News and Updates
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Faculty of Social Science
Social Science Centre
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Western University
T. 519-661-2053
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E. social-science@uwo.ca
2023
Isaac Luginaah from the Department of Geography and Environment, and Alan MacEachern from the Department of History have received the honor of being elected as new Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada via
September 18, 2023
Six distinguished Western scholars have received the honor of being elected as new Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC), in acknowledgment of their exceptional accomplishments in scholarship, science, and the arts. Among them, two hail from the Faculty of Social Science: Isaac Luginaah from the Department of Geography and Environment, and Alan MacEachern from the Department of History.Amanda Friesen has been named as the Canada Research Chair in Political Psychology (Tier 2)
September 01, 2023
Amanda Friesen is bringing together the fields of political science and psychology, to better understand how people react to politics and political engagement, breaking down barriers of political entry for some people. Friesen is a professor in the department of political science, and cross-appointed with the department of Psychology. She has been named as the Canada Research Chair in Political Psychology (Tier 2) – a topic that unites the two disciplines.Bridging Indigenous Knowledge and Healthcare through Academia
August 25, 2023
Vanessa Ambtman-Smith has joined Western as an assistant professor, appointed in the department of Geography & Environment, and the Indigenous Studies program. She researches the impact of integrating traditional Indigenous practices into health care spaces.Understanding Barriers for Women in Politics: Analyzing Language through Quantitative Social Science and Machine Learning
August 18, 2023
Sebastián Vallejo Vera is joining the department of Political Science. Vallejo applies quantitative social science methods to understand the barriers faced by women and marginalized populations as they enter political institutions. He also applies machine learning models, to better understand the type of language used in legislatures and political arenas and how this can create or reinforce barriers.Decoding Animal Communication: Exploring Social Bonds in Small Mammals
August 03, 2023
Morgan Gustison is joining the department of Psychology. Gustison is a neuroethologist, studying the evolution of natural animal behaviour, and the underlying mechanistic control by the nervous system. She is particularly focused on the complex social and communication behaviours of small mammalsUnveiling Inequalities: Exploring Vulnerabilities in Community
July 27, 2023
Lora Phillips has joined the department of Sociology as an Assistant Professor. Phillips researches inequality – particularly inequality among vulnerable populations – and how the experiences of inequality matter for the health and well-being of individuals and communities as a whole. She has looked at inequality through the lens of ongoing crisis situations that impact communities. In one paper, she researched the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food insecurity.In Memoriam: David Kanatawakhon-Maracle
July 06, 2023
Dr. Kanatawakhon passed away on Wednesday, June 29, 2023, at the age of 70.Balancing Urban Agriculture and Nutrient Management for Sustainable Resource Use
July 04, 2023
Geneviève Metson is joining the department of Geography and Environment as an Associate Professor. Metson researches the relationships between cities and farms, through the lens of resource management, balancing food security and water quality.Oleksa Drachewych, the 2023 recipient of the Faculty of Social Science Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
June 19, 2023
Oleksa Drachewych is the 2023 recipient of the Faculty of Social Science Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, an honour that recognizes his exceptional contributions to teaching and learning within the Faculty.Bird brains can flick switch to perceive Earth’s magnetic field
May 31, 2023
Research from the Department of Psychology on how animals move around the world helps determine the influence of human activity.Human communities must be part of protecting endangered species and ecosystems
May 19, 2023
Tamara Britton, an Anthropology PhD student, has shared this message as part of the SSHRC Storytellers Challenge.In Memoriam - David Sherry
May 03, 2023
David Francis Sherry, emeritus professor in the department of Psychology, passed away on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at the age of 72.Andrea Waters-Rist named as a Western University Faculty Scholar for 2023
April 27, 2023
The Associate Professor in Anthropology is considered a world leader in the application of isotopic approaches to understanding diet, health, and disease in the past.Kaitlynn Mendes named as a Western University Faculty Scholar for 2023
April 27, 2023
Mendes is Canada Research Chair in Inequality and Gender. She researches online harassment, and how people use social media to challenge rape culture, sexual violence, sexism and misogyny.Western announces 2022-23 teaching award recipients
April 24, 2023
Course Development Team for Geography 2133: Connecting for Climate Change Action receive Vice-Provost (Academic Programs) Award for Excellence in Collaborative Teaching.Public history students honoured for work on Labatt Memorial Park
April 20, 2023
Students and faculty receive Local History Award from the London Heritage Foundation, for their work creating historical waking tours of Labatt Memorial Park.Encouraging interdisciplinary approach to the complex challenges created by climate change
April 18, 2023
Western Centre for Climate Change, Sustainable Livelihoods and Health launches student conference to encourage early-career interdisciplinary approaches.Carrie Branch receives early investigator award from American Ornithological Society
April 18, 2023
The Ned K. Johnson Early Investigator Award is presented annually to recognize outstanding and promising work by researchers early in their careers.These shoes are made for walking: Downtown field trip helps students connect to local politics
April 13, 2023
Tour highlights key London, Ont. landmarks, history and changes brought by pandemic.LGBTQ+ adults report higher rates of pain, study of U.S. survey data shows
April 13, 2023
Sociology professor Anna Zajacova says pain can be used as an overall holistic measure of physical and psychological well-being at the population level.Non-native accents may have different employment impacts for women and men
April 11, 2023
New research from Samantha Hancock and her colleagues suggest these effects may initially seem positive, but in actuality could result in longer-term issues for workers and industries, and can undermine gender equity.Public History project documents historic neighbourhood in heart of London, Ont.
April 11, 2023
Graduate students map immigrant experiences in SoHo, which is being transformed by housing project.Pathways to Prosperity Partnership releases toolkits to help communities welcome immigrants
April 06, 2023
Partnership aims to assess communities’ readiness to support immigrants in being successful.Celebrating the first 50 years of the Social Science Centre
April 03, 2023
On March 21, 1973, the Social Science Centre officially opened its doors. For the past 50 years, the building has been home to the largest faculty at Western.Canadian young adults who live alone are more likely to struggle with unaffordable housing, study finds
March 27, 2023
One in five young adults live in unaffordable housing and spend 30 per cent or more of their pre-tax income on housing costs, writes Kate Choi, in The Conversation.Religion, Politics and COVID-19 in the United States
March 27, 2023
A new book, co-edited by Amanda Friesen, examines how religion and religious expression correlate to different understandings of and responses to, the pandemic in the United States.Everyday life in Canada's resource-rich north
March 21, 2023
Lindsay Bell examines the way resource extraction has impacted demographics, economics and culture in Hay River, and the Northwest Territories more broadly.New U.S. data reveals significant disparities among groups, regions regarding prescription opioid use
March 21, 2023
Led by Anna Zajacova, one of the most comprehensive studies to date shows more than one in ten Americans used prescription opioids in the past 12 months.Taking to the skies: The novel approach reshaping how real estate economics is understood
March 17, 2023
How Western researchers from DAN Management, and Geography & Environment used remote sensing to better understand our cities.New study identifies how AI fails to reproduce human vision
March 17, 2023
Despite the power of deep learning, computers have yet to master human calculations when it comes to visual recognition, according to a study led by Psychology professor Marieke Mur.Western project finds VR gives viewers front-row seat experience
March 15, 2023
A 360-degree camera set-up and VR technology could revolutionize sports viewing suggests project led by Paul Frewen, professor in psychology, and Andrew Vincent, an undergraduate student in the department of psychology.To improve drinking water quality in First Nation communities, a collaborative approach is important
March 10, 2023
Writing in The Conversation, Political Science professor Christopher Alcantara and colleagues explore the potential of collaborative arrangements to improve drinking water quality outcomes in First Nations communities.Western prof finds backyard feeding could help chickadees survive
March 10, 2023
Decade-long research by Psychology professor Carrie Branch shows home feeders don't alter chickadee reproduction or behaviour.New Indigenous mural honours community voices on campus
February 24, 2023
Created by students, staff, faculty, the installation outside the Indigenous Studies office includes cultural motifs of three nations.Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: Reflecting on a year of war and atrocities
February 23, 2023
Western professors Marta Dyczok and Valerie Oosterveld to host international conference on the ongoing conflict.Challenging the grand myths of migration narratives
February 16, 2023
Drawing upon historical archaeology and mixed methods, Trish Markert studies how migrant communities create a sense of place across generations.Psychology students share knowledge about mental health in community lecture series
February 14, 2023
‘Finding Your Way’ program is being offered in partnership with London Public Library.Western study explores how beliefs about partners affect health of relationships
February 14, 2023
Clinical psychology professor David Dozois leads examination of how couples interpret each other’s daily behaviours.The pandemic played into ageist stereotypes, but there are ways to overcome them
February 13, 2023
Intergenerational contact and co-operation could play an integral part in overcoming ageist perceptions, write Social Science researchers, in The Conversation.Study shows education gaps between spouses, racial inequalities affect wives’ income trajectories
February 03, 2023
Research from Kate Choi and Patrick Denice examines decades of household earnings and married women’s labour force participation.Gordon McBean honoured by world’s largest scientific society for work on climate change
February 01, 2023
American Association for the Advancement of Science recognizes renowned professor and climatologist for international leadership, communicating climate change.Mapping the stories of formerly enslaved Black Londoners focus of new research
February 01, 2023
Interactive website to document histories of individuals who fled slavery in the U.S. and settled in the Forest City.Integrating Indigenous worldviews into impact assessments
January 23, 2023
Cortney Golkar-Dakin wants to build relationships and solidarity with people engaged globally in de-colonization struggles.Public space and sense of place
January 23, 2023
Roza Tchoukaleyska researches how public spaces contribute to the social life of cities, considering how changes to cities may alter a sense of community and sense of place.Milk consumption increased ancient human body size, finds study
January 17, 2023
Researchers, led by Western biological anthropology professor Jay Stock, compared skeletons from archaeological sites spread over 25,000 years.Understanding how to improve accessibility in university
January 16, 2023
A research team, including undergraduate students, asked students who self-identified as having a disability, about both their experiences in class and accessing services across the university.Canada’s ban on foreign homebuyers is unlikely to affect housing affordability
January 13, 2023
Writing in The Conversation, Diana Mok considers the impact of Canada's ban on non-citizens, non-permanent residents and foreign commercial enterprises from buying Canadian residential properties.AI tech exaggerates biases in facial age perception more than humans
January 06, 2023
Study finds AI overestimates age of smiling people, makes more errors for older adults.
