sue Collection produced in Canada using organic materials and ethical techniques.

Fashion designers respond to environmental crisis

Anika Kozlowski, Ryerson University

The fashion industry is facing an environmental crisis: Canadian designers have an opportunity to be leaders in a new sustainable fashion movement.
We need a clear understanding of how well immigrant students perform in education systems in order to best serve them. (AP Photo/Christine Armario)

Immigrant youth help to build nations

Louis Volante, Brock University; Don A. Klinger, Queen's University, Ontario; Dr. Melissa Siegel, Maastricht University, and Ozge Bilgili, Utrecht University

The future of our country depends on our youth. Many of our youth are immigrant students and we need to understand how to best support them so we can thrive as a nation.
Canada in 2167 could see genetically engineered humans living alongside sentient machines in cities radically altered by ecological change. (Shutterstock)

Canada +150

Humans in 2167: Internet implants and no sleep

Bryan Gaensler, University of Toronto

By 2167, genetically designed, digitally enhanced humans with Internet-connected brains will live with intelligent machines in a transformed environment and maybe even among the stars.
Tabatha Bundesen’s pet Tardar Sauce became an Internet sensation known as “Grumpy Cat” for a resting facial appearance that resembles a look of dissatisfaction. Now, scientists are starting to be able to read animal emotions from their expressions. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

Animal emotions stare us in the face

Mirjam Guesgen, University of Alberta

Scientists are beginning to link animal facial expressions to emotions, making it possible for us to understand how they feel.
The border wall between Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego, Calif. Tomascastelazo/Flickr

Border walls: Ineffective, costly and fatal

Elisabeth Vallet, Université du Québec à Montréal

Deadly, ineffective and generally fated to fall, border walls are multiplying and becoming the new normal in international relations.

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Editor's picks

People from the Black Lives Matter lead the annual Pride Parade in Toronto on Sunday, July 3, 2016. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Blinch)

Black Lives Matter: Toronto activists spark a movement

Rinaldo Walcott, University of Toronto

It took only 30 minutes to plunge Toronto's queer community into civil war. All across North America, Pride parades are debating police brutality.
In this fantasy episode of “The Mindy Project,” Mindy Lahiri dreams of becoming a white man after getting rejected for a job. (Hulu/Richard Foreman)

‘I wanna be white!’ Can we change race?

Sarita Srivastava, Queen's University, Ontario

When philosopher Rebecca Tuvel asked if racial identity could be as fluid as gender, she unleashed a storm of controversy and anger. Instead of shutting her down, we should listen and debate.
A group of youth walked 1600 kilometers to bring attention aboriginal issues in 2013 at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. They hold up the Cree flag. By Paul McKinnon/Shutterstock.com

Media portrays Indigenous and Muslim youth as ‘savages’ and ‘barbarians’

Yasmin Jiwani, Concordia University

Research shows that the Globe and Mail has created a script in which marginalized youth can only be dealt with as failures or criminals, impacting the way they are perceived in society.
A photo entitled “Apprehension” is part of the Still Here project at the University of British Columbia’s Men’s Health Research Program. The project uses photos to engage gay and bisexual men who have previously struggled with suicide.

Why so many gay & bisexual men kill themselves

Olivier Ferlatte, University of British Columbia

Pride Month: It's time to talk about the shockingly high rate of suicide among gay and bisexual men. Photos and stories in the Still Here project document the complex reasons.
Blockorama celebrated its 19th year this Pride; a hard won right to celebrate. (GerardRichardson.com)

Pride

Right to party: 20 years of Black Queer love and resilience

Beverly Bain, University of Toronto

One of the lesser known demands of Black Lives Matter is the right to a safe space to celebrate Black Queer Lives. This year's Blockorama party in Toronto is evidence the movement is progressing.

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