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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

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 Al Jazeera Media Network headquarters in Doha, Qatar. Naseem Zeitoon/Reuters

Why some Arab countries want to shutter Al Jazeera

Philip Seib, University of Southern California, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

When the network launched in 1996, it radically changed the media landscape of the Arab world. Two decades later, some regimes are still seething.
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.
People hold up a sign as part of a demonstration where a teepee was erected on Parliament Hill to protest Canada Day. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang)

Canada 150: Not the first celebration to attract controversy

Matthew Hayday, University of Guelph

Canadian celebrations are often controversial, but challenges to Canada 150 may actually indicate our desire to perfect and improve this country.
The Canadian Armed Forces wants to attract more women to join its ranks. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dene Moore)

The battle to get more women into the military

Stéfanie von Hlatky, Queen's University, Ontario and Meaghan Shoemaker, Queen's University, Ontario

The Canadian Armed Forces has called for women to make up 25 per cent of its ranks by 2026. Attracting and retaining female recruits will require better gender awareness in the military at all levels.
Will AI and robotics erode or enhance the labour market for humans? (Shutterstock)

Canada +150

Future jobs: How we’ll earn a living 150 years from now

Sunil Johal, University of Toronto

What will Canadians do to earn their keep in 150 years? We won't manufacture goods, but jobs with the "human" touch, like nursing, will still be important.

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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.
St. Louis Rams draft pick Michael Sam speaks during a news conference at the team’s practice facility in May 2014. Jeff Roberson/AP

Pride

What happened to the openly gay athlete?

John Affleck, Pennsylvania State University

Since Michael Sam came out in 2014, no one in the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL has done the same. Are the barriers to coming out still holding firm? Or are there signs that the tide could soon turn?

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