Raw Talk Podcast

#106: Raw Talk Unsolved: Investigating Forensics

The field of forensics encompasses the intersection between law and science. This episode explores forensics in more detail. Our guests, Chief Coroner of Ontario, Dr. Dirk Huyer, and Deputy Chief Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Jayantha Herath, share the investigative perspective including behind the scenes of their professions, the intersection with the judicial system, and systemic social issues in forensics. Sheila Early, a forensic nurse and co-founder of the Canadian Forensic Nurses Association (CFNA), shares how healthcare contributes to this field, how it is to work with forensic patients, and her history with the CFNA. This episode takes a deep dive into the truth about forensics, its misconceptions, and how technology evolves alongside. 

 

Written by: Gil Angela Dela Cruz (Content Creator) and Veena Sanmugananthan (Content Creator and Science Writer)

 

Clinical Examination and Reporting of a Victim of Torture

Lawyer’s Guide to the Forensic Sciences

Making Sense of a Global Pandemic: Relationship Violence & Working Together Towards a Violence Free Society

Episode Team:

Atefeh Mohammadi (Episode Lead and Show Host), Kayvan Alfaki (Show Host), Gil Angela Dela Cruz (Content Creator), Veena Sanmugananthan (Content Creator and Science Writer), Anukrati Nigam (Audio Engineer), Anam Islam (Promotions), Janine Truong (Graphic Design). 

 

 

#105: Science Accessibility: How Open Is Too Open?

One of the most underappreciated inventions in history can be dated back to 15th century Europe when German goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg developed the printing press which, for the first time ever, automated the book-printing process. This newfound ability to productively disseminate knowledge and ideas revolutionized society overnight. In fact, English intellectual Francis Bacon, who is known for popularizing the scientific method, famously wrote that the three inventions that forever changed the world were gunpowder, the nautical compass, and the printing press. Books and libraries opened science for citizens outside of the elite intellectual circle. And now, with the advent of computers and digitalization of information, we continue to see science become more accessible. On this episode, show hosts Zeynep and Sumi speak to Dr. Anthony Bonato, Mathematics professor at Ryerson University, Dr. Leslie Chan, principal investigator of the Open and Collaborative Science in Development Network, and Dr. Brian Baigrie, associate professor at University of Toronto’s Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology. We hear about their thoughts on open access, how it is generally perceived in the scientific community, its importance and feasibility globally, and finally, how it helped shape scientific communication throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Written by: Sumi 

 

Links:

Unsettling Knowledge Inequities Podcast

Bioline International

Information on Open Access

Budapest Open Access Initiative

For more on Publishing: Episode #65 Investing in Knowledge: The Life Cycle of Research 

Rachael Ainsworth TedTalk (TEDxMacclesfield): Research Culture is Broken; Open Science can Fix It 

#104: A New Era of Knowledge: Science on Social Media

Should bad science be censored on social media? This complex ethical dilemma, stemming from the Information Age beginning in the mid 20th century, is proving to be a real challenge as we continue to navigate the unprecedented repercussions of widespread technology implementation in human life. With the advent of computers, we’ve seen exponential growth in the capacity to process, store, and communicate information. This epochal shift in knowledge transmission has undoubtedly catalyzed many scientific discoveries, improving the lives of millions. However, among this information explosion we also find false, fabricated, or misleading information which ultimately countervails the goals of science to pursue truth. On this episode, show hosts Dennis and Jason interview Dr. Anna Blakney, assistant professor at the University of British Columbia, and Sandhya & Swapna Mylabathula (STEAM sisters), PhD students at U of T, to find out how they use TikTok, YouTube, and other social media platforms to communicate science responsibly and effectively. Additionally, Dr. Eric Merkley, assistant professor at U of T, shares his perspective on the political mechanisms of misinformation spread on mass media. Raw Talk members Jesse, Junayd, Jason & Sumi also contribute their thoughts on the potential for censorship as a means to regulate bad science.

 

Written by: Sumiha Karunagaran

 

How do I spot misinformation? University of Toronto Libraries

Birdwatch on Twitter: Twitter launched a pilot initiative called Birdwatch that allows users to write notes about Tweets that could be misleading.

ScienceUpFirst: A national initiative operated by the Canadian Association of Science Centres that works with a collective of independent scientists, researchers, healthcare experts and science communicators to share the best available science to stop the spread of misinformation. 

Canada’s Digital Citizen Research Program

 

#103: Raw Talk Roundtables: Underrepresentation in STEM

Students from underrrepresented groups in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields often experience a myriad of challenges due to a variety of systemic barriers such as lack of representation or diversity, appropriate financial support, and having a supportive learning environment. In this episode, our team and guests take a deep dive into the importance of representation, mentorship and community within STEM fields, as well as elaborate on how they feel these environments should be improved. We speak to Mohsen Poorganji, the co-founder of the Institute of Medical Science (IMS) International Student Group, Layan Elfaki, the president of the Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA) at the University of Toronto (UofT), and Dr. Andrea Boggild, the Medical Director of the Tropical Diseases Unit at University Health Network and an Associate Professor at UofT. Listen to these conversations along with our hosts, Daniel and Rachel, who chime in and reflect on their learnings throughout the episode.

Incorporating Indigenous Cultures and Realities in STEM

IMS International Student Group 

Black Graduate Student Association 

Community of Support

#102: Healthcare Behind Bars

As a patient, you would want the best care to come to you. You would want to be able to access health services, empathetic staff, and any medications you need. As a citizen, you likely want that for others who are in need of healthcare assistance. So why is this not the case once people are behind bars?

"Imagine yourself in a box trying to reach out for help." That is what one of our guests, Lawrence Da Silva, host of Voices Inside and Out, described what it was like to be in need of healthcare services in prison. 

In this episode, we dive deep into the reality that is healthcare in a prison setting. We are also joined by Catherine Latimer, the executive director of the John Howard Society, and Dr. Kiran Patel, a staff psychiatrist at CAMH's Forensic Division. They touch on topics like the accessibility of care as related to the Canada Health Act, specific challenges like mental health and the effect of prison transfers, and what is being done by organizations like the John Howard Society to help. We hope this episode can highlight some important aspects about the reality of life behind bars. 

Written by: Angela Dela Cruz

Links

The Nelson Mandela Rules

The Ashley Smith Inquest

Elizabeth Fry Toronto

The John Howard Society 

Voices Inside and Out Podcast

Canada Health Act

Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA)

Indigenous People in Federal Custody: Government of Canada

Race and Incarceration: The Representation and Characteristics of Black People in Provincial Correctional Facilities in Ontario, Canada

Houses of hate: How Canada's prison system is broken 

How You Can Get Involved: John Howard Society of Canada 

CAMH: Services and Support After Incarceration 

#101: The Many Faces of Burnout in Healthcare

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increased use of the terms “healthcare provider burnout” and “healthcare heroes”. Within the media, we have seen these terms be trending hashtags, top news headlines, or may have heard them stated by government officials in their press releases...but what do they really mean? In this episode from Raw Talk you will hear from our guests - Dr. Kim McMillan a nurse-researcher and assistant professor at the University of Ottawa; Dr. Amit Arya a palliative care physician at North York General and Kensington Hospice; medical residents Dr. Simone Bernstein from Washington University and Dr. Yezarni Wynn from the University of Toronto; and a nurse and PhD candidate Emily Rowland from the University of Toronto - burnout affects each person differently and has a rippling effect for both the individual and the health system as a whole. Further, our guests share their perspectives of what a “healthcare hero” means to them; perspectives that may be different from how they were portrayed in the media. Finally, we conclude our episode with ideas to decrease provider burnout and advice for our medical learner listeners. Happy listening!

 

Article: Study exploring the impact of rural health system factors on physician burnout: a mixed-methods study in Northern Canada

#100 Years Later: Insulin and Beyond

In honour of our 100th episode here at Raw Talk Podcast, we are celebrating another anniversary this year: 100 years since the discovery of insulin, a life saving treatment for diabetes that happened here at the University of Toronto. This discovery earned the scientists behind it the 1923 Nobel Prize in Medicine, and was a pivotal moment in Canadian medical science research. In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Daniel Drucker, a senior scientist at the Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute who gave us a crash course on diabetes, insulin, and the research leading up to the discovery of insulin. Next, we spoke with Jennifer Da Cruz, a diabetes patient, educator and public health nurse at Unison Health and Community Services in Toronto. Finally, we met with Dr. Paraish Misra, a nephrologist, and a PhD candidate in the Nostro lab at the University of Toronto, who told us about some of the exciting new frontiers in stem cell research for diabetes treatment - or possibly even cure.

Dr. Daniel Drucker
Diabetes Canada
Dr. Paraish Misra
Open Insulin Foundation
Article - The absurdly high cost of insulin, explained
Article - Why people with diabetes can't buy generic insulin
Review Article - Stem cell-derived insulin-producing cells

#99 Refugee Healthcare in Canada

Humanitarian crises from around the world, attributed to various causes such as war and climate change, have resulted in the displacement of millions of people worldwide. Some of these displaced individuals journey to other countries, such as Canada, to settle and start new lives. However, a refugee’s journey doesn’t end once they arrive in their new home, they must navigate a new system to access housing, healthcare, and education, while potentially facing numerous barriers along the way. In this episode of Raw Talk, we interview experts to gain a Canadian perspective on the unique health experience of refugees, and the resettlement process for refugees living in Canada. Steve Meagher discusses who refugees are and the barriers they face to accessing healthcare services in Canada. Dr. Praseedha Janakiram sheds light on the diversity of refugees and their journeys from leaving their homeland to settling into a new life. Dr. Meb Rashid speaks to the routine health issues that refugee families face and how primary and community healthcare is tailored to those needs.

Centre for Refugee Children
Women’s College Hospital Crossroads Clinic
The Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration (TAAAC)
The Canadian Collaborative Mental Health Care Conference - Dr. Janakiram speaking
Christie Refugee Welcome Centre
Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture

#98: Podium Pills: Fame or Folly?

Have you ever wondered how the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) decides what substances are banned in professional sport? Or what it’s like to get tested for prohibited substances? In this episode of Raw Talk, we interview experts on anti-doping and the use of performance enhancing drugs. James Fitzgerald explains the many tools that WADA uses to combat doping in sport, from dried blood spot analysis to machine learning. We also speak to two Canadian Olympic athletes, Evan Dunfee and Maddy Kelly, about their experiences getting tested, what kinds of pressures they felt to perform, and the tainted beef controversy. Lastly, Dr. Dean St. Mart tells us about the health risks of steroids - in the context of bodybuilding - from androgen receptors to “blasting and cruising”, and explores whether its possible to use such performance enhancing drugs safely. We hope you enjoy the expertise and diverse perspectives our fascinating guests shared with us on this week’s episode.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
Global Drug Reference Online (Global DRO)
Yes, Evan Dunfee is the Kraft Dinner guy
Supplement Needs

#97: Let‘s Talk Grad School

Post-graduate education. This is where students learn the joy and importance of scientific discoveries and advancement firsthand. This is also where students face realities of research and of adulthood all at once. In today’s episode, we have a roundtable discussion to exchange views on our hopes and struggles as a graduate student. From sharing our unique stories, we see common themes such as building a healthy relationship with our supervisor, networking with peers, managing stress from the recent COVID-19 pandemic, and coping with failure to prevent burnout. Our fellow graduate student Samantha Ing-Esteves, the founder of the Graduate Representation Committee (GRC) in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at University of Toronto, also joins us and speaks to the data collected by GRC representing our financial struggles. Sam also explains to us how GRC strives to advocate for domestic and international graduate students. From the good, the bad, and the ugly, we gain rich learning experiences as a graduate student and continue to contribute to science the best we can. The struggle is real, but so is the adventure. We have fun together, we support each other, and we grow stronger. And most importantly, we keep it raw.

GRC Student Finance and Living Survey 2021-2022
GRC Student Finance and Living Report 2019
U of T Community of Support
Tips and Secrets to Choosing your IMS Courses
100 Reasons Not to Go to Graduate School